Black Bear UK has released the first full trailer for Wildwood, the upcoming stop-motion adventure from LAIKA Studios, directed and produced by Travis Knight. The film is set to arrive in UK cinemas on October 23, 2026.
Knight, whose previous work includes Masters of the Universe and Kubo and the Two Strings, directs and produces what LAIKA describes as its most ambitious film to date. Chris Butler, known for Masters of the Universe and ParaNorman, wrote the screenplay.
Set on the outskirts of Portland, Oregon, Wildwood follows Prue McKeel, a determined teenager whose baby brother is abducted by a murder of crows and taken into the Impassable Wilderness, a mysterious forest hidden from most of the outside world.
Prue enters the forest in pursuit of her brother, accompanied by her loyal but accident-prone classmate Curtis Mehlberg. Their journey takes them into a vast and unpredictable wilderness populated by talking animals, bandits, rival factions and ancient powers. As different forces battle over the future of Wildwood, Prue finds herself drawn into a conflict far greater than the rescue mission she originally set out to complete.
The deeper Prue travels into the forest, the more she must confront its history, loyalties and secrets while discovering the reasons behind her own connection to the mysterious world.
Inspired by Colin Meloy’s acclaimed novel, Wildwood brings its fantasy setting to life through LAIKA’s distinctive stop-motion filmmaking. The production combines physically crafted characters, environments and intricate details, which are animated frame by frame to create a tangible handcrafted world.
The film features a voice cast led by Peyton Elizabeth Lee as Prue McKeel and Jacob Tremblay as Curtis Mehlberg. The ensemble also includes Academy Award® nominee Carey Mulligan (Shame), Academy Award® winner Mahershala Ali (Moonlight), Academy Award® nominee and Emmy Award® winner Angela Bassett (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever), Awkwafina (Crazy Rich Asians), Jake Johnson (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse), Charlie Day (The Super Mario Galaxy Movie), Amandla Stenberg (Bodies Bodies Bodies), Jemaine Clement (Avatar: Fire and Ash), Maya Erskine (Mr. & Mrs. Smith), Tantoo Cardinal (Killers of the Flower Moon), Tom Waits (Seven Psychopaths) and Academy Award® nominee Richard E. Grant (Can You Ever Forgive Me?).
Wildwood will be released in UK cinemas by Black Bear on October 23, 2026.