LAIKA's Wildwood Just Dropped Its First Trailer — And It's Been Worth the Seven-Year Wait

LAIKA's Wildwood Just Dropped Its First Trailer — And It's Been Worth the Seven-Year Wait

Guys, the wait is finally over. After seven years since Missing Link hit theaters, the legendary stop-motion studio LAIKA — the same mad geniuses behind Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings — just unleashed the first full trailer for Wildwood, and it might be their most ambitious project ever.

Dropped on August 19, the teaser showcases exactly what makes LAIKA special: jaw-dropping, handcrafted stop-motion animation that no CGI factory could ever replicate. And honestly? In an era where AI-generated slop is flooding every platform, watching real artists move physical puppets frame by frame hits differently.

The Story: Murder of Crows, Hidden Forests, and One Very Brave Teenager

Wildwood is based on the 2011 novel by Colin Meloy — yes, the frontman of Portland indie rock band The Decemberists — with illustrations by Carson Ellis. The story follows Prue McKeel, a headstrong teenager whose baby brother gets abducted by, believe it or not, a literal murder of crows and carried deep into the Impassable Wilderness, a mysterious hidden forest just outside Portland, Oregon.

Armed with nothing but determination (and her classmate Curtis Mehlberg, who tags along), Prue ventures into a sprawling world packed with talking animals, bandits, ancient powers, and rival factions battling over the forest's future. What starts as a rescue mission slowly turns into something way bigger — especially once Prue discovers her own connection to Wildwood's history.

A Voice Cast That's Honestly Ridiculous

Director Travis Knight (LAIKA's CEO and the man behind Kubo and the Two Strings) has assembled an ensemble that reads like an awards-show guest list. Peyton Elizabeth Lee voices Prue alongside Jacob Tremblay as Curtis, while the supporting cast includes Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Angela Bassett, Awkwafina, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Amandla Stenberg, Jemaine Clement, Maya Erskine, and — wait for it — Tom Waits and Richard E. Grant.

The screenplay comes from Chris Butler, who previously wrote and directed LAIKA's ParaNorman and Missing Link, so the studio's signature blend of dark whimsy and genuine heart is clearly in safe hands. Even better? Colin Meloy himself contributed an original song to the film.

When Can You Watch It?

Fathom Entertainment will release Wildwood in U.S. theaters on October 23, 2026, which means we only have two months left before we get to see this thing on the big screen where it belongs. FilmNation Entertainment is handling international sales, so global release info should follow soon.

Between Coraline's enduring cult status and the studio's decade-long streak of craft-first filmmaking, Wildwood isn't just another animated movie — it's a reminder of why practical artistry still matters. Check out the trailer, and prepare to fall in love with stop-motion all over again.