Movies - Wildwood : director Travis Knight assembles powerhouse voice cast for Laika’s most ambitious film to date

By Rachel Ibarra, 25 august 2022

“That is one helluva cast ..Collaborating with these exceptional actors has been a humbling and inspiring experience. Their committed performances elevate Wildwood and are a remarkable gift for LAIKA’s animators. I’m in awe of them all.” – Travis Knight

Laika President & CEO Travis Knight today announced the voice cast for Wildwood, the Oscar®, BAFTA® and Golden Globe® winning animation studio’s next feature film.  

The cast includes:  Oscar nominee Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman), Oscar®winner Mahershala Ali (Moonlight), Peyton Elizabeth Lee (Andi Mack), Jacob Tremblay (Room), Awkwafina (Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), Oscar® nominee Angela Bassett (What’s Love Got to Do With It), Jake Johnson (Jurassic World), Charlie Day (Horrible Bosses), Amandla Stenberg (The Hate You Give), Emmy nominee Jemaine Clement (The Flight of the Conchords), Maya Erskine (Pen15), Tantoo Cardinal (Wind River), Grammy® winner Tom Waits and Oscar® nominee Richard E. Grant (Can You Ever Forgive Me?).  

Wildwood, based on the series of novels by Colin Meloy, lead singer for The Decemberists, and illustrator Carson Ellis is currently in production at LAIKA Studios outside Portland, Oregon.    Knight, who won the BAFTA for directing LAIKA’s Kubo and the Two Strings and also directed Paramount’s hit movie Bumblebee, 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.  

Wildwood
Directed by Travis Knight
Produced by  Travis Knight, Arianne Sutner
Written by Chris Butler
Starring  Amandla Stenberg, Jacob Tremblay, Angela Bassett, Jemaine Clement, Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Awkwafina, Charlie Day , Jake Johnson, Richard E. Grant, Tom Waits, Maya Erskine, Tantoo Cardinal, Peyton, Elizabeth Lee
Music by Dario Marianelli
Cinematography : Caleb Deschanel 
Production companies : Laika entertainment
Distributed by NC
Release date :  NC
Running time : NC

Photo Credit:  Courtesy of LAIKA Studios