In brief
The iconic 1973 folk‑horror classic The Wicker Man was intended from the start to be part of a trilogy. After the release of the 2011 sequel The Wicker Tree, Robin Hardy’s death in 2016 left the third instalment unfinished. In 2024 the Hardy brothers discovered a forgotten archive of scripts, letters and storyboards that gave them the framework to bring the final chapter to life. Filming in Shetland in spring 2025 and starring actors from Game of Thrones and Rose of Nevada, the new film, Wrath of the Gods, debuted at London’s FrightFest and is a fitting tribute to their father. The project has become a family celebration and a testament to the enduring influence of the original film.
Robin Hardy envisioned his 1973 folk‑horror hit The Wicker Man as the opening act of a trilogy. The commitment came to a pause when he died in 2016, leaving the third instalment incomplete.
In 2024 Justin and Dominic Hardy, the filmmaker’s sons, stumbled upon a lost collection of letters, scripts and storyboards in their family attic. The discovery included a detailed script for a final film titled Wrath of the Gods, which promised a return to the mythic roots of the original story.
The new film is set on Shetland’s remote islands, mirroring the original’s Hebridean atmosphere. It tells the tale of a grieving widow who returns to the island of Hel to bury her husband, only to confront a community that views her as a harbinger of misfortune.
Filming began in spring 2025. The cast blends familiar faces such as Francis Magee from Game of Thrones and Rose of Nevada, with local talent like Norwegian actress Christiane Schaldemose. Other key actors, including Lynsey Rendall and John Haswell, describe the experience as both a homage and a thrilling challenge.
‘Wrath of the Gods’ premiered this week at the FrightFest horror festival in London, a fitting venue that had already shown an early fascination with the Wicker Man legend. The premiere is not only a celebration of the film’s launch but also a remembrance of Justin Hardy, who passed away just before the event.
Dominic Hardy reflects on the bittersweet moment: “We all expected to see the film intact and ready for audiences, but now it feels like a tribute to Justin as well as to the passion we carried forward.” The project, dedicated to their mother Caroline — an uncredited executive producer on the 1973 original — has become a tribute that encapsulates a family’s devotion to cinema.
The completion of the trilogy marks a poignant chapter in British horror history, honoring a filmmaker whose work continues to inspire and terrify audiences worldwide.
