Hirokazu Kore-eda is coming back to direction three years following his critically acclaimed film Monster with a science-fiction film titled Sheep in the Box. The other day, the makers of the film released a poster giving a first look at its lead character and a teaser. The film also brings Kore-eda back to the sci-fi space after 2009’s Air Doll. 

Sheep in the Box follows a husband and wife who, while grieving the loss of their son, welcome home a robot that looks like him in an attempt to recreate their child. It stars Daigo Yamamaota and Haruka Ayase as the husband and wife, respectively, in addition to Kuwaki Rimu in the role of their humanoid son.

Speaking recently to Deadline about the film, Hirokazu Kore-eda said that the film explores the resurrection of the dead with the latest piece of technology. He added that other filmmakers have already dealt with similar concepts for TV shows in Japan and gained a lot of eyeballs. "I was interested in exploring the conflicting perspectives regarding how technological advancement clashes with human inner values," he said.

Production on the film commenced in September last year. The film is produced by the Japan-based studio Gaga alongside Fuji Television Network, AOI Pro, and Toho. Gaga and Toho will bring it to theatres in Japan on May 29. The makers are yet to announce plans to release the film elsewhere.

Kore-eda is best known for his 2018 drama Shoplifters, which won the prestigious Palme d'Or award at the Cannes Film Festival and earned a Best Foreign Language Film Oscar.

The filmmaker's upcoming projects also include a live-action adaptation of Look Back, Tatsuki Fujimoto’s web manga. Look Back is expected to hit theatres later this year.