Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda is back with two new narrative features in 2026, and the trailer for his latest film Sheep In The Box.

Sheep in the Box, is a science fiction drama set in the near future, focuses on a couple who welcome a humanoid robot into their home as their son.

Hirokazu Kore-eda writes and directs the film, which stars Haruka Ayase, Daigo Yamamoto, and Kawaki Rimu.

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Sheep in the Box is expected to premiere at the Film Festival in May, which would mark the eighth in Kore-eda’s career after his last film Monster premiered at the festival in 2023. He won the Palme d’Or and Jury Prize for Shoplifters in 2018.

Synopsis | Director Kore-eda, acclaimed for his sharp perspective & warm gaze portraying people living in society, presents a story starring Haruka Ayase and Daigo (Chidori). Set in the near future, it follows a couple who lost their child and decide to welcome a state-of-the-art humanoid in their son’s likeness. “Welcome home, Sho.” “I’m home, Mom, Dad.” Family time begins anew. But what unimaginable future awaits this family?

Check out the English subtitled trailer below.

Sheep in the Box releases in cinemas in Japan on May 29th. NEON is handling a release in the US and UK, but the date is TBD.

Kore-eda’s second film releasing this year is Look Back, an adaptation of the hit 2021 manga of the same name. The psychological drama follows two manga artists, Fujino and Kyomoto, who meet and develop a bond over making manga. A release date is TBC.

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