“My very own Portland will join that pantheon of unforgettable fantasy realms, with a stirring epic that will kindle imaginations, lift spirits, and break hearts.”įor Deschanel, diving into stop-motion at Laika is like returning to film school. “With ‘Wildwood,’ I have the opportunity to tell a madly ambitious story of magic, wonder, and danger set in the place I grew up,” added Knight. “As a deep-dyed native son of Oregon, I have rainwater, microbrew, and fair-trade coffee coursing through my veins,” said Knight, who won the BAFTA for his directorial debut at Laika, “Kubo and the Two Strings,” which he followed with the live-action “Transformers” standalone “Bumblebee.”

Prue might think she’s too old for fairy tales, but she’s just found herself at the center of one…filled with strange talking animals, roguish bandits, and powerful figures with the darkest intentions.” 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. But Prue McKeel is about to enter this enchanted wonderland. You’re not even supposed to know it exists. Here’s the synopsis: “Beyond Portland’s city limits lies Wildwood.

Sundance 2023 Movie Deals So Far: Babak Jalali's Immigrant Dramedy 'Fremont' Lands at Music Box Films Genndy Tartakovsky Goes Steampunk in New Adult Swim 'Unicorn Warriors: Eternal' SeriesĢ3 Controversial Film and TV Book Adaptations That Rankled Their Audiences and Authors How Apple TV+'s Animated 'Frog and Toad' Series Retains and Expands the Original Books' Charms No distribution has been announced, though there are obviously several streaming opportunities available at Neflix, Amazon, and Apple. The project about a secret forest has been in development at Laika for a decade. “Wildwood” is based on the first in a trilogy of YA fantasy novels by Colin Meloy, lead singer and songwriter for Portland-based The Decemberists, and illustrated by artist Carson Ellis.

Wildwood meloy ellis