Back in 1973, director Robin Hardy and screenwriter Anthony Shaffer brought us the horror classic The Wicker Man (watch it HERE), which was inspired by David Pinner’s 1967 novel Ritual. In the decades since, The Wicker Man has inspired the likes of Edgar Wright’s Hot Fuzz, received a “spiritual sequel” called The Wicker Tree, and had its good name sullied by the 2006 remake directed by Neil LaBute and starring Nicolas Cage. Now it’s set to get the TV treatment. Deadline reports that a The Wicker Man TV series is in development at the Studiocanal-backed company Urban Myth Films and Andy Serkis and Jonathan Cavendish’s company The Imaginarium.
Howard Overman, creator of the EPIX series War of the Worlds, is writing The Wicker Man TV series and the production companies are currently pitching the project to potential broadcasters. Overman told Deadline that the series “will differ from the original but explore the same themes of sacrifice, superstition and ritual that were at its core.”
Cavendish added that Overman has “created a bold, shocking and unique series, pulling the themes and terrifying power of the original Wicker Man into a thrilling modern setting.”
The Wicker Man told the following story:
Sergeant Howie arrives on the small Scottish island of Summerisle to investigate the report of a missing child. A conservative Christian, the policeman observes the residents’ frivolous sexual displays and strange pagan rituals, particularly the temptations of Willow, daughter of the island magistrate, Lord Summerisle. The more Sergeant Howie learns about the islanders’ strange practices, the closer he gets to tracking down the missing child.
The 1973 film starred Edward Woodward, Christopher Lee, and Britt Ekland.
The show isn’t likely to live up to the original film, but it could be interesting to see the story of The Wicker Man modernized and told over the course of multiple episodes. I have to assume that this is going to at least be better than the 2006 remake… they’d have to try hard to do worse than that.
Would you watch The Wicker Man TV series? Let us know by leaving a comment below.