LAIKA is taking audiences deep into an enchanted forest with Wildwood, its ambitious stop-motion adaptation of Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis’ 2011 novel. The fantasy adventure brings together an impressive voice cast, from Oscar winners and Emmy favorites to some of Hollywood’s most recognizable comedy stars.

At the center of it all are two young voices leading a dangerous rescue mission, while a collection of eccentric characters makes the mysterious Wildwood feel every bit as alive as the humans exploring it.

Peyton Elizabeth Lee as Prue McKeel: Lee voices Prue, the headstrong teenager who ventures into the Impassable Wilderness after her baby brother is abducted. She is best known for starring as the title character in Disney’s Andi Mack and as Lahela “Doogie” Kameāloha in Doogie Kameāloha, M.D.

Jacob Tremblay as Curtis Mehlberg: Tremblay voices Prue’s loyal classmate Curtis, who joins her journey despite being less than thrilled about the dangers ahead. The actor rose to prominence with Room and has since appeared in Wonder, The Book of Henry, and Luca.

Carey Mulligan as Alexandra: The Oscar-nominated actress lends her voice to Alexandra. Mulligan has earned acclaim for films including An Education, Promising Young Woman, and Maestro, the latter earning her another Oscar nomination.

Mahershala Ali as Brendan: The two-time Oscar winner voices Brendan. Ali is known for his performances in Moonlight, which earned him an Academy Award, Green Book, True Detective, and the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse films.

Angela Bassett as The General: Bassett voices the formidable General. The Oscar-nominated performer has built a career across films such as What's Love Got to Do with It, Black Panther, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and Mission: Impossible – Fallout.

Awkwafina as Septima: Awkwafina voices Septima, adding another recognizable comedic voice to the fantasy world. She is known for Crazy Rich Asians, The Farewell, Ocean’s 8, and Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

Richard E. Grant as Owl Rex: Grant takes on the voice of Owl Rex. The veteran actor has appeared in Can You Ever Forgive Me?, Gosford Park, The Iron Lady, and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

The ensemble also includes Jake Johnson as Mr. McKeel, Charlie Day as Dmitri, Amandla Stenberg as Niamh, Jemaine Clement as Roger, Maya Erskine as Mrs. McKeel, Tantoo Cardinal as Iphigenia, Tom Waits as Maxsim, Blythe Danner as The Seer, Rob Delaney as Samuel, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson as Seamus, Marc Evan Jackson as Lars, and Len Cariou as The Postmaster.

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While the voice cast is impeccable, what is Wildwood going to be about?

Wildwood follows Prue McKeel after her baby brother is abducted by a murder of crows and carried into the Impassable Wilderness, a mysterious enchanted forest hidden just beyond Portland, Oregon. Refusing to leave her brother behind, Prue heads into the forbidden woods with Curtis Mehlberg by her side.

But the forest is far from the quiet woodland Prue might have imagined. Inside, the pair encounter talking animals, bandits, mystics, and powerful figures driven by their own ambitions and grief. What begins as a rescue mission soon becomes a much larger battle that could determine the future of the entire hidden realm.

The film is directed and produced by Travis Knight, who previously helmed LAIKA's Kubo and the Two Strings and the live-action Bumblebee. Wildwood is written by Chris Butler, who also wrote and directed ParaNorman and co-wrote Kubo and the Two Strings.

 LAIKA's adaptation has been in the works for years and brings the book's fantastical setting to life through the studio's trademark handcrafted stop-motion animation. Characters, sets, and intricate details are physically created and animated frame by frame rather than generated digitally.

The film is scheduled to open exclusively in theaters in the U.S. on October 23, 2026, with Fathom Entertainment handling the domestic theatrical release. It will also open with the U.S. premiere at AFI FEST on October 21.

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Are you excited for Wildwood? Let us know in the comments.