Neon and Kore-eda: A Sheep in the Box Lands with the Indie Powerhouse

In exciting news for cinephiles everywhere, the acclaimed distributor Neon has once again partnered with master filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda, acquiring the U.S., U.K., and Australian rights to his highly anticipated new feature, "A Sheep in the Box".

This acquisition cements the ongoing, fruitful relationship between the Japanese auteur and the indie studio known for championing boundary-pushing international cinema—a move that signals Neon's confidence in the film's artistic and commercial prospects. The company plans a nationwide theatrical release for the film in the U.S.

Hirokazu Kore-eda, the Palme d'Or winner behind masterpieces like Shoplifters, is venturing into a near-future setting for this new project. The film is a sci-fi infused family drama, a genre pivot that still appears rooted in the director's signature humanistic style.

The official synopsis reveals a moving premise: it is set in the near future, following a couple who bring a state-of-the-art humanoid into their home to raise as their own son. The title itself is a touching nod to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s classic French children’s novel, The Little Prince, which asks the narrator to draw a sheep inside a box. The film stars Haruka Ayase (a Kore-eda veteran from Our Little Sister) and comedian Daigo in his first leading role.

This deal is a significant "reunion," marking the second time Neon has championed one of Koreeda’s features, following their distribution of his 2022 Korean-language drama, Broker.

Broker - Neon previously handled the North American distribution for Broker, which premiered in Competition at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. The film, which centers on two men who arrange adoptions for unwanted babies, was a critical success, earning the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury and, notably, a Best Actor award for star Song Kang-Ho.

Neon has a reputation for turning international arthouse films into major cultural events—most famously with Bong Joon-ho's Parasite, which became the first non-English-language film to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards. By consistently acquiring Kore-eda's work, Neon solidifies its dedication to supporting one of the world's most consistent and acclaimed living directors, ensuring his unique, tender, and deeply observed dramas find a robust audience across key English-speaking markets.

With production on A Sheep in the Box already underway, cinema fans can look forward to another deeply resonant, family-focused story from Kore-eda, backed by a distributor with a proven track record of success.