A still from ‘Sheep in the Box’
| Photo Credit: TOHO
A new trailer has been released for Sheep in the Box, the latest feature from acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Koreeda, offering a poignant look at a near-future world where artificial intelligence intersects with grief and memory.Premiering earlier this year at the Cannes Film Festival, the film is set in a society where advanced humanoid technology has become part of everyday life. It follows a couple struggling to cope with the death of their young son. Unable to move past their loss, they adopt an artificial child designed to resemble him in appearance and behavior.Koreeda, whose previous films include Shoplifters, After Life, and Broker, has said audiences expecting a dystopian vision of artificial intelligence may be surprised by the film’s quieter and more introspective approach.The title references Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s classic novella The Little Prince, and the project was reportedly inspired by reports of companies exploring the use of generative AI to recreate deceased individuals.The film stars Daigo, Haruka Ayase, and child actor Rimu Kuwaki. Koreeda noted that while the young performer was not instructed to behave like a machine, the adults around him were directed to react with unease, helping shape the film’s dynamic.Indian distributor Impact Films has acquired the theatrical distribution rights for Sheep in the Box as part of its Cannes 2026 acquisition slate, paving the way for an Indian theatrical release. The company picked up the film from Japan’s Gaga Corporation alongside several other major international festival titles. Published - June 24, 2026 02:36 pm IST
