Wildwood (film)
2026 film by Travis Knight
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Wildwood is a 2026 American animated dark fantasy film[4] co-produced and directed by Travis Knight and written by Chris Butler, based on Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis's 2011 novel. Produced by Laika, the film stars Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Awkwafina, Angela Bassett, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Amandla Stenberg, Jemaine Clement, Len Cariou, Maya Erskine, Tantoo Cardinal, Tom Waits, and Richard E. Grant. In the film, a teenage girl named Prue (Lee) and her classmate Curtis (Tremblay) travel into an enchanted forest in search of her infant brother after he is abducted. They find a manor and learn about a coming war from a mysterious woman who tragically lost her son.
| Wildwood | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Travis Knight |
| Written by | Chris Butler |
| Based on | |
| Produced by | Travis Knight[1] Sam Wilson[2] |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Caleb Deschanel |
| Edited by | Christopher Murrie |
| Music by | Dario Marianelli |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Fathom Entertainment |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 131 minutes[3] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Development began in September 2011, just weeks after the release of Meloy's novel, when Laika announced plans to adapt Wildwood as an animated feature. Production was confirmed in September 2021, with Knight directing and co-producing with Arianne Sutner, and Butler writing the script. Most of the cast was revealed in August 2022. Production of the feature took place at Laika's facility studio in Hillsboro, Oregon, with Caleb Deschanel serving as the cinematographer. With a theatrical runtime of 131 minutes, Wildwood is the longest stop-motion animated film by runtime.[5]
Wildwood had its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival on October 11, 2026,[6] and is scheduled to be released in the United States by Fathom Entertainment on October 23, 2026. It is also Laika's first film to receive a PG-13 rating from the Motion Picture Association.[7] The film received critical acclaim.
Premise
Prue McKeel and her classmate Curtis Mehlberg are drawn into a hidden magical forest near Portland in an attempt to save Prue's abducted infant brother Mac from the crows, who are led by a mysterious woman named Alexandra.
Voice cast
- Peyton Elizabeth Lee as Prue McKeel, a teenager who must find the courage to rescue her infant brother Mac from an enchanted place that challenges everything she believes.[8]
- Jacob Tremblay as Curtis Mehlberg, a hapless but bighearted, steadfast teenager who is Prue's classmate and sidekick.[8]
- Carey Mulligan as Alexandra, a dowager governess who once ruled The South Wood benevolently, but is now lost in a spiral of grief, after the death of her son and possession of dark magic which led to her exile, where right and wrong are becoming dangerously intertwined.[8]
- Mahershala Ali as Brendan, the Bandit King and leader of Wildwood's bandits.[8]
- Awkwafina as Septima, a rat[8]
- Angela Bassett as the General, a giant golden eagle who becomes Prue's guide.[8]
- Jake Johnson as Mr. McKeel, Prue's father[8]
- Charlie Day as Dmitri, a coyote[8]
- Amandla Stenberg as Niamh, a member of the bandits[8]
- Jemaine Clement as Roger Swindon, a power-hungry member of the South Sood[8]
- Maya Erskine as Mrs. McKeel, Prue's mother[8]
- Tantoo Cardinal as Iphigenia, a mystic [8]
- Tom Waits as Maksim, a coyote and Alexandra's lead soldier of her coyote army.[8]
- Richard E. Grant as Owl Rex, a wise old owl who was once the Crown Prince of Avian Principality.[8]
- Arthur Knight as Mac McKeel, Prue's infant brother
- Marc Evan Jackson as Lars Svik, a diplomat[8]
- Rob Delaney as Samuel, a rabbit constable from the North Wood[9]
- Ólafur Darri Ólafsson as Seamus, a member of the bandits
- Len Cariou as Richard[8]
- Blythe Danner
Production
Development
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In September 2011, a week after the release of the book Wildwood, Laika optioned the novel for a stop-motion animated feature film, after producing the trailer for the book.[10][11] 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.[12]
Casting
In August 2022, Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Awkwafina, Angela Bassett, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Amandla Stenberg, Jemaine Clement, Len Cariou, Maya Erskine, Tantoo Cardinal, Tom Waits, and Richard E. Grant were announced as part of the ensemble voice cast of the film.[13][14] In May 2026, the rest of the cast was revealed.[15]
Filming
The film began production in September 2021, with Caleb Deschanel serving as the cinematographer.[12] 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.[13] 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.[16] The production features 136 sets and 231 practical puppets. In addition to facial components, 3D printing was employed to create armatures, puppet musculature, and simulated water, with VFX providing additional touch-ups.[2]
Music
| Wildwood (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | ||||
| Released | October 23, 2026 | |||
| Venue | London | |||
| Genre | Film score | |||
| Length | 65:42 | |||
| Dario Marianelli chronology | ||||
| ||||
In May 2022, Dario Marianelli was announced to compose the film's musical score. It is his third score for a Laika film, following The Boxtrolls (2014) and Kubo and the Two Strings (2016), and his third collaboration with Knight, following Kubo and Bumblebee (2018).[17] The score soundtrack will be out on October 23, 2026, with a new song provided by The Decemberists.[18]
A soundtrack inspired by the film, Wildwood Sessions, is set to be released on October 16, 2026,[19] consisting of 13 tracks from Still Woozy, Saya Gray, Omari Jazz, Bocha, Donte Thomas, Amine, Portugal. The Man, Ringdown, quickly, quickly, New Constellations, Three for Silver, Ryan Oxford, Rachel Fannan, and The Decemberists.[20]
Track listing
All music is composed by Dario Marianelli, except as noted.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Impassible Wilderness" | 2:38 |
| 2. | "Meet the McKeels" | 1:54 |
| 3. | "Into the Wild Wood" | 1:54 |
| 4. | "The Coyotes" | 0:57 |
| 5. | "A Wildwood Chase" | 1:31 |
| 6. | "Jounrey to South Wood" | 1:48 |
| 7. | "Alexandra, The Dowager Governess" | 2:04 |
| 8. | "Pittock Mansion" | 1:13 |
| 9. | "Curtis Rides Out" | 4:06 |
| 10. | "Prue on the Run" | 4:13 |
| 11. | "86 Rue Thurmond" | 1:40 |
| 12. | "Alexei's Story" | 4:48 |
| 13. | "A Flight and a Dogight" | 3:51 |
| 14. | "The Ivy's Waltz" | 1:14 |
| 15. | "Here's the Thing" | 2:13 |
| 16. | "Escape from the Warren" | 1:28 |
| 17. | "The Deal" | 2:07 |
| 18. | "Iphigenia & the Mystics" | 4:05 |
| 19. | "Three Armies" | 2:04 |
| 20. | "Into Battle" | 3:11 |
| 21. | "ATTACK!" | 2:46 |
| 22. | "The Plinth" | 3:52 |
| 23. | "Victory" | 1:29 |
| 24. | "Time to Go Back" | 2:30 |
| 25. | "Homecoming" | 1:41 |
| 26. | "The Better Part of Bravery" (performed by The Decemberists) | 4:25 |
| Total length: | 65:42 | |
Release
The film had its world premiere at the 70th BFI London Film Festival on October 11, 2026.[6] It was also programmed at the 24th Alice nella Città festival in Rome and the 59th Sitges Film Festival.[21]
In January 2026, Laika announced that it would be partnering with Fathom Entertainment on the domestic release of Wildwood, and FilmNation Entertainment for handling international sales. The film is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States on October 23, 2026.[22] Beta Fiction Spain secured Spanish theatrical distribution.[23] Black Bear Pictures will handle theatrical distribution in the United Kingdom. VVS Films will handle theatrical distribution in Canada.
Marketing
A title reveal was shown before 15th anniversary showings of Coraline (2009),[24][25] and a three-minute behind the scenes video was shown before 13th anniversary showings of ParaNorman (2012).[26] A book detailing the making of the film was released on March 10, 2026.[27] An art installation, Wildwood: Follow the Crows, was installed in Portland, Oregon, on August 7, 2026. Similar to the 2024 installation Coraline's Curious Cat Trail, Wildwood: Follow the Crows is a collaboration between Laika, Oregon Health and Science University's Doernbecher Children's Hospital, Wild in Art, the Portland Metro Chamber, and Downtown Portland Clean and Safe, and is supported by the Visit Downtown Campaign.[28][29][30][31] An official teaser trailer was released on May 13, 2026, and a new full-length trailer for the film was released on August 19, 2026. It had 179 million views on both trailers altogether, becoming the biggest trailers launch ever for a fully stop-motion animated film.[32][33] The final trailer was released on September 16, 2026.[34]
Reception
Critical response
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 16 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8.6/10.[35]
See also
- Wildwood: Follow the Crows (2026), art installation in Portland, Oregon