Exclusive Interview: Peyton Elizabeth Lee and Jacob Tremblay on Finding the Magic in ‘Wildwood’

Some films invite you to escape into another world. Wildwood makes you want to spend time in every corner of it. Sixteen years in the making, director Travis Knight and the artists at LAIKA have created a stop-motion masterpiece filled with breathtaking detail, imagination, and heart. Based on the novel written by Colin Meloy and illustrated by Carson Ellis, the film is both a sweeping fantasy adventure and a reminder of the magic that can be found when we open ourselves up to the world around us.

When Prue McKeel’s (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) baby brother is abducted by a murder of crows, she sets out to rescue him in the Impassable Wilderness, an enchanted forest hidden just beyond Portland, Oregon. Joined by her loyal classmate Curtis Mehlberg (Jacob Tremblay), Prue discovers a world filled with talking animals, bandits, and powerful figures with ambitions of their own. As the pair venture into the unknown, they’re challenged to see themselves and the world in a new light.

Pop Culturalist had the pleasure of speaking with Peyton Elizabeth Lee and Jacob Tremblay, whose transformative performances bring so much heart and humanity to Prue and Curtis. The pair reflected on revisiting their work years after recording it, finding inspiration in storytelling, and keeping a sense of wonder alive, as well as the lessons they hope audiences take from Wildwood.

PC: Peyton, what’s so interesting about this project is that you both had the opportunity to step away from it and return to it years later. Is there a theme in the story or an aspect of your character that resonates with you differently now than when you first recorded it?
Peyton: Yeah, absolutely. It’s been really fun to have this experience with the film because, when I recorded it, I was closer to Prue’s age. Now I’m a little bit older, and I feel like I have a bit more perspective on the experience of being a young girl growing up. In a sense, I feel closer to her now than I did then because I understand her journey a little more fully.

Growing up is something that never really ends. I feel like you grow up until the day you die, but I have a bit more perspective now on that particular part of growing up, when your worldview is being challenged for the first time, you’re seeing your parents in a new light, and you’re seeing the world for the first time. I can appreciate her journey in a different way than I could five years ago.

PC: Definitely. Perspective is a running theme throughout the film. Jacob, Curtis finds so much inspiration in fantasy and storytelling, which feels like such an interesting parallel to what you both do as artists. Was that what initially drew you to this role? And when you’re looking for inspiration to bring a character to life, where do you tend to turn? What is it about that source that sparks your creativity?
Jacob: That’s something that drew me to this character. I could definitely relate to that. I think most people can. It’s an interesting dynamic because when you first read the script or see the story, you expect Curtis to be the comic relief, the side character. So it’s really impressive what they’ve done here, taking him on his own journey. That was really intriguing, and I wanted to be a part of that.

A big part of working on this character was working with Travis and hearing what he had to say about this world that he’s worked on. It’s really, really quite beautiful because we don’t have a whole lot to go off of in the recording booth. You’re not there on set. You’re not in your costume. You don’t have these other actors to play off of. Having Travis’s words bring the page to life was really crucial. I’m really fortunate that he was on all the Zooms.

PC: I love how they stitched everything together. It feels so cohesive. Peyton, what I love so much about your character’s journey is that so much of it is about rediscovering the magic within herself and the world around her. Having grown up in this industry and had the illustrious career that you’ve had, how has your own relationship with that sense of wonder evolved over the years? What continues to make the experience feel as magical as it did when you first started acting?
Peyton: That’s such a great question. I definitely feel like that’s something I’ve focused on in my life and want to continue to focus on. We’re so lucky to get to do what we do, but to your point, these things do become part of your routine. Keeping that magic and excitement alive sometimes requires reminding yourself of the amazing nature of these experiences.

That’s something I love about this film: the idea that you can feel like you outgrew magic, but magic didn’t outgrow you. If you’re open to seeing magic, hope, and dreams around you, they’re always there. It’s a beautiful message in the film and also a big theme in my own life. There’s so much magic in my life, and I’m so lucky to get to do the things I do. I try not to take any moment for granted, whether it’s a big, exciting moment or a small moment with friends or family. It’s about remembering the magic in everything you do.

PC: Jacob, this film is such a love letter to stop-motion animation, and you’re no stranger to bringing animated characters to life. I know you joked about not recognizing your own voice when you revisited this performance years later. What was it like getting to see how the animators brought your younger self’s performance to life? Were there aspects of your work that surprised you or that you appreciate differently given where you are in life now?
Jacob: I said that jokingly, but it wasn’t really a joke. It didn’t really sound like me. Obviously, because it was so long ago, I’m so used to hearing this version of my voice now.

It was really nice because, typically, when you’re watching an animated project or any film you’ve been in, it’s hard to watch yourself. It’s hard to listen to yourself. Our brains aren’t designed to hear our voices back, so it naturally makes you cringe a little bit. This was the first time I was able to disconnect from that and actually watch and enjoy the project, and really feel immersed in the character, separate from my performance. I thought that was very special.

PC: There’s such a transformative quality to each of your performances. Peyton, we touched upon this a bit already, but while this is a dark fantasy, it’s also rooted in something universally human. Your character is exposed to all these different perspectives but ultimately learns to see the world through her own lens. What do you hope younger audiences take away from her journey, especially as they begin to navigate the world and discover who they are?
Peyton: That’s a beautiful question. I was inspired by Prue’s adaptability. She has this very clear sense of herself and the world and feels very certain that she knows everything there is to know. Then, very quickly, she’s confronted with the fact that she doesn’t know anything.

That’s the truth of being alive. None of us really know anything. We’re all constantly learning and evolving, and having to incorporate our new experiences into our worldview and understanding of life. I hope young people feel confident and proud going out into the world, knowing that they’re going to be wrong about a lot and that being able to recognize that, learn, and grow is a strength, not a weakness.

That’s really the key to longevity: being able to experience your world, allow it to affect you, and keep moving. I hope people see Prue doing that and feel empowered to do the same.

Make sure to follow Peyton (Instagram) and Jacob (Instagram). Wildwood is in theaters now.