Brief
Taika Waititi discusses AI themes while promoting ‘Klara and the Sun’
At a New York screening, Waititi and cast members explained the film’s AI‑driven story and its human themes.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Director Taika Waititi and stars Jenna Ortega and Amy Adams promoted the adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel Klara and the Sun at a special screening in New York on Monday, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
What happened
The film, based on the 2021 novel, follows a future where children can be "lifted"—genetically enhanced for academic success—while families can purchase solar‑powered Artificial Friends. Ortega plays Klara, a slightly defective Artificial Friend who is brought home by Adams’ character Chrissy for her sick daughter Josie, played by Mia Tharia. The screening was timed to spark conversation about the role of artificial intelligence in Hollywood.
What the reports add
The article notes that the project was developed years before AI became a dominant discussion in the industry, positioning the film as a timely commentary. It also highlights that Waititi co‑wrote the screenplay with Dahvi Waller and worked closely with Ishiguro, who encouraged a non‑faithful adaptation to avoid boredom.
What was said
Ortega told The Hollywood Reporter, "What I love so much about this story… is because yes, Klara is an Artificial Friend and she comes into this very broken, complicated family that really doesn’t communicate enough with one another. By the end of the story, she allows them to appreciate one another’s flaws, to talk it out… In this very isolated, dark, weird, dystopian world, she brings them back to knowing love. And what has been so true in all these different centuries of being human, and at the core of everything, is that it is always about love, and it’s always going to be about love." Waititi added, "Right from the start, I talked to Ishiguro and said, ‘This is the kind of tone I’m looking for…’ He said, ‘I don’t want you to do a faithful, super loyal adaptation of the book because that’s going to be boring.’ So he encouraged me to push it more in my direction."
How it came about
Waititi’s involvement stems from his long‑standing interest in stories with younger protagonists and his experience as a father, which informed his approach to the material. The film’s development pre‑dated the recent surge of AI tools in filmmaking, making its release a focal point for industry debate about technology and humanity.
Key facts
- Taika Waititi directed and co‑wrote the film adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel "Klara and the Sun". (hollywoodreporter.com)
- Jenna Ortega stars as Klara, an Artificial Friend, and Amy Adams plays her owner Chrissy. (hollywoodreporter.com)
- The story is set in a future where children can be "lifted" for enhanced academic ability and families can buy solar‑powered AI companions. (hollywoodreporter.com)
- Waititi said Kazuo Ishiguro encouraged a non‑faithful adaptation to avoid a boring result. (hollywoodreporter.com)
- Ortega described the film’s core message as love overcoming isolation and technological alienation. (hollywoodreporter.com)
Sources
- [1] hollywoodreporter.com — originally reported as “Taika Waititi Says It’s “Probably Inevitable” AI Will Be Used in Hollywood But It’s “Boring and Lame” to “Type in Prompts to Make a Movie””
