Acclaimed (and vastly unappreciated) stop-motion studio Laika has announced their sixth feature film, Wildwood, which like the company itself is set in Portland, OR. The film is based on the first book in a trilogy of YA fantasy novels by The Decemberists frontman Colin Meloy. Behind the camera will be Laika president Travis Knight, best known for his films Kubo and the Two Strings and Bumblebee, which was obviously outside the studio.
Here’s the synopsis: “Beyond Portland’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 fairy tales, but she’s just found herself at the center of one…filled with strange talking animals, roguish bandits, and powerful figures with the darkest intentions.”
Joining Knight is 6-time Oscar-nominated cinematographer Caleb Deschanel (yes, the daddy of Emily and Zooey), known for his work on The Right Stuff, The Passion of the Christ, and The Natural. This will be his first time lensing in the world of stop-motion animation.
No word on casting just yet, nor on distribution. For all of the accolades showered on Laika, their films have generally underperformed at the box office. 2019’s Missing Link only grossed $26M worldwide, while 2009’s Coraline remains their top earner with $124M. A streaming outlet might be the best course of action for Wildwood, and I can easily see Netflix, Amazon, or Apple making a serious play for it.
