A woman falls for a man woven entirely out of willow branches, and somehow it works. That’s the pitch behind “Wicker,” the new romantic fantasy from directors Eleanor Wilson and Alex Huston Fischer, and it’s already turning heads for one big reason: Alexander Skarsgård plays the wicker man himself. Here’s a full rundown of the story, the cast, how the movie got made, and what critics are saying so far.
What Is Wicker About?
“Wicker” follows a lonely fisherwoman (played by Olivia Colman) living on the edge of a small seaside village sometime in the 1600s. She’s mocked and pushed aside by her neighbors for smelling like fish and refusing to settle down with a husband. Fed up with the constant judgment, she visits the local basketmaker, played by Peter Dinklage, and asks him for something no one else in the village has ever requested: a husband made entirely of wicker.
A month later, she gets exactly what she asked for. The Wicker Husband, played by Skarsgård, turns out to be devoted, kind, and far more attentive than any of the human husbands in town. His arrival stirs up jealousy among the villagers and eventually threatens to unravel the town’s rigid social order. The film is based on the short story “The Wicker Husband” by Ursula Wills-Jones, and it plays out as part fable, part bawdy period comedy, with a message about marriage, conformity, and what people are willing to sacrifice to fit in.
Alexander Skarsgård’s Role as the Wicker Husband
Skarsgård’s casting is the main reason “Wicker” has become such a talking point online. Rather than a typical romantic lead, he plays a character built from woven fibers, with a face that critics have described as looking like a basket stretched over a human skull. Reviewers who caught the film at Sundance noted that Skarsgård plays the role with a measured, almost robotic calm, which ends up working in the film’s favor. His performance leans into the strangeness of the character instead of fighting it, giving the Wicker Husband a quiet devotion that contrasts sharply with the small-mindedness of the village around him.
It’s a departure from Skarsgård’s recent work, which has ranged from a Viking warrior in “The Northman” to a tech mogul in HBO’s “Succession.” Playing a literal man made of wicker, complete with a full practical suit rather than a CGI creation, puts him in genuinely new territory.
The Cast: Olivia Colman, Peter Dinklage, Elizabeth Debicki, and More
Colman leads the film as the outcast fisherwoman, a role that plays to her strengths after turns in films like “Wicked Little Letters” and “Wonka.” Dinklage appears as the basketmaker who crafts the Wicker Husband, and according to early reviews, he steals nearly every scene he’s in, even though his screen time is relatively limited. Elizabeth Debicki plays the tailor’s wife, a judgmental neighbor whose resentment toward the fisherwoman’s newfound happiness drives much of the film’s conflict.
The supporting cast includes Richard E. Grant as a bumbling village doctor, along with Marli Siu, Nabhaan Rizwan, and Ella Bruccoleri rounding out the ensemble of townspeople.
How Wicker Was Made: Practical Effects Over CGI
One detail that’s earned “Wicker” a lot of attention is how the title character was actually built. Instead of relying on computer-generated effects, the filmmakers had Weta Workshop, the design studio behind “Avatar” and “The Lord of the Rings,” construct a fully practical suit for Skarsgård to wear. The woven detail across his face and body was designed by Joe Dunckley, and the result is meant to look off-putting and oddly beautiful at the same time.
Cinematographer Lol Crawley, who shot “The Brutalist,” gives the film a crisp, candlelit visual style, while production design comes from Renátó Cseh, known for his work on “Poor Things.” Anna Meredith, who scored “Eighth Grade,” composed the film’s music.
Reception at Sundance and Early Reviews
“Wicker” premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, where it reportedly earned a standing ovation and a strong response from early audiences. Critics have been split on how well the film’s premise holds up over a full feature length. Some reviews call it a filthy, funny fable that fully commits to its own weirdness, while others describe it as a clever idea that occasionally runs out of steam before the credits roll. Nearly every review agrees on one point, though: Colman and Skarsgård make an oddly convincing pair, and Dinklage’s performance as the basketmaker adds real heart to the story.
The film comes from the same directing duo behind 2020’s “Save Yourselves!,” and “Wicker” marks their return to Sundance with a considerably bigger swing.
Release Date: When and Where to Watch Wicker
Black Bear is handling the film’s release, with a limited theatrical run beginning October 23, 2026, followed by a wider expansion on October 30, 2026. The film runs 105 minutes and is rated for mature audiences given its frank handling of sex and marriage.
Final Verdict: Is Wicker Worth Watching?
“Wicker” isn’t a film for everyone. It’s strange by design, and it leans fully into a premise that could easily have been a one-note joke. What keeps it grounded is the cast, particularly Skarsgård’s committed, deadpan performance and Colman’s sharp, weary take on a woman who’s simply tired of being told how to live. If you’re drawn to offbeat fables with a bite of social commentary underneath the absurdity, “Wicker” is worth catching in theaters this October.
Suggested Meta Title: Wicker Movie Review: Alexander Skarsgård’s Wildest Role Yet
Suggested Meta Description: A look at Wicker, the 2026 fable starring Alexander Skarsgård as a man made of wicker and Olivia Colman as the woman who falls for him — cast, plot, and release date.
FAQs
1. What is the movie Wicker about? It follows a fisherwoman who asks a village basketmaker to weave her a husband out of wicker, only for his arrival to upend the entire town.
2. Who plays the Wicker Husband? Alexander Skarsgård plays the title character, wearing a fully practical suit built by Weta Workshop rather than a CGI effect.
3. Is Wicker based on a book? Yes, it’s adapted from the short story “The Wicker Husband” by Ursula Wills-Jones.
4. When does Wicker come out in theaters? Black Bear is releasing it in limited theaters on October 23, 2026, with a wider release on October 30, 2026.
5. Who else stars in Wicker alongside Alexander Skarsgård? Olivia Colman, Peter Dinklage, Elizabeth Debicki, and Richard E. Grant round out the main cast.
