Wicker Man director's sons complete their late father's film trilogy

Dominic and Justin Hardy have completed their late father Robin Hardy's envisioned "Wicker" film trilogy, embracing the legacy of his iconic 1973 folk horror film, *The Wicker Man*. Robin Hardy had always intended *The Wicker Man* to be the first installment of a three-part series. While *The Wicker Tree*, released in 2011, brought him closer to this goal, his passing in 2016 at 86 left the project unfinished.

Now, his sons, Justin and Dominic, have brought the trilogy to completion after discovering a script for the final film, *Wrath of the Gods*, which is set to premiere at the FrightFest horror festival in London.

Dominic, an art historian at the University of Quebec in Montreal, recounted how the script was found: "The person who bought Justin's old family home said they'd discovered six sacks of letters, scripts and other material pertaining to Robin Hardy and *The Wicker Man* in the attic." He added, "Justin's first instinct was to burn them, but we couldn't ignore this original source material. Although we left it unopened for six months or more."

The unearthed archive contained papers, scripts, and storyboards, and also illuminated the enduring impact of *The Wicker Man*. The film holds a unique position in British cinema history, having been shot during a crisis in the UK film industry. Its financial backers faced difficulties, and its stars, including horror legend Christopher Lee, worked without pay to ensure its completion.

Though set on a Hebridean island in spring, the film was shot in Galloway during autumn and early winter. Upon its initial release, it was largely relegated to a second feature. There were competing edits and stories of missing footage, with some material reportedly buried within the supporting columns of a motorway.

Despite these challenges, the film's reputation grew. Lee himself considered it one of his finest films, featuring one of his best performances. Its unconventional tone and truly unsettling climax made it a favorite among horror enthusiasts. By 1988, when the BBC launched its cult cinema series *Moviedrome*, the opening night featured a previously unseen edit of *The Wicker Man*. The film's iconic wicker man itself was constructed on a cliff in Galloway.

*Wrath of the Gods* draws inspiration from Viking and Shetland mythology. The film's troubled production mirrored the difficulties it brought to Robin Hardy and his family. It led to the director's bankruptcy, and he left Justin's mother, Caroline, with all his debts. He subsequently married four more times and had a total of eight children. Justin and Dominic discuss their complex relationship with the film in the 2024 book and documentary *Children Of The Wicker Man*.

The recently discovered archive included a script for the proposed third and final film, *Wrath of the Gods*, along with details of how their father conceived the idea. Dominic explained, "He had had been in an airplane and had a turn because his heart medication wasn't working." He continued, "He had to land in Reykjavik and spend a week recuperating, and he came back with this idea of a theme park around an extinct volcano in Iceland where the Norse gods get upset and mayhem ensues. And then he decided it ought to be set in Shetland because of the other parts of the trilogy."

Justin, an Emmy and BAFTA-nominated director, collaborated with Dominic on the concept. They developed their own original story, in which a young grieving widow returns to the island of Hel to bury her late husband after his suicide. She is ostracized by the community, who view her as a symbol of evil and bad luck. When children begin to disappear, the island is forced to confront its own complex history.

Filming commenced in Shetland in the spring of 2025. While the two lead roles are played by *Game of Thrones* and *Rose of Nevada* actor Francis Magee and Norwegian actress Christiane Schaldemose, the rest of the cast was sourced locally.

Lynsey Rendall, who portrays Francis's screen wife Maeve, expressed her honor: "It feels like a huge honour. *The Wicker Man* is such a famous film and has such an impact on popular culture so it was amazing to be part of that world."

John Haswell, who has a background in theatre, described his role as the Rev Knox as a career highlight. "He's a sleazy man of the cloth and I had an absolute ball working on it," he said. "It was an intense six weeks, filming in Voe virtually every day. It wasn't glamorous but that's part of the fun."

Seventeen-year-old Martha Robertson, who was taking her Highers during filming, stated that the experience helped launch her acting career. She recalled one challenging scene: "There was one scene we filmed which was meant to be in the pouring rain on a dark gloomy day but it fell on what seemed to be the sunniest day of the year. They had to black out all the windows and two crew members were on a wall with a hose and a leaf blower so we could get wind and rain. Which seemed really crazy because it rains every day on Shetland, but not the day we needed it to."

Many of the Shetland cast and crew intend to attend the premiere of *Wrath of the Gods* at the FrightFest horror festival in London on Friday. However, their celebrations have been overshadowed by the sudden death of Justin Hardy last month at the age of 61.

John commented, "We all were – still are – looking forward to seeing the finished film. But now it's not just a celebration of the film, it's a celebration of Justin and his life. It will be wonderful and sad. A complex mixture of emotions."

For Lynsey, the film stands as a testament to the late director. "It was such a massive risk," she said. "So to get to the end of that process, when it's going to be on a screen, feels a bit miraculous really and it's so vexing that Justin isn't going to be there to see what he so passionately wanted to achieve."

For the Hardy family, the film has become a poignant tribute to three of their members. *Wrath of the Gods* completes Robin Hardy's "Wicker" trilogy and is dedicated to Justin's mother, Caroline, who was a secret uncredited executive producer on the original 1973 film. She passed away in 1984 at 51, unaware of the future admiration and love for the film she had supported.

Dominic reflected, "It will be poignant beyond imagining. A sad but celebratory moment. I know that he [Justin] was extremely proud of it being taken by FrightFest. Justin's efforts have brought us all together as a family and helped us harness all our energy."