Wildwood 2026

Wildwood (2026) is an American stop-motion animated fantasy adventure directed by Travis Knight and produced by LAIKA, the acclaimed studio behind Coraline, ParaNorman, and Kubo and the Two Strings. Based on the bestselling novel by Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis, the film follows a young girl who enters a mysterious forest to rescue her kidnapped baby brother. Combining handcrafted animation with an epic fantasy story, Wildwood is scheduled to arrive in theaters on October 23, 2026.

Wildwood (2026) Storyline

Prue McKeel’s ordinary life changes when a murder of crows abducts her baby brother, Mac. Refusing to give up on her family, she follows them into the Impassable Wilderness, a hidden forest that exists beyond the edge of Portland. The place is unlike anything she has ever imagined, filled with talking animals, strange creatures, and powerful rulers fighting for control.

Joined by her classmate Curtis Mehlberg, Prue travels deeper into the enchanted wilderness, where every step reveals new dangers and unexpected allies. As they uncover the forest’s long-hidden secrets, they realize that saving Mac may also determine the future of Wildwood itself.

The adventure explores courage, friendship, and sacrifice while introducing audiences to a richly imagined fantasy world inspired by the original novel.

Cast

• Peyton Elizabeth Lee as Prue McKeel (voice)
• Jacob Tremblay as Curtis Mehlberg (voice)
• Carey Mulligan as Alexandra (voice)
• Mahershala Ali as Brenden (voice)
• Angela Bassett as The General (voice)
• Awkwafina as Mrs. McKeel (voice)
• Jake Johnson as Mr. McKeel (voice)
• Charlie Day as Seamus (voice)
• Richard E. Grant as Roger Swindon / Elgen (voice)
• Tom Waits, Amandla Stenberg, Jemaine Clement, Maya Erskine, and Tantoo Cardinal also lend their voices to key characters.

Production Details

Development on Wildwood began shortly after the novel’s publication, with LAIKA officially announcing the adaptation years before production entered full swing. The screenplay was written by Chris Butler, while Academy Award-nominated cinematographer Caleb Deschanel contributed to the film’s visual design. Composer Dario Marianelli created the musical score.

Known for its handcrafted stop-motion animation, LAIKA built hundreds of detailed puppets and large-scale miniature sets to bring the magical forest to life, making Wildwood one of the studio’s most ambitious productions to date.

Release Date and Where to Watch

Wildwood is scheduled for an exclusive theatrical release in the United States on October 23, 2026, distributed by Fathom Entertainment. Information about digital and streaming availability will be announced after its theatrical run.