LAIKA, the studio behind Coraline and ParaNorman, announced today that it has partnered with Fathom Entertainment for U.S. theatrical distribution and FilmNation Entertainment for international sales on its upcoming stop-motion feature film Wildwood. The film will open in theaters nationwide on October 23, 2026.
The announcement reflects a new phase for LAIKA, as the studio expands its global distribution approach for Wildwood through a combination of independent strategy and best-in-class partners. International sales will launch next month at the European Film Market in Berlin, where FilmNation Entertainment will introduce the film to buyers across international territories.
“Wildwood is a testament to LAIKA walking its own path,” said David Burke, the studio’s Chief Marketing and Operations Officer. “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.”
The partnership with Fathom builds on the success of LAIKA’s recent theatrical re-releases, including the 15th anniversary return of Coraline and a limited engagement of ParaNorman (Remastered). With Coraline earning $56 million worldwide, these performances underscore sustained fan demand to experience LAIKA on the big screen and reflect the studio’s long-view approach to movie-going, creating renewed audience engagement over time by returning its films to theaters, where they were made to be experienced.
Fathom Entertainment, based in Denver, will handle a full theatrical release across the United States, kicking off October 23.
“Wildwood is a magnificently ambitious stop motion film and a landmark achievement in handcrafted cinematic artistry — a project that means so much to both LAIKA and Fathom Entertainment. It’s a breathtaking creative feat that will captivate audiences when it arrives on the big screen this October 23rd,” said Ray Nutt, CEO at Fathom Entertainment. “Fathom is elated to build on our past theatrical re-release successes with LAIKA, including Coraline and ParaNorman, and to be selected and entrusted as the distributor for a full, nationwide U.S. theatrical release of Wildwood consistent with that of the legacy Hollywood studios, complemented by the innovation Fathom brings to all its theatrical engagements. Distributing Wildwood to U.S. theatres further exemplifies Fathom Entertainment’s growth and evolution into a full-service specialty theatrical distributor.”
Tickets for Wildwood in the United States will be available later this summer via Fathom Entertainment and participating theatre box offices (theatre locations are subject to change). Fans can sign up now to be among the first notified when tickets go on sale.
Internationally, LAIKA has partnered with FilmNation Entertainment, a leading independent entertainment company that produces, finances, and distributes films and series with global reach. FilmNation’s recent slate includes Anora and Conclave, with past credits including Promising Young Woman, Arrival and The Big Sick. FilmNation will represent LAIKA’s Wildwood across international territories, beginning with the European Film Market in Berlin.
“LAIKA is synonymous with originality and imagination, and Wildwood is the studio’s most extraordinary film to date,” said Glen Basner, FilmNation CEO & Founder. “LAIKA’s superfans around the world, who most recently enjoyed the fantastic re-release of Coraline and ParaNorman, will be lining up for this new adventure. We are thrilled to introduce Wildwood to international distributors who are ready to join the spectacular world of LAIKA.”
Wildwood is a handcrafted epic fantasy that transports audiences into a secret, dangerously alive world. 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 project is proclaimed by the studio to be its most ambitious and globally accessible feat of hand-crafted, cinematic storytelling to date.
“Wildwood is the biggest world LAIKA has ever built, and the most personal,” said Travis Knight, President and Chief Executive Officer of LAIKA and director of Wildwood. “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. Partnering with Fathom and FilmNation means Wildwood will arrive with intention — as a true cinematic event meant to be shared.”
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.
The 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.
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