Laika's Wildwood Teaser Unveils Breathtaking Craft and Star Power

Get ready for a new stop-motion adventure! Laika just dropped an incredible first look at their upcoming epic, Wildwood, revealing stunning visuals, an all-star voice cast, and a truly ambitious scale that promises to captivate audiences.

TL;DR

• Laika released a breathtaking first look at their new stop-motion film, Wildwood, highlighting the incredible craft behind Angela Bassett's character, The General.
• The movie, directed by Travis Knight, adapts Colin Meloy's beloved fantasy novel and boasts a stacked voice cast including Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Mahershala Ali, and Carey Mulligan.
• Expected to hit theaters in 2026, Wildwood is described by Laika as their "most ambitious" project to date, featuring 136 locations and 231 puppets.

Step Into the Mysterious Impassable Wilderness of Portland

If you're a fan of the intricate, handcrafted magic that only Laika Studios can deliver, then you've probably been eagerly awaiting news about their next big thing. And guess what? The wait is officially (mostly) over! Laika recently pulled back the curtain on their highly anticipated stop-motion fantasy, Wildwood, with a spectacular first-look teaser that has us buzzing with excitement.

This isn't just any animated film; it's an adaptation of Colin Meloy's bestselling fantasy novel, beautifully illustrated by Carson Ellis. For those who don't know, Meloy is the frontman of the famous band The Decemberists, making this a true Portland-rooted creation, brought to life by the Portland-adjacent (technically Hillsboro-based) animation powerhouse, Laika. It's truly shaping up to be "the most Portland movie of all time," blending local flavor with universal fantasy themes.

The story kicks off with Prue McKeel, an ordinary girl from Portland, Oregon, whose life takes an extraordinary turn when her baby brother, Mac, gets snatched away by a murder of crows. Talk about a bad day! Her desperate search leads her and her hapless classmate Curtis into the mysterious, magical forest of Wildwood, also known as the Impassable Wilderness, a place you're "not supposed to go" and "not even supposed to know it exists." Inside, Prue discovers a world brimming with talking animals, roguish bandits, and powerful, sometimes dark, forces. She might think she’s too old for fairytales, but she’s just landed smack-dab in the middle of one.

Meet The General: Angela Bassett Commands the Wildwood Skies

The first look video gave us a glorious introduction to one of Wildwood's most awe-inspiring characters: The General. Voiced by the incredible, Honorary Academy Award recipient Angela Bassett, The General is a majestic golden eagle who commands the skies with a fierce and fearless presence. Seriously, just imagining Bassett's voice giving life to this powerful warrior gives us chills!

What makes Laika films so special is the sheer dedication to their craft, and The General is a prime example. The teaser showcased the meticulous artistry involved, revealing that animators hand-crafted more than 9,000 individual feathers to cover two specialized puppets for The General. One puppet is designed specifically for breathtaking flight sequences, allowing for sweeping, dynamic movements, while the other is crafted for intricate, fine-tuned performance work. This level of detail ensures that every movement, every subtle shift, feels alive and authentic, pushing the boundaries of what stop-motion can achieve.

"Known throughout Wildwood as The General. She embodies power & unshakeable grace. Behind the scenes, the brilliant artists at Laika Studios are hand-crafting a character that soars beyond the screen through breathtaking stop-motion animation."

— Laika Studios, describing The General

A Stellar Ensemble: The Voice Cast Bringing Wildwood to Life

Laika isn't just known for its visual artistry; the studio consistently draws top-tier talent for its voice casts, and Wildwood is no exception. The ensemble is truly star-studded, promising to lend incredible depth and personality to this magical world.

Key Voice Cast Members You'll Hear:

• Peyton Elizabeth Lee as Prue McKeel, our brave young protagonist.
• Angela Bassett as The General, the formidable golden eagle.
• Jacob Tremblay as Curtis Mehlberg, Prue's classmate and companion on her quest.
• Carey Mulligan
• Mahershala Ali (reportedly as Brenden)
• Awkwafina
• Jake Johnson
• Charlie Day
• Amandla Stenberg
• Jemaine Clement
• Tom Waits (reportedly as the "terrifying" antagonist Maxim)
• Richard E. Grant

With a lineup like that, we're not just getting stunning visuals but also a truly immersive auditory experience, as these talented actors breathe life into every creature and character in Wildwood.

Behind the Scenes: Laika's Most Ambitious Cinematic Feat Yet

Directing this ambitious project is Laika president and CEO Travis Knight, who previously brought us the critically acclaimed Kubo and the Two Strings and even the live-action hit Bumblebee. Knight is also set to lead the upcoming live-action He-Man (Masters of the Universe) franchise, showing his diverse range as a filmmaker. Chris Butler, a longtime creative partner with Laika, who penned screenplays for films like ParaNorman and Missing Link, is responsible for adapting Meloy's novel for the screen.

The journey to bring Wildwood to the big screen has been a long one, with development stretching back to 2011, shortly after the book's publication. While it was officially announced in 2021, the intricate nature of stop-motion animation means these projects take time, leading to several delays. But judging by this first look, every moment has been worth it.

Laika Chief Marketing and Operations Officer, Dave Burke, wasn't shy about the scale of this undertaking, stating, "This is our most ambitious film yet." And director Travis Knight echoed that sentiment, calling it "perhaps the hardest thing we have ever done" and "incredibly ambitious." The numbers back this up: the film reportedly features an astounding 136 locations, 54 hero characters, and 231 practical puppets. That's a monumental amount of painstaking, frame-by-frame animation!

Further elevating the visual spectacle is six-time Oscar-nominated cinematographer Caleb Deschanel, whose expertise will undoubtedly help craft the enchanting, yet sometimes dark, aesthetic of Wildwood. Laika has always been celebrated for its gorgeous, creatively ambitious Movies like Coraline (which earned an Oscar nomination) and ParaNorman, both of which have recently seen re-releases due to their enduring popularity. While the studio has sometimes faced challenges at the box office (their last film, Missing Link, reportedly grossed $26.5 million against a $100 million budget), their commitment to unique storytelling and unparalleled craft remains unwavering. Wildwood looks set to continue that legacy of stunning, handcrafted cinema.

When Can We Dive into Wildwood's Magic?

While the first look has given us a fantastic taste of what's to come, an exact release date is still under wraps. However, Laika has confirmed that Wildwood is expected to hit theaters sometime in 2026. So, mark your calendars and get ready to experience Laika's most ambitious and magical adventure yet!

Keep an eye out for more updates, trailers, and behind-the-scenes glimpses as we get closer to 2026. If this teaser is anything to go by, Wildwood is going to be an unforgettable cinematic journey.

Frequently Asked Questions About Laika's Wildwood When is Wildwood coming out? Laika's Wildwood is expected to be released in theaters sometime in 2026. Who is in the Wildwood voice cast? The star-studded voice cast includes Peyton Elizabeth Lee as Prue, Angela Bassett as The General, Jacob Tremblay as Curtis, along with Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Awkwafina, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Amandla Stenberg, Jemaine Clement, Tom Waits, and Richard E. Grant. What is the story of Wildwood about? Wildwood follows Prue McKeel, a young girl from Portland, Oregon, who ventures into a mysterious, magical forest called Wildwood (also known as the Impassable Wilderness) to rescue her baby brother, Mac, after he's kidnapped by crows. She teams up with her classmate Curtis and encounters a host of magical creatures and challenges. Is Wildwood a stop-motion film? Yes, Wildwood is a stop-motion animated film, continuing Laika Studios' signature style. The recent first-look teaser highlights the meticulous handcrafted artistry involved in its production. Sources

• Official Laika Studios promotional materials and teaser video.
• Various entertainment news outlets covering the first-look reveal and production updates.
• Interviews and statements from Laika CEO Travis Knight and CMO Dave Burke.