LAIKA Reveals Soaring First-Look & BTS Footage from ‘Wildwood’

Acclaimed Portland, Oregon studio LAIKA (Coraline, Kubo and the Two Strings) is introducing a new young heroine to the big screen in Wildwood — its highly anticipated stop-motion feature film based on the novels by Decemberists vocalist Colin Meloy. Glimpsed in a first-look clip released by the studio, this latest film feat will continue the studio’s track record of pushing the technical and artistic boundaries of the artform.

Step inside LAIKA’s world of Wildwood, where a powerful golden eagle commands the skies and magic takes flight.

In this first look, meet The General, voiced by Honorary Academy Award recipient Angela Bassett, a fierce warrior and leader of the skies. Behind the scenes, the brilliant artists at LAIKA Studios are hand-crafting a character that soars beyond the screen through breathtaking stop-motion animation.

As previously announced, the film will also feature the voices of Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman), Oscar winner Mahershala Ali (Moonlight), Peyton Elizabeth Lee (Andi Mack), Jacob Tremblay (Room), Awkwafina (Raya and the Last Dragon), Jake Johnson (Jurassic World), Charlie Day (Horrible Bosses), Amandla Stenberg (The Hate You Give), Jemaine Clement (The Flight of the Conchords), Maya Erskine (Pen15), Tantoo Cardinal (Wind River), Grammy winner Tom Waits and Richard E. Grant (Can You Ever Forgive Me?).

LAIKA chief Travis Knight, who won the BAFTA for directing Kubo and the Two Strings, directs from a script by Chris Butler (ParaNorman, Missing Link). Six-time Oscar nominee Caleb Deschanel (The Passion of the Christ) is the cinematographer with Arianne Sutner, LAIKA’s Head of Production and Oscar-nominated producer of Kubo and Missing Link, producing alongside Knight.

Synopsis: Beyond Portland, Oregon’s city limits lies Wildwood. You’re not supposed to go there. You’re not even supposed to know it exists. But Prue McKeel is about to enter this enchanted wonderland. Her baby brother Mac has been taken by a murder of crows into the forest’s depths, and she — along with her hapless classmate Curtis — is going to get him back. Prue might think she’s too old for fairytales, but she’s just found herself at the center of one. One filled with strange talking animals, roguish bandits, and powerful figures with the darkest intentions.

Wildwood is a tale of love, loss, sacrifice and secrets, and of the magic you can find on your doorstep, if you’re willing to look for it.