Hardy's Trilogy

Robin Hardy's sons, Justin and Dominic, have completed their late father's film trilogy, with the final film, Wrath of the Gods, set to premiere at the FrightFest horror festival in London. The trilogy began with the iconic 1973 folk horror film The Wicker Man, which was followed by The Wicker Tree in 2011.

Background

The Wicker Man was shot at a time when the UK film industry was in crisis, with its financial backers struggling and its stars, including Christopher Lee, going unpaid to get the film finished. Despite its troubled production, the film's reputation grew over time, with Lee considering it one of his finest films. The film's success was mirrored by the troubles it brought Robin Hardy and his family, including bankruptcy and a complicated relationship with his sons.

The Final Film

The recently unearthed archive included a script for the proposed third and final film, Wrath of the Gods, as well as details of how Robin Hardy came up with the idea. The film is set in Shetland and follows a young grieving widow who returns to the island of Hel to bury her late husband after his suicide. The cast includes Francis Magee and Christiane Schaldemose, as well as local actors such as Lynsey Rendall and John Haswell. Filming began in Shetland in the spring of 2025, with the cast and crew facing challenges such as filming in intense weather conditions.

Premiere

The premiere of Wrath of the Gods at FrightFest will be a bittersweet moment for the Hardy family, following the sudden death of Justin Hardy last month at the age of 61. The film is dedicated to Justin's mother Caroline, who was a secret uncredited executive producer on the original 1973 film and died in 1984. The cast and crew plan to attend the premiere, which will be a celebration of the film and a tribute to Justin's life and work. As Dominic Hardy says, it will be a sad but celebratory moment, and a testament to the late director's passion and dedication to his craft. The film's completion is a huge honour for the cast and crew, who were part of a world that has had a significant impact on popular culture.

The Hardy family's complicated relationship with The Wicker Man is explored in the 2024 book and documentary Children Of The Wicker Man, which features interviews with Justin and Dominic. The documentary sheds light on the long shadow cast by The Wicker Man and its impact on the family. With the completion of the trilogy, the Hardy family can finally find closure and celebrate their father's legacy. The premiere of Wrath of the Gods will be a poignant moment for the family, and a chance to honour Justin's memory and his contribution to the film industry.