Lightcraft frames this as a creative triumph—a family-friendly fantasy adventure built with care and craft, featuring 100% human-made animation that prioritizes emotional storytelling over algorithmic efficiency. Louis Serkis brings fresh energy to the project while expanding his impressive resume.
Insiders note the timing isn't coincidental: Lightcraft CEO Daniel Markowicz explicitly called out their choice to avoid AI-generated work, a not-so-subtle jab at competitors rushing toward automation. Meanwhile, Louis Serkis—son of motion-capture legend Andy Serkis—is quietly positioning himself as more than just legacy casting.
Series premieres early 2027 with two seasons ordered. Lightcraft presented the film at last year's AFM; Kinostar will showcase the series at this year's Marché du Film in Cannes. Animation team includes artists from 'Harry Potter,' 'Kung Fu Panda,' and 'Spider-Man' franchises.
Lightcraft is playing a calculated game—betting that audiences hungry for authenticity will reward their 100% human-made approach while Louis Serkis continues building his own legacy far beyond his father's shadow.
Polish production company Lightcraft is making a major play for global animation dominance with the expansion of their upcoming film "Wonderland" into a full television series, and they've secured quite the casting coup to lead the charge. Louis Serkis—son of legendary actor-director Andy Serkis and actress Lorraine Ashbourne—is set to headline the voice cast of this ambitious animated venture, marking what could be a breakout moment for the young performer who's been steadily building an impressive resume behind his famous surname.
The series, comprised of two seasons, is scheduled for early 2027 release and will follow the same core characters introduced in the feature film in a standalone storyline set after the events of the movie. According to details from Variety's exclusive reporting, Serkis "infuses 'Wonderland' with a fresh, emotionally grounded energy that elevates the series, stepping into the role of a 12-year-old boy who, this time, encounters an extraordinary visitor in the Honey Valley." The young actor has been increasingly busy in both television and film, most recently starring in ITV crime drama "Out There" and appearing in BBC One's "Wild Cherry," with past credits including Netflix's "The Queen's Gambit" and ITV legal drama "The Return." Here's where things get interesting from a production standpoint: Lightcraft is positioning their fully human-made animation approach as a deliberate counterpoint to industry trends.
Co-director, producer, and Lightcraft CEO Daniel Markowicz was pointed in his remarks: "We don't have anything against AI, but in this project we wanted to create something that comes from the heart and connects directly with the audiences feelings." He added that they've developed 100% of the animation as human-made, with each shot crafted individually by artists whose credits include major franchises like "Harry Potter," "Kung Fu Panda," "Superman," "Spider-Man," "Pocahontas," "Mulan," "Matrix," and various Lego movies.
It's a subtle but unmistakable flex against studios rushing toward AI-assisted production. The feature film itself stars Roman Griffin Davis ("500 Miles," "King of Kings," "Jojo Rabbit") and Mads Mikkelsen ("Dust Bunny," "The Last Viking"), following 12-year-old Jake and his friend Jenny as they face off against the enigmatic Vagapulga in their dreams. After wowing buyers with the film at last year's American Film Market, German distributor and sales company Kinostar will be presenting the new series at the Marché du Film in Cannes this year—a strategic move to capitalize on international interest.
The creative team reads like a who's-who of animation royalty: co-directors include Maks Naporowski ("The Matrix Revolutions," "Spider-Man," "Harry Potter") and Mikolaj Valencia alongside Markowicz. Peter Bielicki, a long-time Disney collaborator who worked on "Mulan," "Pocahontas" and "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," is attached, along with Catherine Chooljian (known for "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish" and "Kung Fu Panda 4") and Dariush Derakhshani ("Game of Thrones," "Apocalypto"). With the feature film and two seasons nearing release, Warsaw-based Lightcraft has positioned "Wonderland" as a long-term global IP with "many more stories in development within the 'Wonderland' universe." Stuttgart-based Kinostar, handling world sales for both film and series, is further deepening their partnership with Lightcraft, whose recent productions include hit Netflix action films "Soulcatcher," "Lesson Plan" and "Bartkowiak," all directed by Markowicz.
"We're thrilled by the interest from studios and distributors from around the world, which will be multiplied by the rollout of the amazing series," said Kinostar CEO Michael Roesch. Whether this ambitious animated universe can deliver on that promise remains to be seen, but one thing's clear: Lightcraft isn't playing it safe.
