The world premiere of Klara and the Sun delivered one of the year’s most talked-about red carpet moments before a single frame of the film even rolled. On Thursday, October 15, 2026, stars and surprise guests descended on the Royal Festival Hall at BFI Southbank for the 70th BFI London Film Festival gala premiere of Taika Waititi’s long-awaited adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel — and the night’s biggest gasp came courtesy of Florence Pugh’s very dramatic dress. According to People, Pugh, who isn’t even in the movie, accidentally poked Jenna Ortega in the face with a sculptural sleeve of her voluminous gown while greeting the film’s star.

The Klara and the Sun Red Carpet Incident: Sleeve vs. Face

It was meant to be a warm hello between two of Hollywood’s brightest young stars. As reported by People, Ortega, 24, and Pugh, 30, greeted each other excitedly on the red carpet, but as they leaned in for a hug, the puffy wing-like sleeve of Pugh’s gown nailed Ortega right in the mouth. The whole thing was caught on camera and shared by MTV UK on Instagram.

Pugh was mortified in the sweetest way. “Oh my god. I just bumped you in the face, I’m so sorry!” she told Ortega afterward, gently grabbing the side of her head while apologizing to make sure she was okay. Ortega, for her part, was completely unfazed by the fashion fumble — she smiled and kept the interaction going like the pro she is.

The offending garment? A show-stopping pastel blue Rodarte Spring/Summer 2026 gown covered in embroidered floral details, with wing-like sculptural shoulders and sleeves that floated upward like a fairy’s. Styled by Rebecca Corbin-Murray, the see-through bodice and skirt were adorned with delicate brown and blue sequined floral embroidery, according to InStyle. Pugh wore her long blonde hair in a twisted half-up ‘do with Y2K-coded beachy waves, keeping her makeup soft and natural to let the dress do all the talking.

Pugh’s surprise appearance had everyone wondering why she was there at all, since she’s not part of the cast. People reports she turned up simply to support her fellow actor friends, posing on the carpet alongside Ortega, Amy Adams, and co-producer Rachel Forman. This isn’t her first red carpet stop of the month either — she also appeared at a preview screening of her Netflix limited series East of Eden, which premiered October 1.

Jenna Ortega and Amy Adams Lead the Klara and the Sun Premiere Looks

The rest of the Klara and the Sun premiere red carpet was stacked with standout fashion. Ortega dazzled in a custom gold slip dress by Torlowei, featuring micro straps, black lace trim, and romantic floral embellishments on the bust and skirt. She finished the look with a matching gold lace headpiece worn over her long, loose hair — a detail that earned her raves from fashion watchers on the carpet.

Adams, who plays Josie’s mother Chrissie in the film, opted for a form-fitting black custom Georges Chakra dress with a large white draped section wrapping around her shoulders and upper arms, plus a rose detail tucked at the back. Also on the carpet: Natasha Lyonne in a flowing periwinkle halter gown, director Taika Waititi in a classic black tuxedo, and his wife Rita Ora in a black lace ArdAzAei couture gown — complete with a dramatic matching lace mask. Aran Murphy, the son of Oscar winner Cillian Murphy, was also photographed on the carpet.

What Is Klara and the Sun About?

For anyone who hasn’t read Ishiguro’s 2021 bestseller — written by the Nobel Prize-winning author of The Remains of the Day and Never Let Me Go — the story unfolds in a dystopian future where advances in genetic engineering have divided humans into strict, isolated social classes. Ortega plays Klara, a solar-powered Artificial Friend, or AF: an obsolete companion android waiting in a store to be chosen. She gets purchased for Josie, an ailing girl played by Mia Tharia, and tries to bond with her even as Josie’s health frays the family apart.

Amy Adams stars as Chrissie, Josie’s mother, while the supporting cast includes Aran Murphy as Rick, Steve Buscemi, and Natasha Lyonne — who, according to the film’s trailer, plays the store manager who tells the waiting androids: “I still firmly believe that all of you older AFs have a fighting chance at finding homes.”

Waititi directed and executive produced the film, co-writing the screenplay with Dahvi Waller (Mad Men, Mrs. America), with Ishiguro himself on board as an executive producer. Sony Pictures is releasing the 116-minute film, which arrives exclusively in theaters on October 23, 2026, in the US and UK. A small caveat for planners: at least one outlet has reported select international markets opening October 22, so release dates may vary by territory.

“Put Down the Computers and Phones”: Ortega’s Message for the Klara and the Sun Premiere

Beyond the fashion chaos, Ortega used the spotlight to share what she hopes the film leaves audiences with. On the red carpet, she said the story should remind people to stay present: “I think we gotta put our focus on one another and put down the computers and phones,” she told Variety, according to red-carpet coverage. Standing beside her, Adams added that everyone she’s spoken to has taken something different away from the film — which, to her, is the mark of a movie that truly communicates with each viewer.

Early Reviews for Klara and the Sun Are Brutally Mixed

Not every headline out of the premiere is golden. Early reviews from the festival circuit are sharply divided, with several critics saying the adaptation misses the soul of Ishiguro’s quiet novel. Little White Lies’ David Jenkins called the result “a garbled mess of half-cocked speculative sci-fi and sentimental platitudes,” while The Times’ Kevin Maher branded it “a hopeless film, slippery and mendacious, full of gross Hallmark sentiment,” according to a review roundup by ComingSoon.

The Independent’s Clarisse Loughrey summed up the adaptation complaint neatly: “The book was about who we fundamentally are, now and tomorrow. The film is about the power of love and friendship.” Whether audiences agree when Klara and the Sun opens October 23 remains to be seen — but if the premiere’s viral dress-poke moment is any indication, plenty of eyes will be on this one either way.

FAQ: Klara and the Sun Premiere

When does Klara and the Sun release in theaters?
The film arrives exclusively in theaters on October 23, 2026, in the US and UK, after its world premiere at the 70th BFI London Film Festival on October 15.

Is Florence Pugh in Klara and the Sun?
No — Pugh is not part of the cast. According to People, she made a surprise appearance at the premiere to support her actor friends and accidentally poked Jenna Ortega in the face with her Rodarte gown’s sculptural sleeve during a hug.

What is Klara and the Sun about?
Based on Kazuo Ishiguro’s 2021 novel, the dystopian sci-fi film follows Klara (Jenna Ortega), a solar-powered android companion purchased for an ailing girl named Josie (Mia Tharia), whose mother Chrissie is played by Amy Adams.

Who stars in Klara and the Sun?
The cast is led by Jenna Ortega and Amy Adams, alongside Mia Tharia, Aran Murphy (Cillian Murphy’s son), Steve Buscemi, and Natasha Lyonne. The film is directed and co-written by Taika Waititi.