Black Bear has acquired the rights to 'Wicker,' a twisted romantic drama starring Olivia Colman that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. The film features Colman as an ostracized woman who commissions a basketmaker to weave her a husband. A theatrical release is planned for later this year.
The acquisition of 'Wicker' was announced by Black Bear, a production company that has recently expanded into distribution. Directed by Eleanor Wilson and Alex Huston Fischer, the film adapts the short story 'The Wicker Husband' by Ursula Wills. Alongside Olivia Colman, the cast includes Alexander Skarsgård, Peter Dinklage, and Elizabeth Debicki.
'Wicker' premiered at the Sundance Film Festival about a month before the deal, which was reported on February 17, 2026. The directors expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We are thrilled to be sharing the incredible work of Olivia, Alexander, Peter, Elizabeth and the whole cast and crew with a wider audience, and feel so fortunate to be partnering with a company who really gets it. The team at Black Bear have led our conversations with a true passion for the film and a fearlessness that we all need from distributors in this moment.”
Katie Anderson, executive VP of U.S. acquisitions for Black Bear, praised the film's qualities: “We were immediately struck by the sheer originality of ‘Wicker.’ From its storytelling to the best-in-class performances led by Olivia, this is a film that refuses to be ignored. It’s provocative, darkly funny and unexpectedly tender in all the right ways. We’re thrilled to bring this bold vision to audiences across North America.”
Financed by Tango and Topic Studios, the production involved producers such as Tim Headington, Lia Buman, Ryan Heller, and Michael Bloom, along with contributions from Colman's company South of The River and others including Ed Sinclair, Tom Carver, David Michôd, Brad Zimmerman, Justin Lothrop, Brent Stiefel, Andrea Cornwell, and Oliver Kassman. Executive producers include Ian Stratford, Jasmine Daghighian, Jennifer Westin, Neil Shah, Max Silva, and Lina Stroud.
CAA Media Finance and UTA Independent Film Group handled financing and domestic rights representation. Black Bear will manage international sales and release the film in the U.K. The company's current slate also features projects like 'Tuner' with Leo Woodall and Dustin Hoffman, 'In the Grey' starring Henry Cavill, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Eiza Gonzalez, and 'Spa Weekend' with Leslie Mann, Isla Fisher, Michelle Buteau, and Anna Faris.
No specific release date has been announced, but Black Bear confirmed a theatrical rollout in 2026.
