In brief
Robin Hardy’s 1973 horror classic, The Wicker Man, was set out as the first of a trilogy that saw his sons Justin and Dominic carry the torch after his death. A remarkable discovery of six sacks of letters, scripts and storyboards in a family attic provided the missing blueprint for the unwritten final chapter, Wrath of the Gods. The new film, set on a Shetland island and featuring modern actors Francis Magee and Christiane Schaldemose, premiered at FrightFest in London, drawing fans and family alike. Amid the celebration, a quiet tribute to the late director and his mother, who secretly produced the original film, added a bittersweet layer to the event.
A Dream Finally Realised
Robin Hardy, the visionary behind the 1973 folk horror classic The Wicker Man, always saw the film as the first installment of a trilogy. After the 2011 release of The Wicker Tree, his quest remained unfinished until his death in 2016. Today, his sons Justin and Dominic have brought that vision to life by producing the final chapter, Wrath of the Gods, which is now complete.
The breakthrough came when a buyer of Justin’s former home uncovered six sacks of letters, scripts and storyboard pages in a dusty attic. “We found them on a sofa in an attic,” said Dominic. “The papers were dated back to the early 2000s. We discovered a script for the third film.” The siblings, both filmmakers in their own right, used these originals to craft a new narrative set on the island of Hel in Shetland. A grieving widow’s return to the island after her husband’s suicide triggers a mystery that forces the community to confront its ancient myths.
The film shot in Shetland during spring 2025, bringing together local talent and global stars Francis Magee and Christiane Schaldemose with an impressive crew of actors, crew, and storytellers. “The Wicker Man’s influence on pop culture is immense, and filming here feels like a deliverance of that legacy,” said Lynsey Rendall, who plays Maeve. The project showcases the film’s legacy as well as the new generation’s dedication to a haunting story about myth, longing, and community betrayal.
The premiere of Wrath of the Gods at FrightFest London on Friday was intended to be a jubilant completion. However, the news of Justin Hardy’s death last month disrupted the celebratory atmosphere. The film is now a double‑fold tribute: to Robin Hardy’s vision and to his mother Caroline, who secretly served as an uncredited executive producer on the original film and passed away in 1984 before its acclaim.
The Hardy brothers closed a chapter that began with a question weighty enough to leave an unfinished trilogy over half a century ago. With the final film now in theatres, audiences can finally witness the full scope of Robin Hardy’s trilogy and honour a director whose work continues to haunt the imagination of horror enthusiasts worldwide.
