Olivia Colman on viral Wicker memes: 'This has never happened to me before'

Olivia Colman expressed astonishment at the meme frenzy surrounding her latest film during a BBC interview at the London Film Festival premiere on October 8, 2026. “No, virtually this has never happened for thing I’ve done before,” she said. She added, “But you put Alexander Skarsgård in an absorbing outfit, and everyone is looking.” The film Wicker, described by Empire Online as 2026's weirdest rom‑com, follows a lonely fisherwoman played by Colman who commissions a wicker‑made spouse after enduring ridicule for her single status. Alexander Skarsgård portrays the titular “wicker husband,” a life‑size piece of furniture that becomes a devoted partner and passionate lover, provoking jealousy among the village women. Since the trailer’s release, the movie has ignited a torrent of viral memes and steamy jokes across social media. Fans on BookTok and FilmTok have swooned over Skarsgård’s character, while others have raised questions about splinter risks during the film’s erotic scenes. Ikea joined the conversation, posting images of its rattan furnishings on Instagram with the caption “husband material.” When asked why audiences appear captivated by the wicker husband, Colman replied, “We each emotion a small spot of escapism. That's what movie is beauteous for.” She continued, “And it's magical, and a spot of fantasy, and radical emotion that, particularly currently. What's not to emotion astir a small spot of escapism and fantasy?” Colman also credited the film’s originality for her involvement, stating, “You get a batch of scripts done the post, and you consciousness similar you've seen a spot before. And this, I truly hadn't seen this before, truthful I was excited,” she said. Elizabeth Debicki, who plays the tailor’s wife, agreed that Skarsgård’s appearance drives the online buzz. “I deliberation it was a batch to bash with Alex successful a wicker antheral costume, really,” she told the BBC. “I deliberation that's thing that seemingly everybody would similar to see.” Skarsgård deflected praise to the costume team, noting, “All I had to bash was get stuck into it,” he says. He described the shoot’s physical comedy as “super fun,” adding, “We wanted those moments erstwhile the furniture crashes and breaks, and the mode they remark connected that in the country is rather comedic,” he said. He concluded, “But [the characters] besides person tender moments and sexy moments, it was great.” Based on Ursula Wills‑Jones’s short story The Wicker Husband, Wicker premiered earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival. The Guardian awarded it 2 stars, praising the “eye‑catching premise” but cautioning that determination was “too overmuch wood but not capable fire.” The Hollywood Reporter offered a more favorable assessment, calling Read the full story at BBC News →