Wicker Man Trilogy Complete! Sons Finish Late Director's Folk Horror Saga
Wicker Man Trilogy Complete! Sons Finish Late Director's Folk Horror Saga
After decades, Robin Hardy's iconic 'Wicker Man' folk horror trilogy is finally complete! His sons discovered a lost script, bringing 'Wrath of the Gods' to FrightFest. A cinematic legacy fulfilled.
The haunting world of 'The Wicker Man' is finally set to conclude its unsettling narrative, as the late director Robin Hardy's sons, Justin and Dominic Hardy, have completed his long-envisioned folk horror trilogy. The final film, titled "Wrath of the Gods," is poised to premiere at the FrightFest horror festival in London this Friday, bringing a decades-long family dream to fruition.
Robin Hardy, the visionary behind the iconic 1973 film, always conceived 'The Wicker Man' as the first part of a larger story. While 2011's 'The Wicker Tree' moved him closer to that ambition, his passing in 2016 left the trilogy unfinished. The path to completing their father's work was paved by an unexpected discovery: a long-lost script for the final installment.
The remarkable find came when the new owner of Justin Hardy's old family home unearthed "
six sacks of letters, scripts and other material pertaining to Robin Hardy and The Wicker Man
" in the attic. Dominic Hardy, an art historian, recounted the initial shock and the family's eventual decision to delve into the treasures, which included papers, scripts, and storyboards, ultimately leading to the production of "Wrath of the Gods."
'The Wicker Man' itself holds a unique and storied place in British cinema.
Shot in Galloway despite being set on a Hebridean island, the original film faced significant challenges, including financial woes that saw stars like Christopher Lee working without pay to ensure its completion. Its release was notoriously fraught with competing edits and tales of missing footage, contributing to its cult status over the past 50 years.
Now, with "Wrath of the Gods," the Hardy family not only completes a cinematic saga but also honors a profound personal and artistic legacy.
