Jenna Ortega Promotes Klara and the Sun on Late Night

Jenna Ortega appeared on NBC's Late Night With Seth Meyers on October 19, 2026, to promote Klara and the Sun, a science fiction film scheduled to open in theaters on October 23. The prerecorded episode features Ortega as its lead interview guest alongside Ina Garten, according to coverage published by Headline Planet. NBC scheduled the broadcast for 12:35 a.m.

ET/PT. Before the program aired, the network released photographs from the taping, offering a first look at Ortega's appearance on the late-night show. The television appearance comes as Ortega promotes the adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro's novel, directed by Taika Waititi.

The film centers on Klara, an artificial companion designed to provide friendship to young people, and her relationship with Josie, a teenager played by Mia Tharia.

According to Headline Planet's October 15 report, Ortega had already begun promotional activities for the film, including an official photocall in the United Kingdom. The October 19 interview was scheduled ahead of the movie's theatrical release four days later.

Reviews published by The Guardian and Screen Rant on October 15 offered critical assessments of Waititi's adaptation, questioning whether the film successfully translates the novel's emotional depth to the screen. The Guardian described a futuristic society in which families can purchase humanoid artificial friends for their children. Ortega plays Klara, an older model powered by solar energy, whose distinctive behavior shapes her relationship with Josie, a gifted 14-year-old experiencing loneliness and an unspecified illness.

The film also stars Amy Adams as Josie's mother, Natasha Lyonne as an artificial-friend salesperson, and Rachel House as the family's housekeeper. Its fictional setting follows a third world war that has disrupted internet access, while the story explores artificial intelligence, human connection, illness, and grief. The Guardian criticized the film's sentimental approach and questioned the effectiveness of its treatment of artificial intelligence and loss. The review also compared its execution unfavorably with Waititi's earlier work, including Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Thor: Ragnarok, and Jojo Rabbit.

Screen Rant likewise argued that the adaptation falls short of the source novel's emotional complexity. Its review identified the film's conclusion and underdeveloped story as weaknesses, while acknowledging the performances and visual presentation as notable strengths. Screen Rant praised Tharia's portrayal of Josie for its confidence and emotional range.

The review also highlighted Ortega's ability to convey feelings while maintaining the mannerisms of a robot, alongside the film's musical score and visual contrasts between light and darkness. Despite their reservations about the screenplay and narrative, the reviews recognized elements of the production that worked effectively. The film's theatrical release was scheduled for October 23, 2026, following Ortega's promotional appearance on NBC's late-night program.