Entertainment
Laika prepares for October theatrical release of stop-motion feature ‘Wildwood’
The Oregon animation studio spent 16 years developing the PG-13 film, which features 231 handcrafted puppets and 136 sets.
The short version
- Animation studio Laika is scheduled to release its PG-13 stop-motion film "Wildwood" in theaters on October 23.
- The 139-minute movie, adapted from Colin Meloy's 2011 novel and directed by Travis Knight, took roughly 16 years to develop using 231 practical puppets and 136 sets.
- Fathom Entertainment is distributing the project following strong viral interest in the film's promotional teaser.
Key facts
- Laika's upcoming stop-motion animated film "Wildwood" is scheduled to debut in theaters on October 23.[Associated Press]
- The movie carries a PG-13 rating and has a runtime of 139 minutes.[Associated Press]
- Directed by Travis Knight, "Wildwood" is based on Colin Meloy's 2011 novel and features a voice cast that includes Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Jake Johnson, and Jacob Tremblay.[Associated Press]
- The 16-year development process utilized 136 sets and 231 practical puppets.[Associated Press]
- Fathom Entertainment is distributing "Wildwood," replacing Focus Features, which previously handled Laika's releases through 2016.[Associated Press]
What remains uncertain
- Whether the high digital viewership of the teaser trailer will translate into box office success for Laika following the commercial underperformance of its 2019 release "Missing Link."[Associated Press]