The stop-motion wizards at LAIKA, the studio behind Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, are finally back with a brand new feature film after a long wait.
Wildwood just dropped its final trailer, and it looks like LAIKA’s most ambitious and stunning project to date.
(Wildwood via Fathom Entertainment)
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What It’s About
Based on the fantasy novel of the same name by Colin Meloy, the film follows headstrong teenager Prue McKeel after her baby brother is abducted by a murder of crows.
Prue launches a rescue mission into the Impassable Wilderness, an enchanted forest hidden just outside Portland, Oregon, joined by her classmate Curtis.
Along the way, driven by grief and ambition, the two navigate a world of talking animals, bandits and powerful figures. What begins as a rescue mission soon becomes a fight for the very freedom of the forest itself.
LAIKA CEO Travis Knight described the emotional core of the film as one of “love, loss, sacrifice and secrets,” and of finding the magic that can exist right on your own doorstep.
The Stars Behind the Voices
Peyton Elizabeth Lee, known for Disney’s Andi Mack, leads the cast as Prue, with Jacob Tremblay as her loyal yet hapless classmate Curtis.
They’re joined by an enormous and impressive ensemble that includes Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Angela Bassett, Awkwafina, Tom Waits, Charlie Day, Richard E. Grant, Amandla Stenberg, Blythe Danner and Jake Johnson, among many others.
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Why the Film Is a Huge Deal for LAIKA
This marks LAIKA CEO Travis Knight’s second time directing for the studio, following 2016’s Kubo and the Two Strings.
The film has been in development for more than a decade, and LAIKA describes it as the studio’s most ambitious undertaking to date, featuring a whopping 136 distinct locations.
Behind the scenes, acclaimed cinematographer Caleb Deschanel shot the film, and its score was composed by Dario Marianelli.
Wildwood is already generating major awards buzz, with Variety naming it among its early Best Picture predictions for the 2027 Academy Awards, a notable feat for an animated film.
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When and Where to See It
Wildwood opens as the Opening Night selection of AFI FEST on Oct. 21 before hitting theaters everywhere Oct. 23 via Fathom Entertainment.
The film will also be available in select premium formats, including 4DX, DBOX and Dolby Cinema, to give audiences an even more immersive experience.
Six years after its last feature, LAIKA is more than ready to remind everyone why it’s one of animation’s most beloved and inventive studios working today.
Catch Wildwood in theaters everywhere starting Oct. 23.
For more on our most anticipated animated films, click HERE to learn everything we know so far about Netflix’s Steps.
