Laika Breaks From Tradition With A Tailored Distribution Strategy For ‘Wildwood’

Laika is trying a new distribution plan for its upcoming stop-motion feature, Wildwood, partnering with Fathom Entertainment for U.S. theatrical release and FilmNation Entertainment for international sales. The studio also confirmed that the film will open across North America on October 23, 2026.

Today’s announcements signal a strategic shift for Laika, which is adopting a more customized, project-specific distribution model for Wildwood. International sales will formally launch at next month’s European Film Market in Berlin, where FilmNation will introduce the film to buyers worldwide.

It’s also a step forward for Fathom Entertainment, which is best known for event-driven releases that usually span only a day or a weekend. In fact, Fathom has been the distribution force behind multi-million-dollar-grossing re-releases of Laika favorites Coraline ($56 million in 2024!) and ParaNorman. If the company can steer a successful wide and sustained release for Wildwood, it could be game-changing for Fathom and for indie distribution more generally.

In a release, Laika’s chief marketing and operations officer, David Burk,e explained:

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. Partnering with Fathom’s Denver-based team brings national perspective and operational strength to the U.S. release, while working with FilmNation internationally positions the film with scale, reach, and deep expertise in global markets. It’s a strategy built specifically for Wildwood, preserving Laika’s independence while aligning with world-class collaborators to support the film’s ambition.

Directed by LAIKA president and CEO Travis Knight, Wildwood is described as the studio’s most ambitious handcrafted production to date. Knight emphasized the theatrical intent behind the release, saying:

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.

Fathom Entertainment CEO Ray Nutt added:

Wildwood is a magnificently ambitious stop motion film and a landmark achievement in handcrafted cinematic artistry — a project that means so much to both Laika and Fathom Entertainment. It’s a breathtaking, creative feat that will captivate audiences when it arrives on the big screen this October 23rd. Fathom is elated to build on our past theatrical re-release successes with Laika, including Coraline and ParaNorman, and to be selected and entrusted as the distributor for a full, nationwide U.S. theatrical release of Wildwood, consistent with that of the legacy Hollywood studios, complemented by the innovation Fathom brings to all its theatrical engagements. Distributing Wildwood to U.S. theatres further exemplifies Fathom Entertainment’s growth and evolution into a full-service specialty theatrical distributor.

Wildwood features an ensemble voice cast including Carey Mulligan, Jacob Tremblay, Mahershala Ali, Angela Bassett, Awkwafina, and Richard E. Grant, among others. The film’s first trailer debuted three months ago and has been viewed more than 11 million times since.