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Wicker” Premieres at Sundance to Ovations and Mixed Reviews as Film Seeks U.S. Distributor

Practical Weta prosthetics with a marquee cast anchor a craft-forward fairy tale courting buyers.

Overview

  • Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson’s feature debuted in the Premieres section at the Eccles Theater, drawing two standing ovations with Olivia Colman visibly moved onstage.
  • The film stars Olivia Colman, Alexander Skarsgård, Peter Dinklage and Elizabeth Debicki, adapting Ursula Wills-Jones’ short story The Wicker Husband.
  • Skarsgård’s title character was realized through Weta Workshop’s practical suit and makeup, a choice the directors said was essential to keep the romance tangible.
  • Early reviews cite standout performances, production design and Lol Crawley’s cinematography, while noting pacing issues and a fable whose moral payoff feels uneven.
  • Industry reports say the film is pursuing U.S. distribution, as Skarsgård highlighted in a Q&A the challenge of playing a good‑natured role outside his usual darker characters.