Rental Family

Rental Family
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Hikari
Written by	Hikari Stephen Blahut
Produced by	Eddie Vaisman Julia Lebedev Hikari Shin Yamaguchi
Starring	Brendan Fraser Takehiro Hira Mari Yamamoto Shannon Mahina Gorman Akira Emoto
Cinematography	Takurô Ishizaka
Edited by	Alan Baumgarten Thomas A. Krueger
Music by	Jónsi Alex Somers
Production companies	Sight Unseen Productions Domo Arigato Productions
Distributed by	Searchlight Pictures
Release dates	September 6, 2025 (2025-09-06)(TIFF) November 21, 2025 (2025-11-21)
Running time	110 minutes [1]
Countries	United States Japan
Languages	English Japanese

Rental Family is a 2025 comedy-drama film directed by Hikari, who co-wrote the screenplay with Stephen Blahut. It stars Brendan Fraser, Takehiro Hira, Mari Yamamoto, Shannon Mahina Gorman, and Akira Emoto.

An international co-production between the United States and Japan, the film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 6, 2025, and is scheduled to be released in the United States by Searchlight Pictures on November 21.

Premise

A lonely American actor living in Tokyo starts working for a Japanese rental family service to play stand-in roles in other people's lives. Along the way, he finds surprising connections and unexpected joys within his new family.

Cast

• Brendan Fraser as Phillip Vandarploeug, a white American actor living in Japan
• Takehiro Hira as Shinji, the Rental Family agency owner
• Mari Yamamoto as Aiko, an employee of the Rental Family agency
• Shannon Mahina Gorman as Mia Kawasaki, a young girl in need of a father figure
• Akira Emoto as Kikuo Hasegawa, a Rental Family client and retired actor
• Shino Shinozaki as Mia's mother, a Rental Family client

Production

The film has been in development since 2019. ^[2] In November 2023, Brendan Fraser was set to star in the film with Hikari directing from a script she co-wrote with Stephen Blahut. ^[3] In March 2024, Mari Yamamoto, Takehiro Hira, and Akira Emoto joined the cast. ^{[4] [5]} Principal photography began in Japan on March 12 and wrapped in late May. ^{[4] [5]}

Release

An international co-production between the United States and Japan, Rental Family had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 6, 2025. ^[6] It is scheduled to be released in the United States by Searchlight Pictures on November 21. ^{[7] [8]}

See also

• Family Romance, LLC

References

1. "Rental Family (2026)". Irish Film Classification Office . September 5, 2025. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
2. Kit, Borys (November 16, 2023). "Searchlight Teams with 'Beef' Director Hikari for Comedy-Drama 'Rental Family' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter .
3. Kroll, Justin (November 21, 2023). "Brendan Fraser Finds His First Major Role After Oscar Win With Searchlight's Rental Family". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved November 21, 2023.
4. Lang, Brent (March 5, 2024). "Mari Yamamoto Starring Opposite Brendan Fraser in Searchlight's 'Rental Family' (Exclusive)". Variety . Retrieved March 5, 2024.
5. D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 18, 2024). "'Shōgun's Takehiro Hira And Akira Emoto Join Brendan Fraser's 'Rental Family' At Searchlight".
6. "Rental Family". Toronto International Film Festival . Retrieved August 12, 2025.
7. Garner, Glenn (July 11, 2025). "Disney Sets 'Rental Family' & 'Psycho Killer' Release Dates". Deadline. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
8. D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 16, 2025). "TIFF Unveils Round Of World Premieres With 'Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery' & Pics From Derek Cianfrance, Paul Greengrass, Nicholas Hytner, Hikari & More". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved July 16, 2025.

External links

• Rental Family at IMDb