Almost 20 years ago, LAIKA Studios burst onto the cinematic scene with their classic adaptation of Coraline. This fall, the studio will be continuing its stop-motion tradition through releasing Wildwood, its first film in 7 years. Not only do we now have an official release date for the all-star fantasy quest, but LAIKA’s sixth motion picture comes with a new strategy that will ensure it’s heading to a theater near you.
Wildwood Will Finally Hit Theaters In October 2026
In an announcement made by Fathom Entertainment, the specialty theatrical distributor revealed that Wildwood will officially arrive at the movies on October 23rd. What’s more, the company behind the recent 25th anniversary re-release of The Lord of the Rings trilogy will be making it happen. (At least, in the United States.)
The statement from LAIKA’s Chief Marketing and Operations Officer David Burke heralding this event explained this new partnership as follows:
Wildwood is a testament to LAIKA walking its own path. 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. … It’s a strategy built specifically for Wildwood, preserving LAIKA’s independence while aligning with world-class collaborators to support the film’s ambition.
Wildwood’s bold release platform is definitely a huge step for the studio that also created the worlds of Paranorman and Kubo and the Two Strings. Up until the release of 2019’s Missing Link, LAIKA typically partnered with established studios for theatrical exhibition.
But as we approach the release of Travis Knight directed picture, which includes Carey Mulligan, Angela Bassett, and Mahershala Ali in its cast, that particular point seems to be the sticking point for this sea change.
LAIKA And Fathom Entertainment’s Partnership Preserves The Studio’s Theatrical Footprint
Through the success of events like ast year’s theatrical return of Paranorman, LAIKA Studios and Fathom Entertainment have proven to be an effective team. That’s the sort of relationship an established storytelling brand would need when looking for Wildwood to stay theatrical.
After its Missing Link partner United Artists Releasing became part of the Amazon-MGM Studios family, that brand’s output seemed to be earmarked for streaming originals. Travis Knight (also the President and Chief Executive Officer of LAIKA) specifically addressed that point, as follows:
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. Partnering with Fathom and FilmNation means Wildwood will arrive with intention – as a true cinematic event meant to be shared.
Those of you looking forward to discovering Wildwood in the dark will have a bit of a wait on your hands. The film won’t be heading to theaters until October 23rd; but fear not. You can check out the list of THS’ Most Anticipated Movies of 2026, and keep yourself headed to the movies on a regular basis.
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