Laika’s Matt Levin on Launching Live-Action and Taking the Company Into Its ‘New Chapter’ With Lord and Miller, Lulu Wang and More
Key Takeaways
- Laika, historically known for stop-motion animation, is actively expanding into live-action film and series production.
- Matt Levin joined in 2023 to lead the new live-action division, aiming to maintain Laika's focus on bold, emotional, and inventive storytelling.
- Several prominent filmmakers, including Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Lulu Wang, and Jon Spaihts, have projects slated for Laika's live-action slate.
- The studio plans to integrate the high level of craft, artistry, and technological innovation characteristic of its stop-motion work into its live-action approach.
- Current live-action projects include adaptations of novels like 'Seventeen,' 'Atmosphere,' and 'Audition,' alongside an untitled sci-fi thriller.
Laika, the studio famous for stop-motion animation masterpieces such as "ParaNorman" and "Kubo and the Two Strings," is entering a new era by building out its live-action film and series division, a change initiated in 2023. Matt Levin, president of the new division, emphasizes that the goal is to tell boundary-pushing, emotionally resonant, and timeless stories, continuing the studio's commitment to advancing the medium. The live-action pipeline is rapidly filling with notable talent, including Phil Lord and Christopher Miller producing, Jon Spaihts making his directorial debut, and Lulu Wang adapting a novel. Levin states the selection criteria remain consistent with CEO Travis Knight's vision: finding projects that are "bold, emotional and inventive." The studio intends to integrate its meticulous focus on craft and artistry, honed in stop-motion, into its live-action approach, ensuring a creative through-line across all productions. Filmmakers joining the effort, such as Brian Duffield and Lord/Miller, express excitement about aligning with Laika's established banner of quality and innovation.
