8:12 AM PDT 7/2/2016 by Natalie Stone and Mike Barnes Natalie Stone, Mike Barnes
The director went on to make the follow-up film ‘The Wicker Tree’ in 2011.
Robin Hardy, the director who helmed the cult British film The Wicker Man, has died, BBC reports. He was 86.
Hardy died Friday, a family friend told the BBC. The University of Malta also announced the news in a Facebook post.
Starring Christopher Lee, Edward Woodward and Diane Cilento, mystery film The Wicker Man told the story of a police sergeant who is sent to a Scottish island village in search of a missing girl that the townspeople claim never existed. The English director went on to make a follow-up film, The Wicker Tree, in 2011, that was based on his novel (he also wrote the screenplay).
In 1986, Wicker wrote and directed another feature-length film, the thriller The Fantasist.
In perhaps his final public appearance, Hardy came to the University of Malta in late May for a screening of The Wicker Man and spoke to students. “Both the Master Class and the presentation were simply captivating, and the audience was totally mesmerized by Mr. Hardy,” said a statement on the school’s Facebook page. “We will always treasure our memory of these unique moments.”
He is survived by his wife Victoria.
Source: Hollywood Reporter – Top Story
