After teaming up on his 2022 feature Broker, Neon has acquired Japanese auteur Hirokazu Kore-eda‘s next title Sheep in the Box.
With filming currently underway, Neon will release the film theatrically nationwide in the United States, also acquiring U.K. and Australian distribution rights for the film, starring Haruka Ayase and Daigo.
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Set in the near future, Sheep in the Box follows a couple as they take a state-of-the-art humanoid into their home as their son. The title of the film was inspired by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s 1943 French children’s novel The Little Prince.
Kore-eda previously said, “This project began with the idea of ‘bringing the dead back to life using the latest technology.’ A few years ago, similar concepts had already been featured on Japanese television programs and attracted considerable attention. I was interested in exploring the conflicting perspectives regarding how technological advancement clashes with human inner values.
“In the spring of last year, I came across an article about the popularity of ‘resurrection businesses’ in China; and in the Fall, I met someone actually engaged in that field,” he added. “It made me realize that such developments could occur in Japan as well, and with technology evolving at a pace far beyond what I had imagined, I felt that this reality might arrive sooner than expected.”
Ayase previously starred in Kore-eda’s 2015 film Our Little Sister, while Diago is a Japanese comedian making his feature debut.
Producers include Fuji Television Network, Gaga Corporation, Toho and AOI Pro. Gaga represents international sales together with Goodfellas, negotiating the deal with Neon’s Sarah Colvin.
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