Alexander Skarsgård and Olivia Colman star in the new film Wicker, which released its first trailer on July 30 [1].

The project marks a significant departure from traditional cinema by blending near-future science fiction with surrealist imagery. The film centers on an unconventional relationship between a human and a constructed entity, challenging viewers' perceptions of companionship and artifice.

In the film, Colman portrays a fisherwoman who requests a husband. In response, a basketmaker provides one, though the husband is woven entirely of reeds [1]. Skarsgård plays this Wicker Husband, a role that requires a physical transformation described as shocking [3].

"Alexander Skarsgård debuted his most shocking transformation yet in the first trailer for the film Wicker, which features him as the Wicker Husband to Olivia Colman's Fisherwoman," Eonline said [3].

The narrative unfolds in a near-future setting [1]. While the exact geographic location remains undisclosed, the environment serves as the backdrop for the bizarre interaction between the fisherwoman and her reed-based partner. The Sydney Morning Herald said a basketmaker provides the husband after the fisherwoman's request [1].

Industry reactions to the trailer suggest the film will be a visually distinct experience. MSN said the project invites audiences into a "bizarre and brilliant world" [2]. The production emphasizes the tactile nature of the Wicker Husband's design, moving away from digital effects in favor of physical craft.

This 2026 release [1] positions Skarsgård in a role that diverges sharply from his previous leading man archetypes. By portraying a character made of organic weaving materials, the actor undergoes a complete visual overhaul to fit the film's surrealist logic.

“A fisherwoman asks for a husband, and a basketmaker provides one, only he’s woven entirely of reeds.”

The film represents a trend toward 'tactile surrealism' in near-future cinema, moving away from sterile high-tech aesthetics toward organic, handmade anomalies. By casting established stars like Skarsgård and Colman in such an abstract premise, the production attempts to ground a high-concept, avant-garde narrative in recognizable star power to attract a wider audience.