Japanese auteur Hirokazu Kore-eda has started production on his latest feature, Sheep In The Box, with Ayase Haruka and Daigo heading the cast.
Ayase Haruka previously starred in Kore-eda’s Our Little Sister, while Daigo is one of Japan’s star comedians and the project marks his first-ever leading role in a feature film.
Following their collaboration on Kore-eda’s last feature Monster, which premiered in Cannes competition, the film will be sold internationally by Japan’s Gaga and France-based Goodfellas. Gaga is handling Asian territories and also North American sales in collaboration with Goodfellas. Goodfellas is handling Europe, Middle East, CIS, Oceania, Latin America, and Africa.
Written and directed by Kore-eda, Sheep In The Box is set in the near future, where a couple takes in a state-of-the-art humanoid into their home as their son.
“This project began with the idea of ‘bringing the dead back to life using the latest technology’,” says Kore-eda. “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 continues. “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.”
Gaga is also producing with Fuji Television Network, Toho, AOI Pro and will distribute in Japan in collaboration with Toho. The title, Sheep In The Box, draws inspiration from the world-famous French children’s novel The Little Prince.
Filming is currently underway, having started earlier this month, and the film is expected to be released in Japan in 2026.