LAIKA Studios has officially released a behind-the-scenes trailer for Wildwood, their upcoming stop-motion animated movie. LAIKA Studios is home to multiple beloved stop-motion animated films, such as Coraline, ParaNorman, and The Boxtrolls. Wildwood is set to release sometime in 2026 after being rescheduled due to delays. The movie is an adaptation of the Wildwood Chronicles book series, written by Colin Meloy and illustrated by Carson Ellis.
The dark fantasy feature is directed by Travis Knight, known for films such as Bumblebee and Kubo and the Two Strings, and written by Chris Butler, known for writing the films Missing Link and ParaNorman. Wildwood follows Prue McKeel, voiced by Peyton Elizabeth Lee, as she sets out on a journey to the forests outside Portland in search of her kidnapped brother, Mac. He is abducted by a murder of crows into the Impassable Wilderness, and Prue, along with her classmate Curtis, discovers a magical realm with more complexities than they could have imagined.
The all-star cast includes Carey Mulligan, Awkwafina, Angela Bassett, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day and Richard E. Grant. Six-time Oscar-nominated cinematographer Caleb Deschanel has also joined the film. LAIKA’s chief marketing and operations officer, Dave Burke, stated, “This is our most ambitious film yet.” Wildwood will feature 136 locations, 231 practical puppets, and 54 hero characters.
The film has been in development as early as 2011, which is shortly after Meloy’s book series was released. However, it was not officially confirmed until 2021. LAIKA Studios has garnered its fanbase through its breathtaking visuals and staggering process in creating its beloved animated films. Coraline, LAIKA’s debut film, put them on the map, earning an Oscar nomination.
Knight, LAIKA’s founder and director of Wildwood, has been occupied with Amazon’s live-action Masters of the Universe project, which is set to release on June 5, 2026. The studio’s last film, Missing Link, was not as successful as its other projects, bringing in only $26.5 million on a $100 million budget. Knight called the upcoming feature “the hardest thing we have ever done,” and said that “it’s incredibly ambitious.”
Wildwood has no set release date, but it will be released next year. Check out the first look below.
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