‘Rental Family,’ Starring Brendan Fraser, Drops Trailer Ahead of TIFF Premiere
The first trailer for Rental Family has arrived, giving audiences a peek at the upcoming comedy-drama from director Hikari. The movie stars Brendan Fraser, Mari Yamamoto, Takehiro Hira, and Akira Emoto.
Discover the joy of unexpected connections. RENTAL FAMILY, starring Academy Award® winner Brendan Fraser. Directed by HIKARI. Premiering at @TIFF_NET 2025, only in theaters November 21st. #RentalFamily pic.twitter.com/nPZP9Ogc96
— Searchlight Pictures (@searchlightpics) August 5, 2025
According to Searchlight Pictures, the film will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025 before opening in U.S. theaters on November 21, 2025.
Rental Family is about a lonely American actor who lives in Tokyo and feels disconnected from the world around him. He ends up taking a job at a Japanese “rental family” company, a real type of business in Japan where people can hire actors to play roles like a husband, father, son, or friend in their lives.
In his new job, he pretends to be these different family members for clients who need emotional support or help in personal situations. At first, it’s just acting for him, but as he spends more time with the people he’s hired to “be family” for, he starts forming real emotional bonds.
These relationships begin to change him, bringing moments of connection, warmth, and joy that he didn’t expect.
The project has been in the works for quite a while. Development started back in 2019, and in November 2023, Deadline reported that Fraser had joined the cast with Hikari set to direct and co-write the script alongside Stephen Blahut. In March 2024, Mari Yamamoto, Takehiro Hira, and Akira Emoto also signed on.
Filming kicked off in Japan on March 12, 2024, and wrapped in late May 2024. The new trailer shows a mix of heartfelt and funny moments, hinting at an emotional story about unconventional family bonds.
While plot details are still under wraps, the preview teases themes of connection, belonging, and finding family in unexpected ways.
Fraser’s return to the screen comes after his Oscar-winning performance in The Whale, and the trailer suggests his role here will once again tap into both humor and heart. Yamamoto, Hira, and Emoto also appear to bring warmth and depth to the ensemble cast.
With its TIFF debut just weeks away, Rental Family is already generating interest, especially after the release of the trailer. Audiences will get to see the full film when it arrives in theaters later this year.
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