FilmFreaks

Tag: Jemaine Clement

  • Stunning ‘Where the Woods Awaken’ Featurette for ‘Wildwood’ Movie

    There is a palpable sense of wonder woven into the fabric of stop-motion filmmaking. It’s a world where imagination takes tangible form, and Laika continues to prove that there is nothing quite as magical as the craft of animated fantasy. They have just released another behind-the-scenes featurette for their upcoming stop-motion masterpiece, Wildwood, promising an even deeper look into the enchanting world they are building.

    This cinematic journey is set to land in theaters this fall, offering audiences a chance to step into a hidden, mystical realm. After years of development, the team is now unveiling more glimpses of the process, and what they are revealing is nothing short of astonishing. It’s clear that every frame of Wildwood is an exercise in meticulous artistry.

    At the heart of this wilderness lies a singular landmark: the Council Tree. This ancient, living centerpiece serves as the anchor for the entire landscape, emphasizing the deep connection between the characters and their mysterious environment. The featurette walks viewers through the incredible process of transforming raw materials—wood, wire, fabric, paint, and sheer imagination—into these iconic, breathtaking surroundings.

    The magic doesn’t end with the scenery; it lives in the characters who inhabit it. A recent first look introduced Prue McKeel, played by Peyton Elizabeth Lee, alongside her friend Curtis. Together, they are drawn into a hidden forest near Portland after their baby brother, Mac, vanishes, lured away by crows and an enigmatic woman.

    The emotional depth of the story is amplified by the exceptional voice cast assembled for the film. The ensemble brings incredible depth to the narrative, featuring talents such as Jacob Tremblay, Carey Mulligan, Awkwafina, Mahershala Ali, Jemaine Clement, Charlie Day, Jake Johnson, Amandla Stenberg, Tom Waits, and Richard E. Grant.

    This collection of incredible voices promises to bring vibrant life to the magical forest, enhancing the already stunning visual world created by Laika. As we await the full release of Wildwood in October, the focus remains firmly on the artistry that breathes life into every leaf, mushroom, and branch.

    Credit: FirstShowing.net

  • Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi are finally writing the We’re Wolves script

    From Vampires to Werewolves: The Long-Awaited Spin-Off from What We Do in the Shadows

    Ten years is a long time, especially when you are waiting for the creative magic of a beloved franchise to spin off into something new. For Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, the wait has been for the hypothetical We’re Wolves, a potential sequel to their mockumentary horror-comedy What We Do in the Shadows.

    The original film cleverly established a bizarre world: four centuries-old vampire roommates navigating the daily absurdities of modern life in Wellington, New Zealand. Despite possessing supernatural powers, these immortal dwellers struggled with very human problems like paying rent and resolving flatmate squabbles. It was a charming, if spooky, look at eternal life meeting mundane reality.

    But the story didn’t end there. The premise of the original film included a tantalizing possibility: a collision between the vampire world and lycanthropes. This potential path led to the idea for a spin-off centered on werewolves, setting up a fresh dynamic ripe for comedic exploration.

    The vision for We’re Wolves involved bringing in familiar faces, with reports suggesting that actors Rhys Darby and Stuart Rutherford would be involved in a power battle between lycanthropes, vying for the position of alpha male within the werewolf gang.

    For a period, this concept remained on the drawing board. Waititi even considered it as his next major cinematic venture after his work on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including Thor: Ragnarok. However, life, and perhaps a busier schedule, intervened, and the writers never quite got to script the vision.

    While the screenplay remained elusive for years, the creative partnership has finally found its momentum. Clement and Waititi have recently begun the process of writing the story, transforming long-held ideas into tangible narrative structures.

    The current challenge lies in deciding on the format. Since the original film relied heavily on improvised dialogue to capture the characters’ unique voices, the team now faces a pivotal choice: stick with improvisation for a lighter, spontaneous feel, or commit to a fully scripted approach for tighter control over the narrative.

    Regardless of the chosen route, the focus is shifting from simply talking about the idea to actively building the framework. The goal remains ambitious: bringing this unique werewolf saga to life and hoping to see the completed script emerge sometime in 2027.

    Meanwhile, the universe of What We Do in the Shadows has already branched into successful television ventures. Fans have enjoyed follow-up series, including Wellington Paranormal, which followed some of the original characters as police officers, and the highly successful TV series That show, which chronicled the vampires’ life on Staten Island.

    Credit: JoBlo

  • Clement Gives “What We Do in Shadows 2” Update

    After years spent navigating the labyrinth of development hell, a highly anticipated sequel to the vampire mockumentary What We Do in the Shadows is finally showing signs of life.

    Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, the creative duo behind the wildly successful original film, are now tackling the challenge of bringing their favorite supernatural shenanigans to the big screen. While Clement was recently promoting the New Zealand stop-motion feature Kiri and Lou Go Raaa! at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, attention has turned to their next project: We’re Wolves, a film focusing on the rival werewolf pack led by Rhys Darby’s Anton.

    The journey from spontaneous improv to structured storytelling is proving to be an exciting creative experiment. The original film was largely improvised, a whirlwind of spontaneity, while the subsequent television series provided a more scripted framework. Now, the creators face the fun dilemma of deciding which path to take for their next cinematic adventure.

    When discussing the development of the sequel, Clement noted that the process is finally underway. “We’re writing it, actually. We started writing. For a long time, we were just talking about it. Now, we’ve started it. Very recently… When we get together, we do some work on it.”

    This shift in approach is rooted in the film’s history. The original What We Do in the Shadows was a delightfully low-budget venture, less than a million dollars spent over a month of playful messing around that resulted in some truly memorable special effects. That initial challenge to improvise a movie with flying people and supernatural mayhem has now evolved into a decision about control.

    The question is whether they should embrace the freedom of improv or lean into a structured script, knowing the unique rhythm that defined their earlier work. Clement admitted that having the control of the shot was inherently fun during the spontaneous process, but scripting offers a different kind of narrative satisfaction.

    As for the timeline, the duo is aiming for a measured pace. Clement suggested that by 2027, they hope to have the script completed, noting that being in the same country helps facilitate the creative flow between him and Waititi.

    Credit: Dark Horizons