LAIKA’s upcoming stop-motion fantasy Wildwood features an extensive voice cast led by Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Angela Bassett, and Jake Johnson. Scheduled to arrive in U.S. theaters on October 23, 2026, the animated adventure brings together established Hollywood performers, experienced voice actors, and musicians to portray a world inhabited by humans, talking animals, and mysterious supernatural figures.
Directed by Travis Knight, Wildwood is based on the illustrated fantasy novel written by Colin Meloy and illustrated by Carson Ellis. The story follows a young girl who ventures into a forbidden forest outside Portland, Oregon, after her baby brother is abducted by a flock of crows. Accompanied by a schoolmate, she discovers a hidden world filled with competing factions, unusual creatures, and dangerous secrets.
The film marks LAIKA’s sixth animated feature, following productions including Coraline, ParaNorman, The Boxtrolls, Kubo and the Two Strings, and Missing Link. With its largest ensemble of prominent performers to date, Wildwood places considerable emphasis on voice acting to bring its elaborate handcrafted characters to life.
Peyton Elizabeth Lee and Jacob Tremblay Lead the Adventure
Peyton Elizabeth Lee voices Prue McKeel, the teenage protagonist whose determination to rescue her younger brother drives the story. Prue’s adventure begins when a murder of crows carries her baby brother, Mac, into the Impassable Wilderness, a mysterious forest that ordinary residents of Portland are warned to avoid.
Lee is best known for her live-action television work, including the Disney Channel series Andi Mack and the medical comedy-drama Doogie Kameāloha, M.D.. Her casting places her at the center of an animated feature that requires the protagonist to navigate danger, unexpected friendships, and an increasingly complicated fantasy world.
Jacob Tremblay voices Curtis Mehlberg, Prue’s classmate and reluctant companion during her journey into the wilderness. Curtis becomes involved in the rescue mission and encounters many of the same dangers as Prue, although his personality and approach to adventure differ considerably from hers.
Tremblay already has substantial experience in animation, having voiced the title character in Pixar’s Luca and provided the voice of Flounder in Disney’s 2023 live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid. He also voiced Damian Wayne in Harley Quinn and appeared in Orion and the Dark. His previous work combines emotionally expressive performances with the ability to portray young characters confronting unfamiliar circumstances.
The relationship between Prue and Curtis forms the foundation of the film’s adventure. Their contrasting personalities provide opportunities for both dramatic and comedic exchanges as they encounter the inhabitants of Wildwood.
Arthur Knight voices Mac McKeel, Prue’s younger brother, whose disappearance sets the story in motion. Although Mac’s role differs from those of the two central adventurers, his abduction establishes the emotional stakes of the narrative and motivates Prue’s journey.
Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali and Angela Bassett Voice Wildwood’s Powerful Figures
Carey Mulligan portrays Alexandra, a mysterious and powerful woman connected to the events unfolding inside the forest. Alexandra plays a major role in the conflict surrounding Wildwood, with her actions contributing to the dangers faced by Prue and Curtis.
Mulligan is widely recognized for her dramatic performances in films including An Education, Promising Young Woman, and Maestro. She has also worked in animation, including voicing Sally Sparrow in the English-language version of The Amazing Maurice. Her casting brings an established dramatic performer to one of the film’s most important fantasy characters.
Mahershala Ali voices Brendan, another significant figure within Wildwood’s complicated world. The Academy Award-winning actor is known for his performances in Moonlight and Green Book, while his animation credits include Aaron Davis in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and its sequel. His experience with both dramatic acting and animated storytelling makes him a notable addition to the ensemble.
Angela Bassett voices the General, a giant golden eagle who commands considerable authority within the forest. Bassett has previously contributed her voice to animated productions including Soul, Wendell & Wild, and The Simpsons. Her distinctive delivery and commanding screen presence make her a recognizable choice for a character associated with leadership and military authority.
Richard E. Grant voices Owl Rex, one of the film’s unusual animal characters. Grant’s extensive acting career includes performances in Withnail and I, Can You Ever Forgive Me?, and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. His animation work includes Corpse Bride and The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists!, giving him experience with imaginative characters and stylized performances.
Together, these performers help establish the personalities of Wildwood’s influential inhabitants. Their characters represent different aspects of the forest’s political and supernatural conflicts, expanding the story beyond Prue’s initial rescue mission.
Jake Johnson, Maya Erskine and the Supporting Voice Cast
Jake Johnson and Maya Erskine voice Prue’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. McKeel. Their characters establish the family environment from which Prue begins her adventure, providing an important connection to the ordinary world outside the forest.
Johnson is particularly familiar to animation audiences as the voice of Peter B. Parker in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. He is also known for portraying Nick Miller in the television comedy New Girl. Erskine, whose live-action credits include PEN15 and Mr. & Mrs. Smith, has contributed voice performances to animated productions including Blue Eye Samurai.
Awkwafina voices Septima, adding another recognizable performer to the film’s ensemble. Her previous animated roles include Sisu in Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon, Zhen in Kung Fu Panda 4, and Scuttle in The Little Mermaid. Her experience with energetic comedic characters has made her a frequent presence in major animated productions.
Charlie Day voices Dmitri, continuing his work in animation following appearances as Benny in The Lego Movie and Luigi in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Day is also known for his long-running performance in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, where his distinctive vocal style has become an important part of his comedic identity.
Amandla Stenberg portrays Niamh, another character encountered within Wildwood. Stenberg’s acting credits include The Hunger Games, The Hate U Give, and The Acolyte. She has also voiced Margo Kess in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, bringing previous animation experience to the production.
Jemaine Clement voices Roger, adding a performer known for both musical comedy and character voice acting. Clement previously voiced Tamatoa in Disney’s Moana and appeared in animated projects including Rio and The Lego Batman Movie. His work frequently combines distinctive vocal characterization with comedic timing.
The supporting cast also includes several performers with extensive careers across film, television, and theater. Tantoo Cardinal voices Iphigenia, while musician and actor Tom Waits portrays Maksim. Blythe Danner voices the Seer, and Len Cariou plays the Postmaster. Marc Evan Jackson appears as Lars, with Rob Delaney and Ólafur Darri Ólafsson also contributing performances.
The combination of established dramatic actors, comedians, musicians, and experienced animation performers reflects the variety of characters inhabiting the film. Rather than relying on a small group of protagonists, Wildwood introduces an expansive collection of personalities whose interactions shape the journey through the forest.
LAIKA Combines a Major Voice Cast With Handcrafted Animation
Wildwood represents one of LAIKA’s most ambitious productions, with director Travis Knight returning to animated filmmaking after directing Kubo and the Two Strings. Knight also directed the live-action films Bumblebee and Masters of the Universe, while maintaining his leadership role at the Portland-based animation studio.
The screenplay was written by Chris Butler, whose previous LAIKA projects include ParaNorman and Missing Link. The film adapts Meloy’s 2011 novel, which introduced readers to an elaborate fantasy world inspired by the landscapes surrounding Portland.
Unlike computer-generated animated features, LAIKA’s productions use physical puppets, miniature sets, and frame-by-frame stop-motion techniques. The process requires animators to manipulate characters and environments manually, creating movement through thousands of individual photographs.
Voice performances play an important role in that production method. Recorded dialogue provides animators with information about a character’s timing, emotional reactions, and personality, helping them coordinate physical movements with the actor’s delivery. Facial expressions, gestures, and interactions must be carefully developed to complement the recorded performances.
For Wildwood, the scale of the fantasy world creates additional challenges. The film features numerous speaking characters, each requiring a recognizable personality that can be communicated through both vocal performance and handcrafted animation. The combination of human protagonists, talking animals, and supernatural figures allows the production to explore a broad range of acting styles.
The film also represents a significant undertaking for LAIKA following its previous feature, Missing Link, released in 2019. The studio has spent years developing the adaptation, with Knight expressing interest in bringing Meloy’s novel to the screen long before production reached its final stages.
With Peyton Elizabeth Lee and Jacob Tremblay leading the adventure, supported by performers including Carey Mulligan, Angela Bassett, Mahershala Ali, Jake Johnson, and Awkwafina, Wildwood brings together a substantial collection of acting talent for its October 23 theatrical release.
The ensemble reflects LAIKA’s continuing approach to animated storytelling, where elaborate physical craftsmanship is supported by performances that give each character a distinct identity. As the studio prepares to introduce audiences to its latest fantasy world, the voice cast will be an essential part of transforming its handcrafted creations into recognizable personalities.