It was an incredible day that I’ll never forget. Welcome to Budapest, I guess.
Olivia Colman and Alexander Skarsgård star in Wicker, a romantic comedy-drama directed by Eleanor Wilson and Alex Huston Fischer, which follows an ostracized fisherwoman whose new husband is a man made entirely of wicker, upending her village’s social hierarchy.
The Bottom Line
- Wicker opened in US theaters on October 23, followed by a UK release on October 30 and a November 5 launch in Australia, distributed by Black Bear.
- The fantasy film achieved a 95% critics’ score and a 92% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, continuing a three-year positive audience score streak for Skarsgård.
- The project adapts Ursula Wills’ short story The Wicker Husband, which was previously staged as a musical in 2020.
Unveiling the Wicker Husband on Set
Bringing the titular character to life required an extensive special-effects process overseen by Weta Workshop. Alexander Skarsgård wore a full bodysuit, a glued facial mask, lip and eyelash prosthetics, and flax hair that he noted was highly flammable. Elizabeth Debicki recalled turning a corner on set and coming face-to-face with the actor in full-frontal wicker attire, admitting she went bright red because her brain could not immediately compute the sight. Olivia Colman was the first cast member to see the completed prototype, reacting with gasps that helped validate the directors’ vision. Fortunately, Colman’s reaction also helped put those fears to rest.
Olivia Colman and Alexander Skarsgård star in ‘WICKER.’ An ostracized fisherwoman commissions a husband made of wicker, unleashing scandal across her village.In theaters this October. pic.twitter.com/zbFMOWzsIc
Critical Reception and Audience Metrics
According to ScreenRant, Wicker debuted in US theaters on October 23 and quickly captured audience attention, securing a Verified Hot status with a 92% audience score and a 95% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes. The film’s robust reception places it alongside Skarsgård’s recent projects like Lee and Pillion.
| Metric / Detail | Production & Release Data |
|---|---|
| Directors & Writers | Eleanor Wilson, Alex Huston Fischer |
| Original Source | The Wicker Husband by Ursula Wills |
| Special Effects | Weta Workshop |
| US Release Date | October 23, 2026 |
| UK Release Date | October 30, 2026 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Scores | 95% Critics / 92% Audience |
The Sound Design and Social Satire
Sound designer Andy Neil, who recently worked on The Brutalist, collaborated with the directors early in the editing process to craft the distinct creaking audio signature of the wicker husband. Viewers quickly latched onto the audio details and the thematic elements of the film, generating viral alternative titles and merchandise ideas like 3D-printed wicker husband torsos and popcorn buckets. Beneath the bawdy humor and romantic plot, the narrative serves as an examination of patriarchy and conformity. When reviewing the 2020 stage musical adaptation of the underlying short story, The Guardian theatre critic Arifa Akbar observed that the material deals with insider parochialism and the demonization of outsiders.
Elizabeth Debicki echoed that sentiment, describing the movie to Variety as a thoughtful exploration of how loving someone functions as a mirror to oneself.
Fan Engagement and Creative Responses
Viewers and commentators online have embraced the film with enthusiasm, offering creative alternative titles, double entendres, and the suggestion that Etsy could become the new Hinge. In any discussion of Wicker, the word “horny” is never far away. Reflecting on the romantic and dramatic conclusion, Olivia Colman offered a mock-sniffle alongside a shake of her frizzy grey locks and pretended to dab her eyes, stating, And when they kissed at the end … Aww.
