It has already been described as 2026’s weirdest rom-com, external.

And new film Wicker has sparked a deluge of viral memes and steamy jokes that have flooded social media ahead of its release.

Speaking to the BBC at its London Film Festival premiere, lead star Olivia Colman said she never expected such a big reaction.

“No, literally this has never happened for anything I’ve done before,” she said.

“But you put Alexander Skarsgård in an interesting outfit, and everyone is looking.”

The film tells the tale of a lonely, ostracised fisherwoman (Colman) living in a medieval village.

Tired of constantly being mocked for being single, she hires a basketmaker to mould her a new partner made entirely out of wicker.

Enter Skarsgård – but not as you’ve ever seen him before.

As the “wicker husband”, he emerges as a strapping, dashing life-size piece of furniture.

And he proves to be a devoted partner, and passionate lover, sparking jealousy among the other village women.

The film has an A-list cast, with other stars including Peter Dinklage as the basket weaver, Elizabeth Debicki as the tailor’s wife, and Richard E Grant as the village doctor.

Since the release of the trailer, there’s been a huge buzz online around the film – from BookTok and FilmTok fans swooning over Skarsgård’s character, to questions being asked over splinter risks during the film’s erotic scenes.

Swedish giant Ikea even got involved, posting photos of its rattan furniture on Instagram in a nod to the film, with the caption “husband material”.

When asked why she thinks people are so fascinated and so thirsty for the wicker husband, Colman answered: “We all love a little bit of escapism. That’s what film is beautiful for.

“And it’s magical, and a bit of fantasy, and people love that, especially currently. What’s not to love about a little bit of escapism and fantasy?”

She also said it was the film’s originality that drew her to it.

“You get a lot of scripts through the post, and you feel like you’ve seen a bit before. And this, I really hadn’t seen this before, so I was excited,” she said.

Like Colman, Debicki agrees that Skarsgård is the main reason the film has lit up the internet.

“I think it was a lot to do with Alex in a wicker man costume, really,” she told the BBC. “I think that’s something that apparently everybody would like to see.”

But Skarsgård himself gives all the credit to the designers of the outfit. “All I had to do was get stuck into it,” he says.

He also said the sex scenes were “super fun” to shoot.

“We wanted those moments when the bed crashes and breaks, and the way they comment on that in the scene is quite comedic,” he said.

“But [the characters] also have tender moments and sexy moments, it was great.”

The film is based on the short story The Wicker Husband by Ursula Wills-Jones.

After its premiere at Sundance film festival earlier this year, The Guardian awarded it, external two stars, praising the “eye-catching premise” but cautioning that there was “too much wood but not enough fire”.

But The Hollywood Reporter, external was more positive, calling it “a warming, sometimes poignant pleasure”.

Away from the social media buzz, the film’s stars say it also taps into deeper themes, from gender roles to breaking societal rules.

“It’s very funny and strange and wonderful, but I find it very moving. And it’s a good one to discover beyond the Ikea memes,” said Debicki.

“It touches on a lot of stuff. Hierarchy, social structure,” said Skarsgård. “But it’s done with such a light touch.”

“It’s about love, and it is funny, but it’s also a romance, and it very gently laughs at the sort of traditions we have in marriage and community,” said Colman.

“I think it’s something that you will come out and discuss a lot.”

Wicker is released in UK cinemas on October 30.