Coraline, ParaNorman, The Boxtrolls, Kubo and the Two Strings—the films of the animation studio Laika are legendary. However, its latest film, The link does not existwas released in 2019. What has been happening since then? Well, it’s called Wildwood, and while hints and teasing have long occurred, now we know when and how they come.
Laika recently announced that Wildwood will be released in theaters on October 23. However, it will not be distributed by a major film studio like its previous efforts. This one will be distributed domestically by Fathom Entertainment, a company best known for its exclusive, repeat releases. Released as the most successful, now in the year, is the reissue of Laika Coraline.
“Wildwood an ambitious stop-motion film and a landmark achievement in handcrafted cinematic art—a project that means a lot to both Laika and Fathom Entertainment. It’s an amazing piece of art that will captivate audiences when it hits the big screen this October 23,” said Ray Nutt, CEO of Fathom Entertainment, in a press release. Coraline again ParaNormanand has been selected and commissioned as a distributor for full US theatrical release, nationwide. Wildwood in keeping with that of legacy Hollywood studios, with the innovation Fathom brings to all of its theatrical engagements. It spreads Wildwood in US theaters further demonstrates Fathom Entertainment’s growth and evolution into a full-service theatrical distributor.”
We’re not sure how the partnership with Fathom, unlike Focus Features, which made the studio’s first four films, will change national releases. Maybe it will be in a few theaters. Maybe it will be in special theaters. Maybe it’s nothing at all. But David Burke, Chief Marketing and Operations Officer at Laika, described it as “a very customized way of how we bring the film to the audience, matching our partners to the specific needs and wishes of the project.”
So what is this argument about? Well, Wildwood is described as “a stunning hand-crafted fantasy that transports viewers to a secret, dangerous world.” A girl’s desperate attempt to save her little brother becomes a difficult journey into a forbidden forest full of enchanted animals, unexpected friends, and terrifying enemies, where every hidden place hangs in the balance.
That official description also reminds us that the film is fully animated. “In the age of automation, Laika delivers its most ambitious and universally accessible film yet, combining human-created art with epic cinematic storytelling,” it concluded.
In addition to the new distributor and release date, Laika released a cool new trailer for the film, which you can watch below. It seems to set the film up as almost the culmination of everything Laika has done before.
Follow the crows… all will be revealed. # Wood pic.twitter.com/SpE2R5JnhO
— LAIKA (@LAIKAStudios) January 20, 2026
“Wildwood it’s the biggest world Laika has ever built, and the most personal,” Travis Knight, Laika’s President and CEO, and director of the organization. Wildwoodhe said. “It’s a story about the pull of the unknown, the courage it takes to step into it, and who you are along the way. Our film is a celebration of art beyond algorithms, and the belief that films made by hand, with great care, can still feel bold, surprising, dangerous, and alive. We designed. Wildwood to see how movies begin to capture our imaginations: they are found in the dark, on a big screen, and in a room full of other dreamers enjoying joy, peace, and wonder together. Collaborating with Fathom and FilmNation means Wildwood it will come with a purpose—like a true cinematic event meant to be shared.”
It certainly has the characters to back it up. The film features the voices of Carey Mulligan, Jacob Tremblay, Mahershala Ali, Angela Bassett, Awkwafina, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Amandla Stenberg, Jemaine Clement, Maya Erskine, Tom Waits, and Richard E. Grant, to name a few.
And Fathom has already set up a page where fans can sign up to be alerted when tickets go on sale, which should happen sometime this summer. You can find the link here.
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