Following the success of Coraline’s re-release to theaters, another LAIKA production will find new life. According to Variety, the 2012 stop-motion film, ParaNorman, will hit theaters just in time for Halloween. The event will feature a new remaster of the film in 3D and be accompanied by a new short entitled: “ParaNorman: The Thrifting.” The additional content will star Anna Kendrick and Stranger Things alum Finn Wolfhard. Wolfhard has made a name for himself in genre fare with features such as Ghostbusters, It, and starring and directing his own horror film, Hell of a Summer.
Information about Kendrick and Wolfhard’s roles is sparing, but considering the former’s role in the original film, it is a good guess that she will be reprising her part as Courtney Babcock from the studio that continues to break records. Laika’s operations officer, David Burke, also gave context to the ParaNorman resurgence in the following statement.
“ParaNorman was a breakthrough film for Laika — emotionally rich, visually daring and proudly weird in all the right ways. Bringing it back to theaters in stunning remastered 3D, paired with a brand-new short film, is an invitation for audiences to rediscover the heart and humor of Norman’s world — or experience it for the first time.”
ParaNorman is perhaps not as iconic as Coraline, but still deserves its time in the cinema.
‘ParaNorman’ Is Perfect For Spooky Season
Caroline stems from the mind of Neil Gaiman, so of course it has macabre elements, but ParaNorman is a film meant to be screened during Halloween. Voiced by Kodi Smit-McPhee, Norman is a young boy with the rare talent for communing with the dead and takes it upon himself to break a centuries-old curse plaguing his Massachusetts town. Like the best horror films, ParaNorman uses the genre to comment on the realities of life.
Norman battles feelings of isolation, emotions that are prevalent for many kids at that age. ParaNorman uses Norman’s ability to see ghosts as a metaphor for feeling like an outsider. The spooky vibes of the film make for a great viewing for Halloween, as well as a touching story about the trials of growing up. Norman bonds with another boy at his school, Neil, who is also bullied, and the two become kindred spirits in an attempt to break a curse on the town. This journey begins Norman’s path to self-acceptance, a theme that anyone can relate to. Be it children or adults, everyone should get tickets for ParaNorman when it hits theaters again starting October 25, 2025.
via Collider