Since premiering in movie theaters on October 23rd, Black Bear Pictures’ Wicker film has been capturing the hearts and minds of moviegoers. Starring Olivia Colman, Alexander Skarsgård, Elizabeth Debicki and Peter Dinklage, Wicker follows a lonely Fisherwoman (Colman) who asks a basket maker (Dinklage) to create a husband (Skarsgård) made out of wicker for her. The result is a wildly intriguing story about romance, comedy and the drama that comes of townspeople (Debicki) judgments, who do not understand the unconventional, new relationship.
Inspired from the 14-page fantasy short story by Ursula Wills titled The Wicker Husband, the feature’s screenplay is written by husband & wife team Alex Huston Fischer & Eleanor Wilson, who also co-directed the film. Previously known for such projects as 2020’s sci-fi comedy Save Yourselves!, Wilson & Fischer’s Wicker film, which cost $10 million to produce, has grossed more than $29 million worldwide to date at the box office, while eyeing $40-$50 million before the end of its theatrical run.
We sat down with this filmmaking duo to discuss what interested them most in wanting to expand upon this Wicker story for the big screen and what it was like having Academy Award Winner Olivia Colman set the overall tone on-set, calling her “disarmingly kind” and “anti-fuss” as the king of the shoot. Fischer & Wilson also reveal what they were rather adamant about not allowing this cinematic tale to become during their early planning.
They also open up about their chosen creative process in co-directing this film together, working alongside the Black Bear Pictures team to effectively get Wicker out in theaters around the world, as well as the film reactions they did not expect to receive from certain demographics and what they are ultimately taking away from this entire filmmaking experience as they head into their next projects.
Wicker is submitting for consideration under the comedy categories throughout this awards season.
