Coraline and ParaNorman studio LAIKA is partnering with Fathom Entertainment to release Wildwood in theaters nationwide on October 23.
Adapted from the 2011 novel written by The Decemberists frontman Colin Meloy and illustrated by his wife Carson Ellis, the stop-motion epic fantasy transports audiences into a secret, dangerously alive world.
A girl’s desperate quest to save her baby brother becomes a high-stakes journey into a forbidden forest filled with enchanted creatures, unlikely allies, and formidable adversaries, where an entire hidden realm hangs in the balance.
In an era of automation, LAIKA delivers what’s described as “its most ambitious and globally accessible film yet, combining human-crafted artistry with large-scale cinematic storytelling.”
LAIKA President Travis Knight (Bumblebee, Kubo and the Two Strings) directs from a script by Chris Butler (ParaNorman, Kubo and the Two Strings).
The cast includes Carey Mulligan, Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Mahershala Ali, Angela Bassett, Awkwafina, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Amandla Stenberg, Jemaine Clement, Maya Erskine, Tantoo Cardinal, Tom Waits, and Richard E. Grant.
“Wildwood is the biggest world LAIKA has ever built, and the most personal,” said Knight. “It’s a story about the pull of the unknown, the courage it takes to step into it, and who you become along the way. Our movie is a celebration of artistry over algorithms, and of the belief that films made by hand, with enormous care, can still feel bold, surprising, dangerous, and alive.
Knight continued, “We designed Wildwood to be seen the way movies first captured our imaginations: discovered in the dark, on a big screen, with a room full of fellow dreamers experiencing joy, silence, and wonder together. Partnering with Fathom and FilmNation means Wildwood will arrive with intention — as a true cinematic event meant to be shared.”
“Wildwood is a magnificently ambitious stop motion film and a landmark achievement in handcrafted cinematic artistry — a project that means so much to both LAIKA and Fathom Entertainment,” added Ray Nutt, Chief Executive Officer at Fathom Entertainment. “It’s a breathtaking creative feat that will captivate audiences when it arrives on the big screen this October.”
FilmNation Entertainment will launch international sales for Wildwood at the European Film Market in Berlin next month.
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