Wildwood (film)

Upcoming 2026 American stop-motion animated film

Wildwood

Teaser poster through Empire cover

Directed by| Travis Knight
Screenplay by| Chris Butler
Based on|

Wildwood

* Colin Meloy
* Carson Ellis

Produced by|

* Arianne Sutner
* Travis Knight

Starring|

* Peyton Elizabeth Lee
* Jacob Tremblay
* Carey Mulligan
* Mahershala Ali
* Awkwafina
* Angela Bassett
* Jake Johnson
* Charlie Day
* Amandla Stenberg
* Jemaine Clement
* Maya Erskine
* Tantoo Cardinal
* Tom Waits
* Richard E. Grant

Cinematography| Caleb Deschanel
Music by| Dario Marianelli

Production
company

Laika

Release date

* 2026 (2026)

Country| United States
Language| English

Wildwood is an upcoming American animated dark fantasy film directed by Travis Knight and written by Chris Butler, based on Colin Meloy's 2011 novel illustrated by Carson Ellis. Produced by Laika, the film features an ensemble voice cast led by Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Awkwafina, Angela Bassett, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Amandla Stenberg, Jemaine Clement, Maya Erskine, Tantoo Cardinal, Tom Waits, and Richard E. Grant.

Development began in September 2011, weeks after the release of the novel, when Laika announced plans to adapt Wildwood as a stop-motion animated feature film. Despite having produced the trailer for the book, the full-length project was not yet officially announced due to its ambitious nature. Production was officially confirmed in September 2021, with Knight directing and co-producing with Sutner, and Butler writing the script. Much of the voice cast were signed on in August 2022. Production of the feature took place at Laika's facility studio outside Portland, Oregon, with Caleb Deschanel serving as the cinematographer.

The film is scheduled to be released in the United States in 2026.

## Premise

[edit]

The plot follows Prue McKeel and her classmate Curtis Mehlberg as they are drawn into a hidden magical forest in an attempt to save Prue's kidnapped infant brother Mac from the crows led by a mysterious woman named Alexandra.

## Voice cast

[edit]

* Peyton Elizabeth Lee
* Jacob Tremblay
* Carey Mulligan
* Mahershala Ali
* Jemaine Clement
* Awkwafina
* Angela Bassett
* Jake Johnson
* Charlie Day
* Amandla Stenberg
* Tom Waits
* Maya Erskine
* Tantoo Cardinal
* Richard E. Grant

## Production

[edit]

In September 2011, weeks after the release of the novel, Laika optioned Wildwood for a stop motion animated feature film and produced the trailer for the book.[1][2] No further development on the film was announced until in September 2021, when Laika announced their next film would be Wildwood with Travis Knight set to direct, Arianne Sutner to produce, and Chris Butler writing the screenplay for the film.[3][4][5]

In August 2022, Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Awkwafina, Angela Bassett, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Amandla Stenberg, Jemaine Clement, Maya Erskine, Tantoo Cardinal, Tom Waits, and Richard E. Grant were all announced as part of the ensemble voice cast of the film.[6][7]

### Filming

[edit]

The film began production in September 2021, with Caleb Deschanel serving as the cinematographer.[8] Production of the stop-motion animated feature took place at Laika's facility studio outside in Portland, Oregon, the first film set in its hometown.[6] In 2024, Knight revealed the project was the most ambitious film that Laika had ever made: "We've had to build up the creative tools, the technology and our storytelling muscles to do this book justice." Examples of unique challenges included staging epic battles, aerial sequences, and crafting the eagle character.[9]

### Music

[edit]

In May 2022, Dario Marianelli was announced to compose the film's musical score. He reteams with Knight on his fourth collaboration and his third collaboration with Laika, after The Boxtrolls, Kubo and the Two Strings, and Bumblebee.[10]

## Release

[edit]

Wildwood is scheduled to be released in the United States in 2026.[11] No distributor has yet acquired the film. It was initially scheduled for a release in 2025.[12][13]

### Marketing

[edit]

A title reveal was shown before 15th anniversary showings of Coraline.[14][15] A book featuring making of the film will be released on March 10, 2026.[16]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Debruge, Peter (September 7, 2011). "Laika to adapt The Decemberists singer's 'Wildwood'". Variety. Retrieved April 22, 2012.
2. ^ Manny (January 31, 2015). "LAIKA Studios comes to Wizard World Portland!". Screen Invasion. Archived from the original on February 6, 2015. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
3. ^ Desowitz, Bill (August 25, 2022). "Laika Sets Voice Cast for 'Wildwood': Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Awkwafina, and More". IndieWire. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
4. ^ @LAIKAStudios (September 15, 2021). "Magic. Wonder. Danger. Welcome to #Wildwood! The newest addition to the LAIKA family is now in production..." (Tweet) - via Twitter.
5. ^ Grobar, Matt (September 15, 2021). "Laika Finds Its Next Movie in Travis Knight-Helmed Adaptation of Colin Meloy Novel 'Wildwood'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
6. ^ a b Hipes, Patrick (August 25, 2022). "Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Peyton Elizabeth Lee Among Voice Cast For Laika's Wildwood; See First-Look Image". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
7. ^ @LAIKAStudios (August 25, 2022). "The LAIKA family just got bigger. Meet the spellbinding cast of #Wildwood" (Tweet) - via Twitter.
8. ^ @LAIKAStudios (September 15, 2021). "Magic. Wonder. Danger. Welcome to #Wildwood! The newest addition to the LAIKA family is now in production..." (Tweet) - via Twitter.
9. ^ Travis, Ben (July 27, 2024). "Wildwood Is The 'Hardest' Film Laika Studios Has Ever Made: 'It's Incredibly Ambitious'". Empire. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
10. ^ "Dario Marianelli to Score Travis Knight's Wildwood". Film Music Reporter. May 24, 2022. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
11. ^ Oddo, Marco Vito (April 16, 2025). "Laika's Wildwood Gets 2026 Release Date Window". ComicBook.com. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
12. ^ Barnhardt, Adam (June 10, 2023). "Laika Attempting "Single Most Difficult Thing" in Studio History With New Stop Motion Movie". ComicBook.com. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
13. ^ Butcher, Sophie (June 7, 2023). "Laika Is Staging An Epic Stop-Motion Battle Sequence For Upcoming Movie Wildwood: 'It's The Single Most Difficult Thing We're Tackling', Says Travis Knight – Exclusive Image". Empire. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
14. ^ https://www.laika.com/our-films/wildwood
15. ^ https://thenerdsofcolor.org/2024/08/16/first-teaser-and-title-for-laikas-wildwood-finally-revealed/amp/
16. ^ https://www.rizzoliusa.com/book/9780789346131/

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Wildwood at IMDb

* v
* t
* e

The Wildwood Chronicles

* Colin Meloy
* Carson Ellis

Books|

* Wildwood (2011)
* Under Wildwood (2012)
* Wildwood Imperium (2014)

Film|

* Wildwood (2026)

* v
* t
* e

Laika

Feature films|

* Coraline (2009)
* ParaNorman (2012)
* The Boxtrolls (2014)
* Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)
* Missing Link (2019)
* Wildwood (2026)

Short films|

* Moongirl (2005)

People|

* Phil Knight
* Travis Knight
* Henry Selick

Associated productions|

* Corpse Bride (2005)
* King of California (2007)
* Slacker Cats (2007–2009)
* A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas (2011)

Related articles|

* Will Vinton
* Clay animation
* Coraline's Curious Cat Trail

* v
* t
* e

Travis Knight

Films|

| Director|

* Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)
* Bumblebee (2018)
* Wildwood (2026)
* Masters of the Universe (2026)

|

Producer|

* ParaNorman (2012)
* The Boxtrolls (2014)
* Missing Link (2019)

Related|

* Laika, LLC

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