Epic: A Big Adventure in a Tiny World — Chris Wedge Looks Back at His New Film
A veteran director, Chris Wedge is known for animated features that have become modern classics, including the Ice Age series and Robots. His latest release, Epic, arrived in theaters in May 2013 and features a sweeping cast, a bold storyline, and a grand adventure unfolding inside a miniature forest world. The film follows Mary Katherine, known as MK, who discovers a hidden society of leaf warriors called The Leafmen living deep in the woods. These guardians protect their world and its inhabitants while keeping their existence secret from humans. Joined by Nod, a Leafmen in training, and friends Mub and Grub, a slug and a snail, MK teams up with the Leafmen leader Ronin to embark on a daring mission to save the forest from Mandrake, a rotting force threatening decay. After all, who wants to see the world rot?
A thoughtful discussion sheds light on how the movie came together and what Wedge hopes viewers will carry away from it.
The film draws loosely from Bill Joyce’s children’s book The Leaf Men and the Brave Good Bugs, but Epic stands as an original story. Wedge began with Joyce’s concept while developing a distinct narrative. The leafmen idea originated from the book, yet the characters, the tone, and the events were created anew. When the project was announced, the working title referenced leafmen, which led some to search for the book and assume a direct adaptation. In truth, the film is an independent creation built on that shared source material rather than a direct copy.
So why was Epic chosen as the title?
The answer lies in scope. The film isn’t solely about the Leafmen or the forest; a large ensemble of characters gives the story breadth. The team settled on Epic to reflect a grand adventure unfolding within a tiny world. Viewers should feel like they’ve embarked on a true cinematic journey from start to finish.
With such a diverse set of heroes—MK, Nod, The Leafmen, Ronin, and even the slug and the snail—was there a clear lead?
Wedge notes that MK and Nod feel like likely anchors, but the aim was to craft an ensemble where every character carries weight. This approach helps produce a sprawling, emotionally rich narrative in which audiences form connections with multiple figures, and where Ronin and Bomba also hold strong positions within the story’s heart.
What about a favorite character?
The director smiles and says it’s difficult to pick just one. He also mentions that MK and Nod share prominence, with Bomba, MK’s father voiced by a well-known actor, holding a special place in the film’s picture for him.
MK is portrayed as a relatable, ordinary girl who stumbles into the Leafmen world. What makes her stand out is that she feels approachable yet capable. Her father is the sole believer in the forest’s hidden inhabitants, and his excitement can read as fanaticism, though it stems from genuine passion. MK starts skeptical and must test his claims, and her journey gradually proves that he may have been right all along. This dynamic creates an emotional core that anchors the larger fantasy.
Was the voice cast chosen to reflect the film’s varied array of characters?
Wedge describes a collaborative casting process, building the ensemble step by step rather than assembling the entire cast at once. He is thrilled with how the performers interact, delivering distinctive voices that still harmonize as a cohesive whole, enriching the film’s world.
Did Beyoncé come on board as Queen Tara from the outset?
The casting process extended over about a year, with the goal of finding a queen who felt contemporary, iconic, and as a role model. Beyoncé’s name rose to the top, celebrated for her modern presence and ability to embody a character that feels both regal and relatable.
What proved most challenging during production?
Getting the project off the ground and convincing studios to back a large, fantastical forest adventure proved the biggest hurdle—the kind of challenge that tests patience, persistence, and a shared belief in the vision.
Are there talks of a sequel?
Wedge keeps a cautious stance, noting that any follow-up would depend on how the film performs at the box office and how audiences respond. The future, as always, rests in the hands of the market.
What does he hope viewers take away from Epic?
He hopes audiences leave intrigued, entertained, and deeply immersed in the world. After the credits roll, he wishes people to feel a renewed sense of wonder about the woods, as if a leaf moved at the corner of their eye—perhaps a leafman, perhaps not—and to carry that sense of enchantment into real life. This is the movie’s lasting invitation to look closer at the world around us.
Source: interview with Chris Wedge about Epic.