Masters of the Universecould be one of the biggest and best movies of 2026, but that project’s director has also been working onanother film set for release next year, which could be an even bigger deal.Travis Knight taking onMasters of the Universeis such an excellent choice. The director last madeBumblebee, which many consider to be the best film in theTransformersfranchise. He seems to have a good understanding of 1980s cartoons and toys, and this will likely translate into an excellent version ofMasters of the Universe.
While Knight has not made many movies yet, the ones that he has made have been incredible.Bumblebeeis a strong film, althoughthe director has far greater links to stop-motionwith his companyLaika and its excellent animated films. Knight, the son of Nike founder Phil Knight, has been committed to stop-motion movies through the years and helped to build the Laika studio, for which he has served as CEO since 2015. After working as a producer and animator, Knight became a notable director, and his next two features are his most promising yet.
Travis Knight Is Adapting Wildwood, A Fantasy Story Based On A Novel By Colin Meloy
The Movie Began Filming In 2021 And Is Currently In Post-Production
Wildwoodwill be Knight’s other 2026 movie, and the project has so much potential. Based on a children’s fantasy novel from 2011 that waswritten by Decemberists frontman Colin Meloy and illustrated by his wife and frequent collaborator, Carson Ellis, the book sees Prue McKeel disappear into the Impassable Wilderness around Portland, Oregon after a murder of crows abducts her baby brother. Meloy spoke toOregon Liveabout his involvement in the film adaptation, emphasizing the book and the upcoming movie’s deep connections to his city:
It’s so regional, so much about Portland. But it’s especially about Forest Park, which is just this gem of our city. And so, it does feel important that the people that are making the movie actually are spending time in this enchanted place that kind of inspired the book.
Inside the Impassable Wilderness, Prue discovers an incredible and terrifying world that hasdrawn comparisons to stories includingThe Chronicles of NarniaandAlice in Wonderland. Meloy has a uniquely poetic style in both his songwriting and his prose, and much of this translates to the text inWildwood, while Carson has found success in illustrations that capture folk art essences with a mystical twist. The two have been involved in the development andstory of theWildwoodfilm, and it appears that the high fantasy and unique visual style have evolved for the movie without losing the original spirit.
Knight has been important to stop-motion in general during the past decades, working on films includingCoralineandParaNorman, butthe filmmaker’s greatest contribution was in his directorial debut with the filmKubo and the Two Strings.Kubois one of thebest fantasy films of its decadeand tells another story that blends together history, location, and mysticism effectively. The movie does have some darkness, and helps to show a great precedent for what Knight will likely be able to do with material likeWildwood.
Knight has made films that are accessible to children of a certain age, but they do not shy away from adult themes. The director followed up onKubowith one of thebestTransformersmovies,Bumblebee, and while it is exciting that he will be returning to another toy adaptation inMasters of the Universe,seeing the director come back to make another stop-motion feature is even more exciting.Wildwoodis distinct fromKuboin many ways, but the spirit and originality behind the film share some parallels in style, further testifying to what a great choice Knight is for the material.
The Cast For Wildwood Might Even Be Better Than The One For Masters Of The Universe
Mahershala Ali, Carey Mulligan, Awkwafina, And More Headline The Film’s Voice Cast
Masters of the Universecertainly has an incredible cast lined up, including performers like Idris Elba, Alison Brie, and Camila Mendes, but the cast list forWildwoodlooks to be even more exciting.Peyton Elizabeth Lee, who headlined the reboot seriesDoogie Kamealoha, M.D.in the titular role, will be voicing Prue,the lead character. Starring alongside her is Jacob Tremblay, star of films includingWonderand theunderseen comedyGood Boys, as Curtis, her drawing-obsessed companion. The two are joined by actors of all kinds.
Notably, Carey Mulligan, who has been nominated for several Academy Awards since her breakthrough in 2010’sAn Education,will be voicing the film’s main antagonist, Alexandra Svik.Playing a Woodian often referred to as the Dowager Governess, Mulligan will likely bring the terrifying versatility she showed in films likePromising Young Womanto the role.Jurassic World Rebirth’s Mahershala Ali, an Academy Award winner, will be voicing Brendan, the Bandit King, who also plays a very important role in the story.
Richard E. Grant
Roger Swindon/Elgen
Other great performers will appear alongside them. Jake Johnson and Awkwafina will voice Prue’s parents, andAngela Bassett will voice Iphigenia, the Head Elder Mystic of the Council Tree.It’s Always Sunny inPhiladelphia’s Charlie Day will portray the bandit Seamus, while Flight of the Conchords' Jemaine Clement will voice Owl Rex, the Crown Prince of the Avian Principality. The film’s production has clearly attracted some incredible talent, and many more names are also attached in various roles.
The Wildwood Novels Could Turn This Into The Next Big Stop-Motion Franchise
There Are Three Books To Adapt, And They Get Better As They Go
Wildwoodwas released in 2011 and was a fairly hefty book, although it seems that the filmmakers will be able to adapt the whole novel in one film. However,there are actually three books inThe Wildwood Chronicles, with the second book,Under Wildwood,releasing in 2012, and the final volume,Wildwood Imperium, in 2014. The successive volumes expanded the scope of the world, building on the mystical stories and themes that came before to craft a large, epic tale that explores themes of family and the importance of the natural world.
The firstWildwoodnovel is surprisingly long for a children’s fantasy novel at 541 pages, but it is in fact the shortest work in the trilogy, attesting that there is a veritable wealth of material that could be adapted into a franchise.
Wildwoodcould certainly become a franchise, and if the first film works, it should.Adapting epic fantasy that evolves over a series of films has not yet been done in stop-motion,and would be a great step forward for the medium. Knight has shown great love and care for the material, with his studio, Laika, acquiring the rights to the project shortly after the book’s publication in 2011. His dedication to making aWildwoodfilm has clearly not faltered, and it would be amazing to see this entire story play out over several installments.
Knight’sMasters of the Universewill be a big deal for 2026, butWildwoodhas the potential to be just as big, if not bigger.The stop-motion movie has been an important project for Laika for some time, and it is exciting that it is finally set for release next year. While no specific release date is yet available,Wildwoodis highly anticipated by lovers of the medium and the novels alike. The first images give great hope for what this film will look like, promising something truly special for audiences in 2026.
