Mia Tharia & Aran Murphy Join Amy Adams, Jenna Ortega In Taika Waititi Film ‘Klara And The Sun’
EXCLUSIVE: Newcomers Mia Tharia and Aran Murphy are the newest additions to the cast of Klara and the Sun, Taika Waititi’s feature adaptation of the New York Times bestseller by Kazuo Ishiguro for Sony’s 3000 Pictures. The pair joins the previously announced Jenna Ortega and Amy Adams.
Adapted by screenwriter Dahvi Waller, the film tells the story of Klara (Ortega), an Artificial Friend designed to prevent loneliness. Klara is purchased by a mother (Adams) and a bright teen named Josie (Tharia) who adores her new robot companion, but suffers from a mysterious illness. This is the story of Klara’s quest to save Josie and those who love her from heartbreak and how in the process Klara learns the power of human love. Murphy — the son of Oppenheimer Oscar nominee Cillian Murphy — makes his feature film debut as Rick, Josie’s best friend and next-door neighbor.
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In its March 2021 publication by Alfred A. Knopf in the U.S. and Faber in the UK, the book debuted on the New York Times’ Best Sellers Hardcover Fiction List at #3 and the Indie Best Sellers Hardcover Fiction List at #1.
Producers of the film adaptation are Heyday Films’ David Heyman, Garrett Basch, and Waititi. Ishiguro is serving as an executive producer. Jeffrey Clifford and Rosie Alison brought in the project to Heyday, with Drew Reed bringing it in to 3000 Pictures and Sony. Elizabeth Gabler and Aislinn Dunster are overseeing for 3000 Pictures.
Soon to be seen leading Ariane Labed’s first feature Sisters, in her screen debut, Tharia is repped by Independent Talent Group and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman.
From 2018-2019, Murphy played the title character in the play Hamnet, written and directed by Bush Moukarzel and Ben Kidd, which opened in Dublin before making stops in London, New York, Boston, Brisbane and Hong Kong. He is repped by The Lisa Richards Agency and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern.
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