‘Wildwood’ Trailer: Laika Returns To Its Nature With Latest Stop-Motion Fantasy Adventure

UPDATE — Aug 19, 6:48 AM: Laika has now dropped the full trailer for Wildwood, the first stop-motion animated movie from the studio since 2019’s The Missing Link. Check it out above.

ORIGINAL STORY — May 13, 5:30 AM: Laika on Wednesday released the first teaser trailer for Wildwood, the first stop-motion animated movie from the studio since 2019’s The Missing Link, the most recent in a string of five Oscar-nominated pics in a row dating back to 2009’s Coraline.

The new pic, directed and produced by Laika boss Travis Knight, was adapted by Masters of the Universe and Kubo and the Two Strings scribe Chris Butler from the book series by The Decemberists’ frontman Colin Meloy. It will open in theaters October 23 via Fathom Entertainment, the specialty distributor that has previously backed rereleases of Laika hits like Coraline and 2012’s ParaNorman.

The plot: After her baby brother is abducted by a murder of crows, headstrong teenager Prue McKeel (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) launches a desperate rescue mission into the Impassable Wilderness — an enchanted forest hidden just beyond Portland, OR. (Knight grew up in Portland; there’s a nice Hawthorne Bridge cameo in today’s teaser trailer, which is backed by the M83 song “My Tears are Becoming a Sea.”)

Joined by her hapless but loyal classmate Curtis Mehlberg (Jacob Tremblay), Prue navigates a world of talking animals, bandits, and powerful figures driven by grief and ambition.  As the pair is drawn into a conflict threatening the balance of the forest itself, Prue must discover the strength and belief she never knew she possessed. If she hopes to save her brother and protect Wildwood’s fragile future, she will have to risk everything.

The voice cast also features Carey Mulligan, Richard E. Grant, Awkwafina, Amandla Stenberg, Tom Waits, Charlie Day, Blythe Danner, Arthur Knight, Maya Erskine, Jake Johnson, Tantoo Cardinal, Rob Delaney, Jemaine Clement, Marc Evan Jackson, Len Cariou, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Angela Bassett and Mahershala Ali.

In addition to Coraline, ParaNorman, Kubo and the Two Strings and Missing Link, Laika’s other Oscar-nominated pic was 2014’s The Boxtrolls.