The stop-motion wizards at Laika — the animation studio behind contemporary favorites like Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings — have been on a bit of a break recently. But they’re roaring back to life with Wildwood, their first feature since 2019. A new trailer for the film indicates it’s going to be another eye-popping example of the art and science behind this particular animation style.
Based on the fantasy novel by Colin Meloy, the Wildwood feature has been in development for more than a decade in development. But as the latest trailer indicates it’ll be worth the wait, featuring lovingly crafted characters exploring fantastical backdrops.
Check out the new trailer and keep reading to learn everything there is to know about Wildwood.
The plot
The modern fantasy story follows a girl named Prue McKeel, who has to venture into the magic-filled woods outside of Portland to rescue her baby brother.
And as the teaser highlights, Prue is joined on the quest by her school chum Curtis and a host of mythical beings, primarily the General, a gigantic golden eagle.
Here’s the official description:
After her baby brother is abducted by a murder of crows, headstrong teenager Prue McKeel launches a desperate rescue mission into the Impassable Wilderness — an enchanted forest hidden just beyond Portland, Oregon. Joined by her hapless but loyal classmate Curtis Mehlberg, Prue navigates a world of talking animals, bandits, and powerful figures driven by grief and ambition. As the pair is drawn into a conflict threatening the balance of the forest itself, Prue must discover strength and belief she never knew she possessed. If she hopes to save her brother and protect Wildwood’s fragile future, she will have to risk everything.
The cast
Like Laika’s previous output, Wildwood boasts a serious voice cast led by up-and-coming star Peyton Elizabeth Lee, from the Disney series Andi Mack, Secret Society of Second-Born Royals, and the Doogie Howser, M.D. remake, Doogie Kameāloha, M.D.
Backing Lee up are two-time Oscar nominee Angela Bassett as the General, two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali, three-time nominee Carey Mulligan, Awkwafina, Jacob Tremblay, Charlie Day, and Tom Waits.
The director
Once again, Laika CEO Travis Knight is the man in the director’s chair. Wildwood will be his second Laika feature as director, after Kubo and the Two Strings. He’s previously worked in live-action, helming the Transformers prequel, Bumblebee, and the recently released Masters of the Universe movie.
The backstory
Wildwood is based on the children’s novel of the same name written by Decemberists frontman Colin Meloy and illustrated by Carson Ellis. The book came out back in 2011, when Laika first acquired the rights, and generated two sequels: 2012’s Under Wildwood and 2014’s Wildwood Imperium.
The trailers
The first teaser arrived on May 13, introducing the main characters, the enchanted forest, and some of its fantantastic creatures.
The featurettes
Preceding the teaser release, Laika unveiled two short featurettes previewing the world of Wildwood.
The release date
Information about the release has trickled out. Once noted simply as a 2026 release, Wildwood has been officially set for a Oct. 23 berth with an unexpected distributor. Fathom Events, who has partnered with Laika for several lucrative re-releases of Coraline, will be putting out Wildwood, marking somewhat of a swerve from its mostly event-based output.
The Oscars prospects
Every Laika-produced film has received a nomination for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards, so it would be a massive shock for the company to miss the category. With the studio’s most recent coming all the way back in 2019 with Missing Link, Wildwood could be a major comeback for the studio after years of absence.
This story was originally published on Oct. 27 and updated on Jan. 16, Jan. 21, May 13, and Aug. 18.
