The Wicker Man sequel director Justin Hardy – son of the unique Wicker Man director Robin – has died weeks earlier than the movie’s premiere.
The BBC stories that the filmmaker and author died aged 61 because of a coronary heart assault on Friday. Hardy’s household stated they have been “devastated” to share the information in an announcement, describing him as “so energetic proper to the top, and extremely energised to be working in direction of premiering his newest movie this month.
“We’re all so pleased with him and heartbroken he gained’t be with us at his premiere,” the assertion continues. “He was a person of household, of boundless creativity and of devotion for everybody he held expensive.”
Hardy’s Wrath Of The Gods – the second sequel to The Wicker Man – is scheduled to premiere at horror movie pageant FrightFest on 28 August in London. He additionally directed the primary sequel, 2011’s The Wicker Tree. See tributes to Hardy down beneath:
We’re deeply saddened to listen to of the passing of Justin Hardy whose newest movie, Wrath of the Gods is taking part in at Tubi FrightFest this August. Justin is finest recognized for his documentary celebrating the legacy of his father Robin Hardy’s iconic work. Our heartfelt condolences to his… pic.twitter.com/1XXmARxTda
— FrightFest (@FrightFest) August 3, 2026
We’re shocked and saddened by information of the sudden passing of Justin Hardy on the age of 61. Director of A FEAST AT MIDNIGHT in addition to co-director of CHILDREN OF THE WICKER MAN and co-author of the guide of the identical identify, pic.twitter.com/6OXixyzAqq
— Severin Movies (@SeverinFilms) August 2, 2026
After I was 17 I had my first job as an additional on Metropolis of Vice, directed by Justin. Pretty bloke. It was solely years later I learnt he was son of Robin Hardy after I was watching a Wicker Man documentary. Relaxation in Energy Justin. https://t.co/uUaZu77lN4
— Daniel Trigger (@Daniel_Cause) August 3, 2026
This morning we pay #tribute to co-author of Kids of The Wicker Man, Justin Hardy, who sadly handed away on Friday. A “larger-than-life presence”, son of iconic director Robin Hardy and a filmmaker in his personal proper. Particulars right here 👇https://t.co/5aAaNzqLYU
— The Historical past Press (@TheHistoryPress) August 3, 2026
Born in London on October 30, 1964, Hardy has primarily directed historic movies and documentaries for the BBC, Channel 4 and CNN. With almost 50 credit, Hardy was finest recognized for the Emmy-nominated The Final Dragon, the Bafta-nominated The Reduction of Belsen, together with different movies akin to Metropolis of Vice and Spanish Flu: The Forgotten Fallen.
Alongside the Wicker Man sequels, Hardy and half-brother Dominic created the documentary Kids of the Wicker Man. The movie tracks the brothers’ journey as they uncover their father’s misplaced archive, which contained the idea behind Wrath Of The Gods.
Wrath Of The Gods has been devoted to Justin’s mom Caroline, whom the archive revealed to be an uncredited government producer on The Wicker Man. She handed away aged 51 in 1984.
