Wildwood

Template:Infobox filmWildwood is an upcoming American stop-motion animated dark fantasy adventure film directed by Travis Knight and written by Chris Butler, based on the 2011 novel of the same name by Colin Meloy and illustrated by Carson Ellis. It is produced by LAIKA, marking their sixth stop-motion animated film and their first in six years, following Missing Link (2019). Featuring an ensemble cast featuring the voice talents of 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, the film follows Prue McKeel and Curtis Mehlberg as they attempt to save Prue's infant brother Mac from the crows led by Alexandra, while drawn into a hidden magical forest.

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 Arianne 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.

Wildwood is scheduled to be released in 2025.

Synopsis

Prue McKeel and her best friend Curtis are drawn into a hidden, magical forest, after Prue's baby brother Mac is kidnapped by crows, led by a mysterious woman named Alexandra.

Voice cast

• Peyton Elizabeth Lee as Prue McKeel
• Jacob Tremblay as Curtis Mehlberg
• Carey Mulligan as Alexandra
• Mahershala Ali as Brenden
• Awkwafina
• Angela Bassett
• Jake Johnson
• Charlie Day
• Amandla Stenberg
• Jemaine Clement
• Tom Waits
• Maya Erskine
• Tantoo Cardinal
• Richard E. Grant

Production

In September 2011, weeks after the release of the novel, Oregon-based animation studio LAIKA optioned Wildwood for a stop-motion animated feature film and produced the trailer for the book. 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.

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. On May 24, 2022, Dario Marianelli was announced to compose the film's musical score. He reteams with Knight on his fourth collaboration and his third with LAIKA, after The Boxtrolls (2014), Kubo and the Two Strings (2016) and Bumblebee (2018).

Filming

The film began production in September 2021, with Caleb Deschanel serving as the cinematographer. 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. 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.

Release

Wildwood is scheduled for release in 2025.

Videos

• File:Wildwood Title Reveal - LAIKA Studios