Laika releases 'Wildwood' collector's edition two weeks after theatrical debut

Collectors can now preorder a limited-edition 4K Ultra HD SteelBook of Laika’s animated feature “Wildwood” on Amazon. The release, distributed by Shout! Studios, includes both a 4K UHD disc and a Blu-ray. The physical edition became available for purchase two weeks after the film’s initial theatrical run began.

The studio released “Wildwood” in theaters on Oct. 23. This marks Laika’s first feature film since 2019’s “Missing Link.” Travis Knight, who serves as the studio’s president and CEO, directed the project. The narrative is based on a 2011 novel by Colin Meloy, frontman of the band the Decemberists, with illustrations by his wife, Carson Ellis.

The story is set in Portland, Ore., and follows Prue McKeel, voiced by Peyton Elizabeth Lee. Her baby brother is abducted by a flock of crows, prompting her to enter a mysterious forest. She is accompanied by her classmate Curtis, voiced by Jacob Tremblay. Together they discover a hidden world containing magical creatures and warring factions.

The voice cast includes Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Angela Bassett, Awkwafina, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Amandla Stenberg, Jemaine Clement, Maya Erskine, Tom Waits, and Richard E. Grant. Laika, an Oregon-based animation studio, previously produced “Coraline,” “ParaNorman,” and “Kubo and the Two Strings.”

The studio described “Wildwood” as its most ambitious production to date. Production crews created 231 puppets and 136 locations to bring the source material to life. The limited-edition SteelBook is currently open for preorder on Amazon. A specific release date for the physical copy has not yet been confirmed.