LAIKA Announces October Release Date For 'Wildwood'
It has been a long time since we last saw anything new from LAIKA Studios. Following a long period of radio silence, we eventually heard about not one but several new projects in the works at the Studio. The first of which to see the light of day is Wildwood.
Based on the book by Colin Moloy, Wilwood is an adventure about a young girl who must journey into the mysterious woods to try and rescue her baby brother. It is directed by LAIKA CEO and President Travis Knight, helming a stop-motion film for the first time since Kubo and The Two Strings. It features a packed cast including Carey Mulligan, Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Mahershala Ali, Angela Bassett, Awkwafina, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Amandla Stenberg, Jemaine Clement, Maya Erskine, Tantoo Cardinal, Tom Waits, and Richard E. Grant.
The studio has announced it will partner with Fathom Entertainment for the US release. This will mark the first film from LAIKA not to be distributed by Focus Features. LAIKA previously partnered with Fathom for event screenings with the re-release of Coraline and ParaNorman, which proved very successful. The deal sees Fathom branching out beyond its usual event screenings and into a full national release,
Internationally, they are partnering with FilmNation, who will handle sales outside of the US. International sales will launch at next month's European Film Market in Berlin.
“Wildwood is a testament to LAIKA walking its own path,” said David Burke, LAIKA’s Chief Marketing and Operations Officer. “For Wildwood, we’re taking a more customised approach to how we bring the film to audiences, matching partners to the specific needs and ambitions of the project. Partnering with Fathom’s Denver-based team brings national perspective and operational strength to the U.S. release, while working with FilmNation internationally positions the film with scale, reach, and deep expertise in global markets. It’s a strategy built specifically for Wildwood, preserving LAIKA’s independence while aligning with world-class collaborators to support the film’s ambition.”
"Wildwood is the biggest world LAIKA has ever built, and the most personal,” said Travis Knight. “It’s a story about the pull of the unknown, the courage it takes to step into it, and who you become along the way. Our movie is a celebration of artistry over algorithms, and of the belief that films made by hand, with enormous care, can still feel bold, surprising, dangerous, and alive. We designed Wildwood to be seen the way movies first captured our imaginations: discovered in the dark, on a big screen, with a room full of fellow dreamers experiencing joy, silence, and wonder together. Partnering with Fathom and FilmNation means Wildwood will arrive with intention - as a true cinematic event meant to be shared.”
Fathom Entertainment will release Wildwood in cinemas across the United States on October 23. Tickets will go on sale this summer.
“Wildwood is a magnificently ambitious stop motion film and a landmark achievement in handcrafted cinematic artistry — a project that means so much to both LAIKA and Fathom Entertainment," added Ray Nut, Fathom Entertainment CEO. "It’s a breathtaking creative feat that will captivate audiences when it arrives on the big screen this October 23rd. Fathom is elated to build on our past theatrical re-release successes with LAIKA, including Coraline and ParaNorman, and to be selected and entrusted as the distributor for a full, nationwide U.S. theatrical release of Wildwood consistent with that of the legacy Hollywood studios, complemented by the innovation Fathom brings to all its theatrical engagements. Distributing Wildwood to U.S. theatres further exemplifies Fathom Entertainment’s growth and evolution into a full-service speciality theatrical distributor.”
“LAIKA is synonymous with originality and imagination and Wildwood is the studio’s most extraordinary film to date,” said Glen Basner, FilmNation CEO. “LAIKA’s superfans around the world, who most recently enjoyed the fantastic re-release of Coraline and ParaNorman, will be lining up for this new adventure. We are thrilled to introduce Wildwood to international distributors who are ready to join the spectacular world of LAIKA.”
Wildwood is certainly looking pretty spectacular and is clearly the studio's most ambitious film yet. And considering some of their past films, that's really saying a lot. Fans will surely be chomping at the bit to see this one... but at least they finally have a confirmed date. At least that is for those in the US- those living elsewhere may have to wait a bit longer.
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