Jenna Ortega’s New Sci-Fi Movie Defended By Director Amid Release Cancellation & Record-Low Reviews

Published Nov 2, 2026, 12:43 PM EST Grant Hermanns is a TV News Editor, Interview Host and Reviewer for ScreenRant, having joined the team in early 2021. He got his start in the industry with Moviepilot, followed by working at ComingSoon.net. When not indulging in his love of film/TV, Grant is making his way through his gaming backlog and exploring the world of Dungeons & Dragons with friends. Sign in to your ScreenRant account This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.While it may be off to a tough start, Jenna Ortega's Klara and the Sun still has an avid defender in its director. Centered on the eponymous android as she is purchased for a terminally ill teenager and learns about life, Ortega's sci-fi film was originally on track for a big release, with Taika Waititi co-writing and directing the adaptation. After its BFI London Film Festival, however, Klara and the Sun began a downward incline as critics had sharply negative reviews for the film, resulting in Sony scaling back its wide theatrical release plans. Now, as the sci-fi movie entered its second weekend in theaters, and its Audience score on Rotten Tomatoes began to enjoy a swift upturn, Taika Waititi took to his Instagram to address Klara and the Sun's detractors. The co-writer/director was vehement in his defense of the film, decrying its detractors as being "irrelevant" and "out of touch," while also stating that he's refused to read the reviews of his films in "almost 15 years." Check out Waititi's comments and post below: Taika Waititi: I haven't read a review of anything aimed at me or my peers in almost 15 years. But I do listen to the people. 💥🎉🫶🏽💦 So this Halloween, let's spare a thought for those sad lost souls who couldn't achieve their dreams of becoming artists, and thus settled, and became critics. The same people who also hated Jojo Rabbit 😂 🤷🏽‍♂️ Irrelevant. Out of touch. Obsolete. In the bin. 🗑️😢🫶🏽 Developing... Release Date October 23, 2026 Runtime 116 minutes Director Taika Waititi Writers Dahvi Waller, Taika Waititi Producers David Heyman, Garrett Basch, Taika Waititi An "Artificial Friend" named Klara discovers a profound connection with a troubled young girl. Release Window 2025 Main Genre Sci-Fi Executive Producer(s) Alex G. Scott, Gary Barber, Jeffrey Clifford, Kazuo Ishiguro, Rosie Alison