Wicker Trailer Reveals Olivia Colman and Alexander Skarsgård in a Chilling New Thriller
Finally the trailer for The Wicker is here and we get our first look at one of the most unconventional fantasy movies of the year. The next film stars Academy Award winner Olivia Colman and Alexander Skarsgård and centres on a lonely fisherwoman who orders a husband made entirely of wicker. The newly released trailer for the film ahead of its theatrical release in October 2026 offers a mix of romance, fantasy, dark humour and emotional storytelling.
A Fantasy Romance That Breaks The Mould
Unlike traditional fantasy films, Wicker is a very personal story set in a quiet coastal village. Olivia Colman stars as a lonely fisherwoman who is always getting ribbing for being single. She needs a companion, and asks a master basket weaver (Peter Dinklage) to weave her the perfect husband.
That amazing creation is embodied by the character of Alexander Skarsgård, a man quite literally made of wicker. What begins as an unconventional romance soon evolves into a tale of acceptance, jealousy and the weight of societal expectations as the village responds to the couple’s unusual bond.
Trailer Includes Practical Effects
One of the biggest talking points from the Wicker trailer is Skarsgård’s incredible physical transformation. Instead of a reliance on CGI, the filmmakers chose to use detailed practical costume and prosthetics by Wētā Workshop, the studio behind The Lord of the Rings movies.
The filmmakers say the elaborate costume posed unique challenges for the production, especially in emotional and intimate scenes. The trailer gives viewers some close-ups of the hand-built design, which makes the magical character surprisingly believable.
Wonderful Cast & Creative Team
Based on the short story “The Wicker Husband” by Ursula Wills-Jones, the film is directed by Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson. Joining Colman, Skarsgård and Peter Dinklage are Elizabeth Debicki, Marli Siu, Richard E. Grant and Nabhaan Rizwan.
Instead of a simple fairy tale, the filmmakers seem to be using the fantasy elements to explore themes of loneliness, love, conformity and community judgement. There’s already been interest in the combination of humour and gut-wrenching story-telling following the film’s premiere at Sundance earlier this year.
Release Date & Early Screening Buzz
Wicker will premiere in a limited theatrical release on October 23, 2026 and in a wider release on October 30, 2026 following positive reactions to its Sundance premiere.
Early reactions to the trailer indicate that audiences are curious about its originality. On first glance the idea might seem a bit quirky, but the performances, production design and emotional core have made the film one of the more distinctive releases arriving this fall.
Why is the Wicker Trailer getting attention
This week’s Wicker trailer works because it gives us something that’s becoming increasingly rare in modern movies: an entirely original premise with a cast of stars. The film, rather than a franchise or a reboot, is a blend of fantasy and romance and satire into an original and provocative tale of love and identity and societal expectations.
If the full movie matches the atmospheric promise of the trailer, Wicker could be one of the best fantasy dramas of 2026.
References
Entertainment Weekly – Used facts on the trailer release, practical Wētā Workshop costume, filmmakers’ comments and October 2026 release schedule.
People – Used confirmed cast details, film premise information and Sundance premiere and theatrical release dates.
Sundance Institute – Information about the film’s Sundance premiere, the filmmakers and the adaptation of The Wicker Husband.
Official Film Page (Andrea Cornwell / Lobo Films) – used official synopsis, cast list and production credits
