News

It’s another year of high-profile animated sequels, led by Disney’s “Zootopia 2,” DreamWorks’ “The Bad Guys 2,” and Nickelodeon/Paramount’s “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Square Pants” and the “Untitled Smurfs Animated Film.”

But there are plenty of attention-grabbing originals in 2025: “Pixar’s sci-fi “Elio,” DreamWorks’ “Dog Man,” Sony Pictures Classics’ “The Magnificent Life of Marcel Pagnol,” and Laika’s highly anticipated “Wildwood” (a tentative release). In addition, Netflix delivers another diverse slate: “In Your Dreams,” “K-Pop: Demon Hunters”, “Lost in Starlight” (the streamer’s first Korean-language animated film), “Plankton: The Movie” (with Nickelodeon), “Pookoo” (with Skydance Animation), and “The Twits” from Roald Dahl. Plus, Crunchyroll/Sony Pictures offer the theatrical anime event of the year with “Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle” (“Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle”).

Additionally, there are three Oscar-qualifying holdovers from 2024: “Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl,” “The Colors Within,” and “The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie...

Wildwood is set to be the latest film from Laika studios and there's been some exciting news about the cast, story, and more. Laika has been responsible for some of the best animated movies in recent years, specializing in stop-motion. Laika movies tend to be meticulously designed, perfectly animated, and feature stories that resonate with older viewers as well as they do with younger ones. This niche art style means Laika films are not always box office smashes, but each one has received its fair share of critical acclaim.

Dark family movies like Coraline; epic, mystical adventures like Kubo and the Two Strings; and heartwarming comedies like The Missing Link make up just a part of the wide spectrum of Laika movies. The difficulty of stop-motion and the size of the studio means a Laika film only comes out every few years, and any announcement about one naturally causes a stir in Hollywood.

By the power of Grayskull, Jared Leto will become a jacked-up, cranially exposed supervillain!

The Oscar-winning star of “House of Gucci” and “Dallas Buyers Club” is joining Amazon MGM’s upcoming live-action film “Masters of the Universe” as Skeletor, the skull-faced archenemy of Eternia’s greatest warrior, He-Man (Nicholas Galitzine).

Director Travis Knight (“Bumblebee”) has also cast at least some of Skeletor’s coterie of henchmen. Sam C. Wilson (“House of the Dragon”) will play Trap Jaw; Kojo Attah (“The Beekeeper”) will play Tri-Klops; and Hafthor Bjornsson (“Game of Thrones”) will play Goat Man.

They’ll join the previously cast Alison Brie (“Promising Young Woman”) as Skeletor’s lieutenant, Evil-Lyn; Camila Mendes (“Riverdale”) as He-Man’s trusted compatriot, Teela; and Idris Elba (“Hijack”) as Teela’s father, Man-at-Arms.

Chris Butler (“ParaNorman”) — who worked with Knight on Laika’s upcoming stop-motion animated feature “Wildwood” — wrote the latest draft of the screenplay,...

Despite some excellent movies hitting theaters, 2024 was, to use a sports phrase, a rebuilding year. The 2023 Writers Guild and SAG-AFTRA strikes ground Hollywood to a halt before the studios ultimately agreed to some much-needed concessions for the folks who physically make the films and TV shows we all love, and the downstream effects of that unnecessarily drawn-out labor stoppage spilled into 2024. Movies and shows that were supposed to come out needed time to restart production, studios delayed some releases into 2025, and the industry as a whole experienced a contraction. The first half of this year was rough at the box office, but thanks to several major wins near the end of the year, theatrical exhibition managed to stay alive and make up a ton of ground.

While we'll likely be seeing the effects of the strikes and the subsequent contraction for a while, the floodgates are preparing to open for...

Idris Elba is the latest star to join the cast of the upcoming Masters of the Universe movie, based on the beloved Mattel toys.

The 52-year-old actor is reportedly set to play Duncan, Man-At-Arms.

Travis Knight (Bumblebee) will be directing the movie from a script by Chris Butler, who previously worked with Travis on Kubo and the Two Strings and the upcoming Wildwood.

Keep reading to find out more…

Deadline reports that Idris‘ character is “a good guy and for centuries has been the weapons master and combat instructor to the royal family, and is also called Man-At-Arms.”

Duncan creates the Masters of the Universe elite strike force.

Nicholas Galitzine will be playing [Spoiler], Camila Mendes will be playing [Spoiler], and Alison Brie will be playing this villain character!

2025 is a promising year for animated movies. Dog Man kicks things off in January, bringing Dav Pilkeys popular comic book series to life, followed closely by The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep in February, which dives into the magical world of Geralt and adds depth to The Witcher universe. In June, Pixar brings audiences sci-fi film Elio, which introduces audiences to a young boy who finds himself mistaken for Earths ambassador to outer space. Summer continues with nostalgia and family favorites, with The Smurfs Movie returning to theaters in July, reimagining the classic blue characters, and The Bad Guys 2 in August.

As the year winds down, Zootopia 2 headlines the holiday season in November, bringing back Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde for a new adventure in the vibrant city of Zootopia. In December, The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants is set to take fans of all ages back under...

Exclusive: Angela Bassett is ready for another Mission, Deadline can exclusively reveal.

In Mission: Impossible 8 — now known as Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning — Bassett reprises her role as CIA Director Erika Sloane from 2018’s Mission: Impossible – Fallout.

The plot of the new film, from Paramount Pictures and Skydance, remains under wraps. Most recently garnering multiple Oscar nominations and grossing over $567Mm worldwide with Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, the spy action franchise of course center on Tom Cruise’s Impossible Missions Force agent Ethan Hunt, who with his team, has embarked on assorted globe-trotting missions to avert global disaster.

In addition to Cruise, returning cast will include Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Esai Morales, Pom Klementieff, Vanessa Kirby, Mariela Garriga, Henry Czerny, Shea Whigham, Greg Tarzan Davis, Charles Parnell and Frederick Schmidt. Others making their Mission: Impossible debut in the eighth installment include Holt McCallany, Janet McTeer,...

The Copeland Brothers have found a new home.

Chris and Justin Copeland, who have worked on “Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts,” “Batman: The Killing Joke” and Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” cartoon, have joined stop-motion studio Laika to develop animated feature projects. Travis Knight, president and CEO of Laika, made the announcement.

The Copeland Brothers, as they are collectively known, have been working for the past five years on feature and series projects for DreamWorks Animation. The feature they were working on for DreamWorks is not going forward; hence their pivot to Laika, TheWrap has learned. However, a short film that they were working on for the studio is coming soon.

The Copelands join a growing list of filmmakers who are working on projects for the Portland, Oregon-based animation studio, including Pete Candeland, who has directed a number of Gorillaz music videos; Víctor Maldonado and Alfredo Torres, who...

Filmmakers Chris and Justin Copeland, aka The Copeland Brothers, have been tapped to develop new animated feature projects for the award-winning Oregon studio Laika.

No further details on the pair’s work for Laika has been disclosed. Their work for the studios comes on the heels of a five-year period in which the Copelands have been developing for both the feature and television divisions of DreamWorks.

Previously, Chris has directed on DreamWorks’ Emmy, GLAAD and NAACP-nominated series Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts, with Justin directing on the DC original films Wonder Woman: Bloodlines and Batman: Hush. Together, the pair have also worked as storyboard artists on a slew of titles for the likes of Marvel and DC.

Born and raised in Chicago, The Copeland Brothers most recently wrapped writing and directing a soon-to-be released animated short. They are represented by UTA, Redefine Entertainment, and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole.

Laika Animation is bringing the 2009 fantasy film ‘Coraline’ back to theaters for Halloween showings. The film will screen in newly remastered 3D and 2D formats starting on October 31st in several countries. This comes after a highly successful 15th anniversary re-release this past summer.

That summer re-release earned over $53 million globally at the box office. It helped make ‘Coraline’ the highest-grossing stop-motion animated film ever in the United States. Worldwide ticket sales for the film now total $185.7 million.

David Burke, Laika’s Chief Marketing and Operations Officer, said the studio was “elated” by the summer screenings’ success. He added that they were “delighted” to offer fans one more chance to see ‘Coraline’ on the big screen this Halloween season.

Countries scheduled for the Halloween showings include the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, Canada, Austria, and Ecuador. More locations may be announced. France and Italy will screen the film in November.

In addition,...

After a summertime return to theaters that grossed over $53 million at the global box office, Laika’s acclaimed 2009 stop-motion animated film Coraline returns to theaters for a special Halloween engagement starting on October 31st.

In partnership with Fathom in the US and Trafalgar Releasing internationally, the film is offered in stunning, newly remastered 3D as well as 2D formats.

In addition to the U.S., the Halloween engagement of Coraline includes the UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada, Austria, and Ecuador, with more territories to follow. France and Italy will also begin their Coraline 15th Anniversary engagements this November.

Fans attending Coraline will be treated to an early glimpse of Laika’s upcoming film, Wildwood.

The 15th Anniversary theatrical re-release of Coraline this past August was an astonishing success, surpassing all estimates. Since its re-release on August 15th, Coraline has brought in over $53 million at the global box office.

It marks the...

For fans who missed Coraline‘s summertime return, fear not: Animation company Laika Studios will be re-releasing the beloved stop-motion pic beginning on Halloween.

The news comes following a huge global box office return for Laika, who is now partnering with Fathom in the U.S. and Trafalgar Releasing internationally, with more than $53 million grossed during the dark fantasy movie’s re-release in August for its 15th anniversary. The 2009 film will be offered in newly remastered 3D as well as 2D formats.

During the screening, viewers will also get a glimpse at Laika’s upcoming Wildwood. Beginning Oct. 31, the film will be available in the U.K., Ireland, Australia, Canada, Austria and Ecuador, with more territories to come. France and Italy will also see a re-release for the film’s anniversary in November.

“Everyone at Laika is elated by the global success of the Coraline re-release and we’re delighted...

Fifteen years after the film’s initial release, Henry Selick’s 2009 stop motion film Coraline is once again headed back to theaters for the Halloween season, we’ve learned today.

In the wake of Coraline scaring up $53 million at the global box office this past summer, the film returns for another limited-time engagement in newly remastered 3D and 2D formats.

From Fathom Events, Coraline comes back to theaters on October 31 & November 1.

Tickets for the spooky season re-release are up for grabs now.

Variety details, “Henry Selick’s film now stands at a lifetime haul of $185.7 million worldwide and is the highest-grossing stop-motion film in the U.S. It’s also the highest-grossing rerelease in the U.S. in the past 10 years and the highest-grossing of Fathom’s 20-year history. Attendees on Halloween will also get a sneak peek of Laika’s upcoming film Wildwood.”

“Everyone at Laika is elated by...

“Coraline” is back in theaters once again — but now just in time for spooky season.

The beloved, stop-motion animated film from 2009 will return on Halloween for a limited-time engagement in newly remastered 3D and 2D formats.

If you feel like you just saw “Coraline” back in theaters, it’s not deja vu — you’re right. The film just had a successful summer rerelease for its 15th anniversary, where it made $53 million globally. Henry Selick’s film now stands at a lifetime haul of $185.7 million worldwide and is the highest-grossing stop-motion film in the U.S. It’s also the highest-grossing rerelease in the U.S. in the past 10 years and the highest-grossing of Fathom’s 20-year history. Attendees on Halloween will also get a sneak peek of Laika’s upcoming film “Wildwood.”

“Everyone at Laika is elated by the global success of the ‘Coraline’ re-release and we’re delighted to...

There's no rest for the wicked — or for Laika Studios, either, it would seem. With the Oregon based outfit preparing to release long-gestating fantasy stop-motion epic Wildwood next year, their self-described "hardest" film to date, the studio could've been forgiven for taking some time out for a bit of a breather. But with recent months bringing news of live-action Brian Duffield movie Crumble and a Piranesi adaptation from Laika CEO and Kubo & The Two Strings director Travis Knight joining the studio's slate, things have been all systems go over in Portland. And now another project has found its way into the Laika pipeline — a live-action sci-fi thriller from Jon Spaihts, best known as the co-writer of Denis Villeneuve's Dune and Alien prequel Prometheus.

Plot details regarding Spaihts' movie, which will mark the prolific screenwriter's directorial debut, are being kept largely under wraps for now. However, the enigmatic logline for...

Jon Spaihts, the screenwriter behind the Dune films and more besides, is turning to directing with an original sci-fi film.

Laika may be better known for its charming animated output, including Kubo And The Two Strings and its debut Coraline, but it also has a business arm which has a number of live-action films in the works.

The most recently announced of these is an untitled project from Jon Spaihts, previously known for his work as a screenwriter – his credits include Denis Villeneuve’s Dune movies, Ridley Scott’s Alien prequel Prometheus (the latter rewritten by Damon Lindelof) and more besides. In what will be his directorial debut, Spaihts’ sci-fi feature will reportedly be about “a woman investigating a mystery that took place during a week she cannot remember.”

It sounds a bit Philip K Dick with its missing memory premise. Or perhaps it’s just about someone who went...

Jon Spaihts, whose writing credits include “Doctor Strange,” “Prometheus” and the two “Dune” movies, is set to make his directorial debut with an untitled sci-fi thriller for Laika. The announcement was made by Matt Levin, Laika’s president of live action film and series.

The movie revolves around a woman who is investigating a mystery that took place during a week she cannot remember.

Laika, the Portland, Oregon-based stop motion animation studio also has the live action film “Crumble,” from writer/director Brian Duffield and producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller, on the docket.

“Laika has long admired Jon’s iconic work as a screenwriter,” said Levin in an official statement. “He is one of the most imaginative and inventive storytellers working today, and we’re honored to partner with him as he brings his unique vision and soul to the director’s chair for the first time with a...

15 years after its original theatrical release, Laika's stop-motion animated classic "Coraline" has become a wildly unexpected hit at the box office. The folks at Fathom Events partnered with Laika to bring director Henry Selick's adaptation of Neil Gaiman's story back to the big screen recently, and to say that it has gone well would be a dramatic understatement.

This past weekend, "Coraline" pulled in $5 million, which was on its second weekend of re-release. Amazingly enough, it made more than Lionsgate's "The Crow" remake ($4.6 million) in its debut. It dropped less than 50% on weekend two, and to date has pulled in $24 million domestically. It's one of Fathom's most successful re-releases ever. What's perhaps most amazing is that Fathom already had success with a re-release of the film last year, which pulled in more than $7 million. That led to this 15th anniversary celebration, which has been surprisingly fruitful.

Re-releases of classic films aren’t supposed to make much of a mark at the box office. They usually serve as a helpful stopgap for theaters to bring in a little extra revenue during slow periods on the release slate. But “Coraline” has proven otherwise — and its newfound success has caught the attention of Hollywood.

The debut film from stop-motion animation Laika Studios returned to theaters courtesy of Fathom Events and Trafalgar Releasing this past weekend for its 15th anniversary, and set a record for those distributors with the most successful re-release in their history with $29.3 million grossed worldwide. Last weekend, the film grossed $9.6 million from Friday to Sunday, enough to put it in the top 5.

For comparison, in its original theatrical run from Focus Features in 2009, “Coraline” earned an unadjusted $75.2 million domestic and $124.5 million worldwide. For an inflation-proof comparison, turn to Mexico, where “Coraline” sold 1.6 million tickets. As of Tuesday,...

Laika is celebrating the beyond-expectations box office results for the re-release of its acclaimed 2009 stop-motion animated film Coraline and will extend the run of its groundbreaking film through August 29th.

Coraline returned to theaters worldwide for its 15th Anniversary in newly remastered 3D for a special limited engagement that started August 15th. In partnership with Fathom in the U.S. and Trafalgar Releasing internationally, the film is offered in stunning, newly remastered 3D and 2D formats.

Since opening on Thursday, August 15, the re-issue of Coraline has earned over $20 million at the worldwide box office. It has sold $12.5 million in tickets in the U.S. and $7.6 million internationally, for a worldwide total of $20.1 million. Coraline was the #4 movie at the domestic box office.

The 15th anniversary Coraline showings also include an early glimpse of Laika’s upcoming film, Wildwood. You can check out that teaser here.

In Mexico, Coraline has officially...

With the current re-release of Henry Selick’s Coraline netting a rather staggering $11.3 million at the U.S. box office, Laika is back in the conversation. The Oregon-based animation studio isn’t just hanging on its laurels, however, as they are in production on their next feature Wildwood, which is set for a release in 2025, marking the longest break they’ve had between features as it’s been six years since 2019’s Missing Link.

Directed by the company’s CEO Travis Knight (who also directed Kubo and the Two Strings and Bumblebee) and written by Chris Butler, it’s based on the 2011 novel from The Decemberists frontman Colin Meloy, which featured illustrations by Carson Ellis. Featuring a voice cast of Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Awkwafina, Angela Bassett, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Amandla Stenberg, Jemaine Clement, Maya Erskine, Tantoo Cardinal, Tom Waits, and Richard E. Grant,...

“Wildwood” is a new stop motion animated fantasy feature, directed by Travis Knight, based on the 2011 novel -by Colin Meloy and illustrator Carson Ellis, starring Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Awkwafina, Angela Bassett, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Amandla Stenberg, Jemaine Clement, Maya Erskine, Tantoo Cardinal, Tom Waits and Richard E. Grant, releasing April 11, 2025 in theaters:

“…’Prue McKeel’ and her best friend ‘Curtis’ are drawn into a hidden, magical forest, after Prue's baby brother ‘Mac’ is kidnapped by crows, led by a mysterious woman named ‘Alexandra’…”

Click the images to enlarge….

It may have been over a decade in the making, but in recent weeks we've finally started to get our first proper look at Wildwood, the latest epic stop-motion animated adventure from Oregon outfit Laika Studio. Last month, weexclusively revealed a first look photo from Kubo & The Two Strings director Travis Knight's long-gestating passion project, and followed that up shortly after with a world-first stop-motion digital magazine cover introducing the movie's plucky heroine Prue McKeel. Now, at long last, today saw the studio release the first teaser for Knight's adaptation of Colin Meloy's anthropomorphic YA fantasy book(s) — with a little help from some familiar faces. Check it out below:

Now that's what you call a teaser! "There are places in the world that people were never meant to go," ominously intones Jake Johnson over shots of Coraline, ParaNorman, and Kubo's heroes heading into "dark forests...

"When the first settlers came here, they called the woods the impassable wilderness. It was a warning... to keep away." That's quite an ominous intro! I'm excited to see more from this. Laika has revealed another quick teaser for their next stop-motion animated movie titled Wildwood, which is once again directed by Travis Knight (of Kubo and the Two Strings). They originally started production in 2021, and it's expected to debut sometime in early 2025. The character of Prue was revealed in the first look magazine cover last month. Prue McKeel (voiced by Peyton Elizabeth Lee) and her best friend Curtis are drawn into a hidden, magical forest outside Portland after Prue's baby brother Mac is kidnapped by crows, led by a mysterious woman named Alexandra. The cast includes Jacob Tremblay as Curtis, Carey Mulligan, Awkwafina, Mahershala Ali, Angela Bassett, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Amandla Stenberg, Tom Waits, Jemaine Clement, & Richard E. Grant.

After a sojourn into the “Transformers” universe with “Bumblebee,” Travis Knight is returning to his cinematic roots, stop-motion animation. Well, to be fair, he’s also still directing the live-action “Masters of the Universe” tentpole for Amazon MGM Studios and Mattel, but concurrently he’s directing his first stop-motion animation film in over eight years, “Wildwood.” In a surprise, Knight’s animation studio, Laika, has released a captivating teaser of the movie that we suspect will arrive in theaters sometime in 2025.

Continue reading ‘Wildwood’ Teaser: Travis Knight’s First Stop-Motion Film Since ‘Kubo And The Two Strings’ Looks Spooky at The Playlist.

With Coraline back in theaters for its 15th anniversary, Laika Studios has revealed the first Wildwood teaser. While the film has no release date yet, it is expected to open in theaters in 2025.

In addition to the Wildwood teaser, we’ve also included Laika’s recent video that takes you behind the scenes of the stop-motion animated film and a video featuring Coraline introducing the company’s newest hero, Prue McKeel.

Wildwood is based on the series of novels by Colin Meloy, lead singer for The Decemberists, and illustrator Carson Ellis. The film is currently in production at Laika Studios outside Portland, Oregon.

The cast includes Oscar nominee Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman), Oscar winner Mahershala Ali (Moonlight), Peyton Elizabeth Lee (Andi Mack), Jacob Tremblay (Room), and Awkwafina (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings).

Also on board are Oscar nominee Angela Bassett (What’s Love Got to Do With It...

The impassable wilderness beckons. Laika Studio, the team behind stop-motion animated hits ParaNorman and Coraline, are back with their sixth stop-motion movie, Wildwood. The studio has released the title reveal for the epic fantasy, and it looks dark.

Wildwood is written by Chris Butler, based on the novel written by Colin Meloy, the lead singer/songwriter for The Decemberists, and illustrated by artist Carson Ellis.

In the film, “Beyond Portland’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.

“Coraline,” the masterful stop-motion debut from Oregon-based Laika, turns 15 this year. It’s currently being honored with a 3D remaster in theaters (also screening in 2D through Fathom). In addition, there’s a bevy of merch, including a new Mondo vinyl soundtrack by Bruno Coulais, a Converse collection, and a partnership with Portland’s Stumptown Coffee.

Which is why “Coraline” director Henry Selick was recently in London promoting the 3D remaster and appearing at the launch of the “Laika: Frame x Frame” exhibition at BFI Southbank. He spoke to IndieWire via Zoom about ushering in the digital stop-motion revolution at Laika in 2009 and creating the iconic rebel with blue hair and yellow raincoat.

“I had incredible support from Laika and Travis Knight [the studio’s president and artist-turned-director] to pursue exactly what I wanted,” Selick said. “Not that every moment of the film was dictated by myself, but I was able to make the choices and...

With their last Joker film, Todd Phillips and Joaquin Phoenix reinvented the character from the ground up. Now, they’re about to change the game all over again in Joker: Folie À Deux – a follow-up that sends Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck (and Lady Gaga’s Harley ‘Lee’ Quinzel) into song-and-dance territory. It’s one of the year’s most eagerly-anticipated films, and the new issue of Empire is your all-access guide.

The September 2024 issue isn’t on newsstands until tomorrow, Thursday 1 August – but you can take a sneak peek at what’s in story below. Order a copy online here.

Joker: Folie À Deux

How do you follow up a billion-dollar character drama take on one of the world’s most famous villains? Why, you make a music-fuelled romance, of course! Empire speaks with filmmaker Todd Phillips, stars Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, and more, getting the inside story on...

Meet Prue. Laika has revealed a first look at their next new animation project called Wildwood, once again being directed by Travis Knight (of Kubo and the Two Strings). They originally started production with an inital announcement in 2021, and it's expected to debut sometime in 2025, as they continue working at their animation studio outside of Portland. The first look reveal comes from UK's Empire Magazine, where they have an entire feature about Wildwood's production as well as a special "first-ever stop-motion animated digital magazine cover" introducing the main character. Prue McKeel (voiced by Peyton Elizabeth Lee) and her best friend Curtis are drawn into a hidden, magical forest outside Portland after Prue's baby brother Mac is kidnapped by crows, led by a mysterious woman named Alexandra. The full cast also includes Jacob Tremblay as Curtis, Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Awkwafina, Angela Bassett, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Amandla Stenberg, Jemaine Clement,...

It’s obvious in every frame to hit the screen that each Laika movie is a labour of love. The studio is dedicated to the painstaking craft of stop-motion animation, resulting in the likes of Coraline, Kubo And The Two Strings, and most recently Missing Link. But even by Laika standards, their next film is a feat of mind-boggling complexity – a decade-in-the-making fantasy epic that’s set to push the studio’s capabilities to a whole new level. Get ready for Wildwood, transforming Laika’s home of Portland, Oregon, into animated form – and sending young hero Prue on a dangerous journey into a fantastical forest realm.

As director Travis Knight tells Empire in an exclusive new interview, the film, based on Colin Meloy’s acclaimed novel, is “the hardest thing we have ever done” – hence its especially lengthy development. “A huge part of the reason it’s taken us so...

Every new film from Laika is something to be cherished – each one a stop-motion animated marvel boasting breathtaking levels of craft, deeply affecting narratives, and a real sense of cinematic magic. And so, in the wake of Coraline, ParaNorman, The Boxtrolls, Kubo And The Two Strings, and Missing Link, the impending arrival of the animation house’s sixth feature is one to eagerly anticipate. Get ready to venture into Wildwood, a lush and imaginative new fantasy epic that’s set for release next year. And to introduce the film, Empire has something very special indeed – a completely original, stop-motion animated digital cover created exclusively for us by Laika, with none other than the iconic Coraline unveiling the new film’s protagonist, Prue McKeel. Watch it here:

This stop-motion digital cover is the first of its kind, incorporating a newly restored Coraline puppet and featuring brand-new sets and costuming created specifically for the production.

Laika, the studio responsible for producing some of the most remarkable stop-motion animated films of all time, like Coraline, Kudo and the Two Strings, and Paranorman, is making good on a three-year-old promise to get into the live-action game with Crumble, an upcoming action-adventure film from filmmaker Brian Duffield. Duffield directs Crumble from his script with the promise of taking audiences on an epic adventure.

Crumble focuses on a married couple who embark on a world-traveling adventure, hoping to find a cure to an ancient curse. The project has notable producing power, with Phil Lord and Chris Miller producing alongside Aditya Sood via their Lord Miller studio. Duffield produces in addition to his directorial and scripting duties. Lord Miller’s Lucy Kitada and Nikki Baida executive produce.

“We’re so excited to partner with Brian and the entire team at Lord Miller on this special film,” said Laika’s President,...

Laika is getting serious about its live-action output, with a new project called “Crumble” to be written and directed by Brian Duffield and produced by Phil Lord and Chris Miller.

“Crumble” will tell the tale of “a married couple who go on a world-traversing adventure in the hope of finding a cure to an ancient curse.”

The announcement was made by Laika’s president of live-action film and series Matt Levin. “We’re so excited to partner with Brian and the entire team at Lord Miller on this special film,” he said in a Tuesday statement. “Brian has such a singular voice and ‘Crumble’ perfectly embodies the bold, emotional and inventive storytelling that we champion at Laika. Lord Miller is in a class of its own and we could not ask for a better creative team to bring this story to life.”

Aditya Sood will produce for Lord Miller alongside Duffield.

Three years after announcing its intention to expand into live-action, the renowned Oregon animation studio Laika has acquired Crumble, an original script by Brian Duffield (No One Will Save You), which he’ll direct for the studio as a live-action feature.

Crumble tells the tale of a married couple who go on a world-traversing adventure in the hope of finding a cure to an ancient curse. Oscar winners Phil Lord and Chris Miller as well as Aditya Sood will produce through their Lord Miller banner, with Duffield also set to produce. Lucy Kitada and Nikki Baida from Lord Miller will serve as executive producers.

News of the project comes following word in June that Laika’s founder, President and CEO Travis Knight will next helm an animated adaptation of Susanna Clarke’s bestseller Piranesi for the studio. Duffield comes to it after working alongside the Lord Miller team as a...

Do Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan have beef with one another? No, not exactly. According to Deadline, the duo is negotiating to star in Beef Season 2. While Netflix refused to comment about its status with the Emmy darling, it’s an excellent time to remind everyone that Netflix has not officially announced Beef Season 2. Deadline says the roles that Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan would play for Beef Season 2 were originally for Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway, but momentum on them joining the series stalled. Meanwhile, the move to add Charles Melton and Cailee Spaeny to the series remains a mystery.

Lee Sung Jin created Beef, which Ali Wong and Steven Yeun led. The show revolves around two people (Wong and Yeun) who let a road rage incident burrow into their minds and slowly consume their thoughts and actions. Their toxic relationship evolves into an all-out war with disastrous consequences.

Laika has acquired the international best-selling fantasy novel Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. Laika’s President and CEO, Travis Knight, will direct the animated feature film.

A New York Times and Sunday Times best-seller with over four million copies sold, Piranesi was awarded the 2021 Women’s Prize for Fiction.

Image Courtesy of Bloomsbury

“Piranesi is a treasure and very dear to me,” said Knight. “As a filmmaker, I can scarcely imagine a more joyful experience than wandering through the worlds Susanna dreamed into being.

“She’s one of my all-time favorite authors, and with Piranesi, Susanna has created a beautiful, devastating, and ultimately life-affirming work of art. I’m humbled that she chose Laika as her home.”

“Animation is one of my favourite things,” said Clarke. “I’ve been inspired by so many animated movies; and Laika has produced such extraordinary work — movies like Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings,...

Laika has acquired the rights to fantasy novel “Piranesi” by Susanna Clarke and will make an animated adaptation directed by its president and CEO Travis Knight.

Knight, who previously helmed the studio’s Oscar-nominated “Kubo and the Two Strings” as well as “Bumblebee” from the Transformers franchise, said of the novel :”‘Piranesi’ is a treasure, and very dear to me. As a filmmaker, I can scarcely imagine a more joyful experience than wandering through the worlds Susanna dreamed into being. She’s one of my all-time favorite authors, and with ‘Piranesi,‘ Susanna has created a beautiful, devastating and ultimately life-affirming work of art. I’m humbled that she chose Laika as her home.”

A New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller with over 4 million copies sold, “Piranesi” was awarded the 2021 Women’s Prize for Fiction. Clarke also authored “Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell,” which was adapted for a television.

“Animation...

Portland-based Laika will explore a labyrinthian alternate reality in “Piranesi,” one of its upcoming stop-motion animated features, adapted from Susanna Clarke’s best-selling fantasy novel. Laika president/CEO Travis Knight will direct, pushing stop-motion further into the domain traditionally occupied by live action.

In “Piranesi,” the eponymous protagonist lives in a strange house comprised of infinite rooms, endless corridors, and walls lined with thousands of statues. Within the labyrinth of halls an ocean is imprisoned; waves thunder up staircases, rooms are flooded in an instant. Piranesi, who believes that he’s always lived in the house, studies the tides and architectural pattern as part of his exploration. He meets another person, the Other, who visits twice a week and asks for assistance in his research about the house. Piranesi soon discovers dark secrets and a world beyond what he’s always known.

“’Piranesi’ is a treasure, and very dear to me,...

Author Susanna Clarke‘s best-selling fantasy novel Piranesi is getting the animated feature treatment.

Animation studio Laika has acquired the 2020 book, with the company’s CEO Travis Knight set to helm the project. The novel Piranesi, which won the 2021 Women’s Prize for Fiction, centers on the titular narrator arriving in a parallel universe made up of endless rooms and hallways where newcomers slowly lose their identity.

Knight is directing Amazon MGM Studios’ live-action Masters of the Universe feature that hits theaters in 2026, with Nicholas Galitzine (The Idea of You) starring as He-Man. Knight’s other films as director include Bumblebee (2019) and the Oscar-nominated animated movie Kubo and the Two Strings (2016). His animated movie Wildwood — that hails from Laika and includes voice work from Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali and Awkwafina — is set to hit theaters next year.

“Piranesi is a treasure and very dear to me,” Knight said in a statement.

Animation wizard Henry Selick has seen the remastered “Coraline.” And he loves it.

“It’s gorgeous. I saw it about a week and a half ago and it very much represents the original dream of how to use the 3D really well,” Selick said during a surprise appearance at Variety‘s “Laika Celebrates Coraline’s 15th Anniversary” panel at Annecy Animation Festival. “It took the original concept to a greater height.”

Moderated by Variety chief film critic Peter Debruge, Selick was joined by Laika’s Brian McLean (director of Rapid Prototype), Oliver Jones (director of Practical Effects) and Jeff Stringer (chief technology officer).

“I’ve gotten used to seeing ‘Coraline’ in 2D over the years, but nothing looks better in 3D than stop-motion,” Selick said, looking back at his years at Laika. “I was never more spoiled. I got support there like nobody’s business. Nobody was saying: ‘No, we don’t need that,...

Henry Selick’s modern classic “Coraline” turns 15 this year, and a new 3D remaster of the stop-motion feature (announced in February) will get a worldwide theatrical release this fall by Fathom in the U.S and Trafalgar Releasing in the rest of the world.

Limited screenings will begin on August 15 and feature an early glimpse of Laika’s upcoming film, “Wildwood.” Ticket sales kick off on June 21. A 2D version of the film will also be available to exhibitors.

“Coraline”

In 2023, Fathom re-released the original version of “Coraline” in the U.S., which netted over $7 million at the box office, a record for the event-based distributor. The film is also screening in this year’s Annecy Classics program, marking a return to the French festival where it won the Cristal for a feature film in 2009.

“Coraline” was written by Neil Gaiman and Selick and stars voice actors Dakota Fanning, Ian McShane,...

One fandom's loss is another's gain, apparently. While Marvel Studios has been undergoing something of an identity crisis in recent years, capped by Disney's Bob Iger actually promising to slow down production of movies and shows during a shareholder call while Marvel's Brad Winderbaum recently copped to the shortcomings of the #ItsAllConnected approach, one of the bigger casualties has been the shaky status of the announced "Blade" movie. Starring the great Mahershala Ali as the eponymous vampire hunter, the film has undergone quite a bit of behind-the-scenes chaos, from directorial changes to significant amounts of creative overhaul -- to the extent, in fact, that the star reportedly came this close to parting ways with the studio altogether. Well, Marvel fans can consider this latest development as yet another troublesome sign. Dinosaur fans, meanwhile, have our permission to rejoice.

The Hollywood Reporter has the scoop that Ali is presently in talks...

Mahershala Ali is in talks to join the newest installment in the Jurassic World franchise from Universal Pictures, Deadline can confirm.

Details as to the role he’ll be playing are under wraps, as is the plot of the film, which is said to launch an all-new storyline. But should the deal make, he’ll join an ensemble that includes Scarlett Johansson, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Jonathan Bailey and Rupert Friend, as previously announced.

Gareth Edwards has been enlisted to direct the new film from a script by David Koepp. Frank Marshall and Patrick Crowley are producing for Kennedy-Marshall, with Steven Spielberg executive producing for Amblin Entertainment. EVP of Production Development Sara Scott and Creative Executive of Production Development Jacqueline Garell are overseeing the film, slated for release on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, on behalf of the studio.

Best known for his Oscar-winning performances in Green Book and Moonlight, Ali is coming off the...

The British Film Institute has partnered with film animation studio Laika to start its event series Stop Motion: Celebrating Hand-Crafted Animation On The Big Screen, which will offer free screenings for children under 16 and include Laika’s five films to date: “Coraline” (2009), “Paranorman” (2012), “The Boxtrolls” (2014), “Kubo and the Two Strings” (2016) and “Missing Link” (2019), all of which were nominated for the Academy Award for outstanding animated feature.

The season, curated by BFI Southbank Lead Programmer Justin Johnson, will take place from Aug. 1 through Oct. 9. Additional titles playing on the big screen throughout the season will include “King Kong” (1933), “Jason and the Argonauts” (1963), “Chicken Run” (2001), “Corpse Bride” (2005), “Coraline” (2009), “Fantastic Mr. Fox” (2009) and “Anomalisa” (2015).

A free exhibition at BFI Southbank, Laika: Frame x Frame, will also run and showcase the art, science and innovation of the studio’s films. The exhibition will allow visitors an exclusive look at puppets, sets and artifacts from...

Willow episode 5, "Wildwood", reveals the history and weaknesses of Boorman, adding depth to his character. The heroes are imprisoned in bone cages, leading to heartfelt conversations about their feelings and relationships. The episode ends with an ambush by trolls and an attack on the Bone Reaver's camp, leaving the characters in danger and creating a cliffhanger ending.

In Willow episode 5, "Wildwood", the heroes enter a dangerous forest to find friends and foes. The TV show Willow is a sequel series of the self-contained fantasy movie of the same name. It premiered in November 2022, and earned an 84% on Rotten Tomatoes. Willow does an admirable job of balancing nostalgia for George Lucas' 1988 film and exploring the magical world in novel ways. But despite good ratings and a dedicated fanbase, Disney+ ended up canceling the series after one season, and removing it from their library, much to Willow star Warwick Davis' frustration.

Willow...

Here at Empire, we have a tradition of sharing one article from our year at Christmas — consider it a digital stocking-filler. As 2023 rolls out, let us bring you some bonus cheer with a feature that’s close to our hearts: our visit to the Portland headquarters of stop-motion animation legends Laika. We got up close and personal with the puppets, sat down for a lengthy chat with studio boss Travis Knight, and even got an extended set visit for Laika’s next big-screen epic, Wildwood. That won’t be out until 2025 (stop-motion takes time), so in the meantime, please enjoy the next best thing…

The dogfight was going to look awesome. The boy was sure of it. Buzzing from the movies he had sat through, enthralled, on Saturday-morning TV or at cinema matinées in his farm town outside of Portland, Oregon — stop-motion classics such as the Ray Harryhausen-enhanced The...

Laika, the groundbreaking Portland, Oregon-based animation studio, has brought in new filmmakers in the form of director Pete Candeland and Victor Maldonado and Alfredo Torres, the duo known as Headless, TheWrap has confirmed.

Candeland and Headless will be developing new animated features, although details on those features have yet to be revealed.

Maldonado and Torres won an Annie for an episode of the Guillermo del Toro DreamWorks Animation series “Trollhunters” and have also directed three episodes of Netflix’s adult animated series “Love, Death & Robots.” Maldonado also directed and co-wrote “Nocturna,” a 2007 animated feature. Torres also worked on “Nocturna” as production designer, which won the Best Animated Feature at the Goya Awards. They also worked on the animated sequences from J.A. Bayona’s “A Monster Calls” and were in development at Skydance Animation, which recently moved its feature output from Apple TV+ to Netflix.

Candeland is best known for directing music videos for Gorillaz,...

Exclusive: Oregon studio Laika has brought in new talent, hiring director Pete Candeland, along with Victor Maldonado & Alfredo Torres, the Annie Award-winning duo together known as Headless, to develop new animated features.

The appointments are effective immediately, though there’s no word yet on what the projects are.

Maldonado and Torres are an L.A.-based team that landed their Annie for the helming of “Win, Lose or Draal,” an episode of the Guillermo del Toro series Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia, produced by DreamWorks Animation and Double Dare You Productions. The duo also directed three episodes of the Emmy-winning Netflix animated series Love, Death & Robots, additionally partnering on the 2007 fantasy Nocturna which won Best Animated Feature at the Goya Awards, Spain’s equivalent of the Oscars. Maldonado directed that title alongside Adrià García, with Torres serving as production designer and tackling numerous other creative responsibilities.

Maldonado and Torres also...

Exclusive: Chiwetel Ejiofor (Rob Peace), Karen Gillan (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3) and Jacob Tremblay (The Toxic Avenger) have joined the cast of The Life of Chuck, the latest of many Stephen King adaptations from filmmaker Mike Flanagan (Doctor Sleep), which kicked off production in Alabama under an interim agreement earlier this month. Tom Hiddleston and Mark Hamill lead the ensemble of the pic, written and directed by Flanagan, as we were first to tell you.

Also now involved is QWGmire, the production and financing entity known for the indie horror Agnes and the forthcoming Lovely, Dark and Deep, which has made a major equity investment in the independently financed feature.

Stated QWGmire partners Molly C. Quinn, Matthew M. Welty and Elan Gale, “We are thrilled to partner with Mike and Trevor [Macy] on this project. Mike is a master storyteller and we can’t wait to bring his...