Laika’s Wildwood Teaser Arrives, Featuring Jake Johnson and More

A Decade in the Making

It may have been over a decade in the making, but we’ve finally started to get our first proper look at Wildwood, the latest epic stop-motion animated adventure from Oregon outfit Laika Studio. The studio has released the first teaser for the film, directed by Travis Knight, and it’s a dark, atmospheric, yet ultimately irresistible tease of a magical realm.

The Teaser

The teaser opens with Jake Johnson ominously intoning, “There are places in the world that people were never meant to go,” as shots of Coraline, ParaNorman, and Kubo & The Two Strings‘s heroes head into “dark forests where the trees hide darker secrets.” We catch a glimpse of glinting coyote eyes, twisted trees, and the various inhabitants of the ominously named “impassable wilderness” – aka the titular Wildwood.

The Story

Set in Portland, Oregon, the Wildwood story follows seventh-grade Portlander Prue as she journeys into the Wildwood in pursuit of a murder of crows who snatch her baby brother Mac. There, she and dorky classmate Curtis embark on a transformative adventure filled with danger, magic, talking animals, and surprisingly sophisticated political intrigue for a tween-targeted YA book series.

The Cast

Among the starry array bringing Knight and screenwriter Chris Butler’s movie to life are Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Jacob Tremblay, Awkwafina, Angela Bassett, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Amandla Stenberg, Jemaine Clement, Tom Waits, and Richard E. Grant.

Conclusion

We’ll be heading into the woods with them all when Wildwood comes to our screens sometime in 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Wildwood about?

The story follows Prue as she journeys into the Wildwood in pursuit of a murder of crows who snatch her baby brother Mac, and embarks on a transformative adventure filled with danger, magic, talking animals, and political intrigue.

Who is behind the film?

The film is directed by Travis Knight, with screenwriter Chris Butler, and features a starry cast including Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Jacob Tremblay, Awkwafina, Angela Bassett, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Amandla Stenberg, Jemaine Clement, Tom Waits, and Richard E. Grant.

When will Wildwood be released?

Wildwood is set to be released sometime in 2025.