Wildwood

Wildwood is an upcoming American stop-motion animated fantasy adventure film directed by Travis Knight and written by Chris Butler, based on the novel of the same name by The Decemberists' Colin Meloy and illustrated by his wife Carson Ellis. It is produced by Laika, making their sixth stop-motion animated film. Featuring the voice talents of Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Awkwafina, Angela Bassett, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Amandla Stenberg, Jemaine Clement, Maya Erskine, Tantoo Cardinal, Tom Waits and Richard E. Grant, the plot follows Prue McKeel and Curtis Mehlberg as they attempt to save Max by crows led by Alexandra, while drawn into a hidden magical forest. Development started in September 2011, weeks after the release of the novel, when Laika planned to adapt Wildwood as a stop-motion animated feature film, who produced the trailer for the book, though the project was not officially announced for further development. In September 2021, the production was officially started when Laika announced their next stop-motion film with Knight directing, who also co-producing with Sutner and Butler writing the script. Much of the voice cast were announced to signed in August 2022. Production of the stop-motion animation feature took place at Laika's facility studio outside in Portland, Oregon, the first film set in its hometown, with Caleb Deschanel served as the cinematographer. The film is set to be released in 2025. Plot Prue McKeel and her friend Curtis Mehlberg are drawn into a hidden, magical forest, while trying to rescue her baby brother Max who's been kidnapped by crows led by Alexandra, an exiled Dowager Governess of South Wood who plans to sacrifice the young brother to the magical ivy of the Wood, which will allow the ivy to spread rapidly and consume the Wood and its inhabitants.