Wilder (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

Wilder examines the life and legacy of actor Gene Wilder through archival footage and the perspective of his nephew, filmmaker Jordan Walker-Pearlman. Directed by Chris Smith, the 82-minute documentary brings together a personal family viewpoint and material connected to Wilder’s career and lasting public memory.

Wilder is a documentary about the life and legacy of actor Gene Wilder. The film is presented through the perspective of Jordan Walker-Pearlman, Wilder’s nephew and a filmmaker himself.

Directed by Chris Smith, the documentary combines Wilder’s presence through archive footage with Walker-Pearlman’s participation as himself. Its focus is both personal and biographical, centering on the actor’s life and the mark he left behind.

Wilder movie details

Story without spoilers

Rather than following a fictional plot, Wilder builds its account around Gene Wilder’s life and legacy. Jordan Walker-Pearlman provides the central viewpoint, bringing a family connection and filmmaking perspective to the documentary. Gene Wilder appears through archival footage, allowing the film to remain focused on his public and personal significance without relying on a conventional dramatized structure.

What to expect

Wilder can be approached as a character-focused documentary with a strong personal framing device. The supplied details point to a film shaped by archival material and Walker-Pearlman’s firsthand family connection to Wilder. At 1 hour and 22 minutes, it offers a compact examination of the actor’s life and legacy rather than an extended multi-part biography.

Cast and creative team

Chris Smith directs Wilder. Gene Wilder appears as himself through archive footage, while Jordan Walker-Pearlman appears as himself. Walker-Pearlman is identified as Wilder’s nephew and a filmmaker in his own right. No writers are listed in the supplied credits.

• Gene Wilder as Self (archive footage)
• Jordan Walker-Pearlman as Self

Release and production context

Wilder is a United States of America production in English, with a runtime of 1 hour and 22 minutes. It is listed as a 2026 documentary and has a release date of October 9, 2026. The production companies are White Horse Pictures, Library Films, Sobey Road Entertainment, American Masters Pictures and MoJo Global Arts.

Production companies: White Horse Pictures, Library Films, Sobey Road Entertainment, American Masters Pictures, MoJo Global Arts

Movies Dock view

Wilder is framed as a concise documentary portrait that connects Gene Wilder’s public legacy with the perspective of a close family member. Its combination of archival footage and Jordan Walker-Pearlman’s involvement gives the film a clearly defined approach to its subject.

Film data:
TMDB · IMDb