Wicker Draws Attention With Colman and Skarsgård Romance

An unconventional romance starring Olivia Colman and Alexander Skarsgård is attracting attention ahead of its theatrical release, with Wicker generating online discussion and an unusual promotional display in Los Angeles. The fantasy film follows a lonely fisherwoman who commissions a husband made entirely from wicker, challenging her village's expectations about marriage and relationships.

Wicker will open in US theaters on October 23, 2026, followed by its UK release on October 30. The film premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival in January, according to information published by Yahoo and the BBC.

A mysterious Los Angeles billboard featuring woven wicker without the movie's title, cast, or release date has added to the project's visibility, Yahoo reported on October 12. The unusual display echoes the film's central concept without explicitly identifying the production.

The movie is based on The Wicker Husband, a short story by Ursula Wills-Jones. Eleanor Wilson and Alex Huston Fischer wrote and directed the adaptation, which explores loneliness, acceptance, and the social pressures surrounding marriage.

Colman plays a fisherwoman who faces rejection and ridicule in a medieval village because she is unmarried. She commissions a basketmaker, played by Peter Dinklage, to create a life-sized husband from wicker. Skarsgård portrays the resulting companion, whose relationship with the woman provokes jealousy and controversy among villagers.

The ensemble also includes Elizabeth Debicki, Marli Siu, Nabhaan Rizwan, Richard E. Grant, and Ben Ashenden. Colman is also a producer on the project, which Black Bear Pictures acquired for theatrical distribution.

Speaking to the BBC at the London Film Festival premiere, Colman said the public response to the film's unusual premise had exceeded her expectations.

“No, literally this has never happened for anything I've done before,” Colman said.

She attributed much of the online fascination to Skarsgård's distinctive appearance in the production, which has inspired humorous posts and suggestive jokes across social media.

“But you put Alexander Skarsgård in an interesting outfit, and everyone is looking,” Colman said.

The film's marketing momentum has also extended beyond movie discussions. Social media users have responded to Skarsgård's woven costume, while IKEA joined the conversation by sharing images of rattan furniture on Instagram with the caption “husband material.” Online reactions have included jokes about the practical risks of splinters during the film's intimate scenes.

Colman said the audience's response reflected a broader appetite for imaginative storytelling.

“We all love a little bit of escapism. That's what film is beautiful for.

“And it's magical, and a bit of fantasy, and people love that, especially currently. What's not to love about a little bit of escapism and fantasy?” Colman said.

She also explained that the originality of the premise influenced her decision to join the project, distinguishing it from scripts that felt familiar.

“You get a lot of scripts through the post, and you feel like you've seen a bit before. And this, I really hadn't seen this before, so I was excited,” Colman said.

Debicki, who plays the tailor's wife, also credited Skarsgård's costume with helping attract online interest.

“I think it was a lot to do with Alex in a wicker man costume, really,” Debicki told the BBC.

She added that the unusual visual concept had captured the public imagination.

“I think that's something that apparently everybody would like to see,” Debicki said.

Skarsgård, meanwhile, credited the costume designers for creating the character's distinctive appearance.

“All I had to do was get stuck into it,” Skarsgård said.

He also described filming the intimate sequences as an enjoyable experience, highlighting the production's combination of physical comedy and romance.

“We wanted those moments when the bed crashes and breaks, and the way they comment on that in the scene is quite comedic,” Skarsgård said.

He said the scenes balanced humor with affection between the central characters.

“But [the characters] also have tender moments and sexy moments, it was great,” Skarsgård said.

Beyond its unconventional romance, the film examines social hierarchy, community expectations, and established ideas about relationships. Debicki described the story as emotionally engaging despite its unusual premise.

“It's very funny and strange and wonderful, but I find it very moving. And it's a good one to discover beyond the Ikea memes,” Debicki said.

Skarsgård emphasized the film's exploration of social structures.

“It touches on a lot of stuff. Hierarchy, social structure,” Skarsgård said.

Colman said the story approaches marriage and community traditions through humor and romance rather than a heavy-handed treatment.

“It's about love, and it is funny, but it's also a romance, and it very gently laughs at the sort of traditions we have in marriage and community,” Colman said.

Critical responses have been mixed. The Telegraph awarded the film one star and described it as “a mortifying adult fairy tale,” while The Times gave it four stars, particularly praising Colman's performance as “astonishing.” The Guardian previously awarded it two stars after its Sundance premiere, praising the “eye-catching premise” but criticizing what it called “too much wood but not enough fire.”

Colman said the film could prompt discussion beyond the online jokes surrounding its central character.

“I think it's something that you will come out and discuss a lot,” Colman said.