The studio best-known for its beloved stop-motion features like “Coraline” and “ParaNorman,” Laika began the process of reintroducing itself to the world last summer. But one big question remained: Who would actually release the studio’s films as they ramped back up after the disappointment of their last release, “Missing Link”?
The studio has worked before with everyone from Focus Features to Annapurna Pictures and United Artists Releasing, but as it readied to bring its latest stop-motion effort, “Wildwood,” to theaters, word on who would actually be responsible for its distribution was slim. Now, an answer: Fathom Entertainment will serve as the film’s U.S. theatrical distributor, with FilmNation Entertainment on board for international sales.
Two answers, real quick: yes, Fathom Entertainment has been steadily edging into the wider distribution world beyond its bread-and-butter of one-off event screenings around everything from opera to sports events, and no, this is not the first time Laika has teamed up with the group. Fathom has recently been behind the theatrical re-releases of both “Coraline” (which picked up $56 million worldwide) and a limited engagement of “ParaNorman.”
Laika and Fathom film will open “Wildwood” in theaters nationwide on October 23, 2026. The film is billed as “a handcrafted epic fantasy that transports audiences into a secret, dangerously alive world.” It follows “a girl’s desperate quest to save her baby brother becomes a high-stakes journey into a forbidden forest filled with enchanted creatures, unlikely allies, and formidable adversaries, where an entire hidden realm hangs in the balance.”
The film’s voice cast includes Carey Mulligan, Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Mahershala Ali, Angela Bassett, Awkwafina, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Amandla Stenberg, Jemaine Clement, Maya Erskine, Tantoo Cardinal, Tom Waits, and Richard E. Grant.
“Wildwood is a testament to Laika walking its own path,” said David Burke, the studio’s chief marketing and operations officer, in an official statement. “For ‘Wildwood,’ we’re taking a more customized approach to how we bring the film to audiences, matching partners to the specific needs and ambitions of the project. Partnering with Fathom’s Denver-based team brings national perspective and operational strength to the U.S. release, while working with FilmNation internationally positions the film with scale, reach, and deep expertise in global markets. It’s a strategy built specifically for ‘Wildwood,’ preserving LAIKA’s independence while aligning with world-class collaborators to support the film’s ambition.”
Added Travis Knight, president and chief executive officer of Laika and director of “Wildwood,” “’Wildwood’ is the biggest world Laika has ever built, and the most personal. It’s a story about the pull of the unknown, the courage it takes to step into it, and who you become along the way. Our movie is a celebration of artistry over algorithms, and of the belief that films made by hand, with enormous care, can still feel bold, surprising, dangerous, and alive. We designed Wildwood to be seen the way movies first captured our imaginations: discovered in the dark, on a big screen, with a room full of fellow dreamers experiencing joy, silence, and wonder together.”
It’s just one more step in Laika’s big return to the movies. The studio’s Live Action subsidiary also has a range of projects in development, including a feature film based on the action thriller novel “Seventeen” by screenwriter John Brownlow; the original script “Crumble,” written and directed by Brian Duffield with Phil Lord and Chris Miller producing; and an original project from Oscar-nominated screenwriter Jon Spaihts.
“Captain Marvel” and “Half Nelson” filmmakers Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck are also on board to write and direct Laika’s live-action adaptation of #1 New York Times bestselling author Taylor Jenkins Reid’s novel “Atmosphere.” And Lucy Liu and Charles Melton will star in director Lulu Wang’s film version of Katie Kitamura’s bestselling novel “Audition,” which Laika is producing alongside Higher Ground Productions.
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.indiewire.com ’
