An audacious comedic fable about sex, marriage, and the absurdities of social convention, WICKER tells the wholly original love story of an ostracized fisherwoman (Olivia Colman) who commissions a husband from the local basketmaker (Peter Dinklage). When her wicker husband (Alexander Skarsgård) proves more spectacular than she ever imagined, his soulful spirit and unique prowess awaken something inside her, setting off a wave of jealousy, fascination, and upheaval that threatens the very fabric of village life.
In Theaters October 23, 2026
Its humor is unruly, its story delightfully unconventional, and its appetite for absurdity impressively large. The result is a captivating fable that knows exactly how strange it wants to be.
The movie’s playful irreverence has a distinctly Monty Python-esque flavor: medieval silliness collides with R-rated, salacious comedy, and good manners are generally left outside the banquet hall. The jokes can be raucous, the situations wonderfully ridiculous, and the characters often seem one questionable decision away from making everything worse. Happily, the film’s eccentricity feels purposeful, not random. Its oddball energy gives the story a personality all its own.
Beneath the outrageous comedy lies a sincere moral center. This story is about trust and genuine affection holding firm against social oppression, cruelty, and jealousy. The message never feels like a stern lecture delivered between punchlines. Instead, it grows naturally from the characters’ choices and the emotional stakes of their journey. Beneath all the bawdy jokes and medieval mayhem, there’s a warm reminder that kindness and loyalty can matter more than status or spite.
The film’s technical accomplishments help its peculiar world feel vivid and convincing. Its visual excellence gives the fable texture and scale, while the performances bring welcome nuance to its larger-than-life personalities. The cast understands the comic rhythm without reducing the characters to punchlines; even amid the chaos, their feelings remain legible. That balance between broad comedy and believable emotion is no small feat.
It is funny, unconventional, and cheerfully provocative, yet never empty of heart. The film’s oddness is part of its charm, and its polished craft makes the whole adventure even more satisfying. Come for the absurd medieval romp; stay for the affection and moral clarity tucked beneath the ruckus.
Written for the Screen and Directed by: Alex Huston Fischer & Eleanor Wilson
Starring: Olivia Colman, Alexander Skarsgård, Elizabeth Debicki, and Peter Dinklage
Produced by: Ed Sinclair, p.g.a., Tom Carver, p.g.a., Olivia Colman, Justin Lothrop, p.g.a., Brent Stiefel, Brad Zimmerman, p.g.a., David Michôd, Andrea Cornwell, Oliver Kassman, Tim Headington, Lia Buman, Ryan Heller, and Michael Bloom
For more information:
www.blackbearpictures.com; Instagram:@blackbearpics, @wickermovie; X: @blackbearpics
Written for the screen and directed by Alex Huston Fischer & Eleanor Wilson (SAVE YOURSELVES!), and adapted from Ursula Wills’ acclaimed short story “The Wicker Husband,” WICKER was brought to life by an exceptional team of craftspeople, including Academy Award®-winning cinematographer Lol Crawley (THE BRUTALIST), Art Directors Guild Award-winning production designer Renátó Cseh (POOR THINGS), costume designers Tóth András Dániel and Attila Godena-Juhász, and composer Anna Meredith (EIGHTH GRADE), whose bold score gives the film its distinctive sound. Alexander Skarsgård’s title character was intricately crafted entirely through practical effects, with an intricately crafted suit created by Joe Dunckley in collaboration with the acclaimed Wētā Workshop (AVATAR, THE LORD OF THE RINGS).
Led by a cast including Academy Award® winner Olivia Colman, Golden Globe® winner Alexander Skarsgård, and Emmy Award® winners Elizabeth Debicki and Peter Dinklage, WICKER earned rave reviews and a double standing ovation at Sundance. Leading independent studio Black Bear has set an October 23, 2026 theatrical release.
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