Netflix's stop-motion animated film Wendell & Wild reveals its first poster and release date. Wendell & Wild is directed by A Nightmare Before Christmas' Henry Selick and stars Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key in the supernatural-themed comedic fantasy adventure. Additional cast for the film includes Angela Bassett, James Hong, Lyric Ross, Tamara Smart, Natalie Martinez, Tantoo Cardinal, Gabrielle Dennis, Igal Naor, David Harewood, Maxine Peake, Ramona Young, Sam Zelaya, Seema Virdi, Gary Gatewood, and Ving Rhames.
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Selick is known for his significant work in stop-motion animation, including Monkeybone with Brendan Fraser, James and the Giant Peach, and Coraline. Wendell & Wild is his first new feature in thirteen years, although it's been in development since as far back as 2015. While the concept is born of an original idea by Selick, Peele is also a writer and producer on the film, making it a full collaboration between the animation maestro and the duo of Key and Peele.
In anticipation of its impending release, Netflix has now revealed the release date of Wendell & Wild to be October 28th, just in time for Halloween. In addition to the release date drop, the first poster for the film has also been revealed, which highlights the main protagonist, Kat, reflecting the demon brothers Wendell and Wild in her eyes. The poster also confirms that the film has been given a PG-13 rating, meaning that it will likely have some darker material beyond a standard animation film, yet will still be safe for most audiences. Take a look at the poster and full synopsis below:
From the delightfully wicked minds of Henry Selick and Jordan Peele, comes Wendell & Wild, an animated tale about scheming demon brothers Wendell (Keegan-Michael Key) and Wild (Peele) – who enlist the aid of Kat Elliot – a tough teen with a load of guilt – to summon them to the Land of the Living. But what Kat demands in return leads to a brilliantly bizarre and comedic adventure like no other, an animated fantasy that defies the law of life and death, all told through the handmade artistry of stop motion.
Some footage of Wendell & Wild has already premiered, showcasing a dark, gothic-style fantasy adventure, akin to Selick's previous work—particularly Coraline and A Nightmare Before Christmas. A trailer has yet to be released, but will surely come around sooner than later now that the date has been set, and it will give viewers a chance to get a better feel for what Selick, Key, and Peele have in store. The new synopsis provides some additional insight into the story, which sounds well in line with Selick's previous work, but with a new comedic twist.
Fans have been eager to see something new from Selick since 2009's Coraline, and Wendell & Wild seems like the perfect follow-up. It's Selick's first project with Netflix, and the streaming platform appears to have given the creative support needed to make something extraordinary and uncompromising. A PG-13 rating is a promising sign, as it suggests that Selick didn't have to make cuts to adhere to a cutesy or juvenile tone, allowing Wendell & Wild to have an edge over the standard animated fare that traditionally dominates the market.