Wildwood: On the red carpet with Jacob Tremblay, Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Carson Ellis, Colin Meloy and Brad Schiff at London Film Festival 2026

The ultimate love letter to animation and human creation, Wildwood is Laika’s biggest work to date. It’s a passion project for director Travis Knight, with the story set in his hometown of Portland, Oregon. Adapted from the 2011 graphic novel written by Colin Meloy and illustrated by Carson Ellis, the film follows Prue, who loses her younger brother while playing outside. She and her friend Curtis embark on an adventure across the Impassable Wilderness, eventually leading them to Alexandra’s castle. Showcasing a behemoth of a cast of talented actors, from Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Richard E Grant, Angela Bassett, and Jake Johnson, as well as talented rising stars the likes of Jacob Tremblay and Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Wildwood is a visually stunning and narratively disarming piece with family and loss at its core.

The Upcoming caught up with the cast and creatives behind the marvel that is Wildwood, starting with Tremblay, who introduced his character, Curtis, and the role he plays in Knight’s feature. He also spoke of his initial unfamiliarity with the book before taking part in the project, and the themes in the source material that drew him in. Tremblay touched on the difference between the original text and this adaptation – mainly the development of the villain.

Lee, voice of Prue, also came by to talk about what viewers can expect from Wildwood, especially regarding themes of life and growing up. She commented on her knowledge of the book and her recent reading of the work, and deemed it an honour to be part of the process from page to screen. Lee talked at length about the importance of humanity in art, especially her involvement in a significant animation project like Wildwood and working with a studio like Laika.

The original creators of the Wildwood graphic novel, Meloy and Ellis, graced the London Film Festival scene to celebrate the picture’s theatrical release in the city. Meloy focused on how the adaptation came about, especially the initial hesitation he and Ellis had, given that they hadn’t finished the book at that point. He emphasised the importance of Laika handling their work, specifically because of the studio’s thorough understanding of its core. Ellis chimed in, expanding on their involvement in the production – which was not much, given their immense trust in Laika – and the journey of watching their story be brought to life through stop-motion.

Finally, head of animation Brad Schiff stopped by to offer a deeper insight into the behind-the-scenes of Wildwood. He talked about the trust that Meloy and Ellis put in the studio and how he and the rest of the team worked to ensure that the heart of the source material remained on the screen. Schiff touched on the rise of generative AI, highlighting how there will always be a space for human-made art. With his 30 years of experience in the realm of animation, Schiff has seen technological advancements come and go, from 2D hand-drawn to CGI, and it has only reinforced his belief in stop-motion filmmaking.

Mae Trumata

Wildwood is released nationwide on 23^rd October 2026.

Read more reviews from our London Film Festival 2026 coverage here.

For further information about the event, visit the London Film Festival website here.

Watch the trailer for Wildwood here: