Justin Hardy, the British filmmaker known for directing the sequel to the 1973 cult horror film "The Wicker Man," has died at the age of 61. His family announced that he passed away on Friday night following a heart attack.
Hardy, who was also a Bafta and Emmy-nominated writer and director, recently completed production on "Wrath of the Gods," the final installment in "The Wicker Man" trilogy. The film was slated for a premiere later this month.
In 2024, Hardy collaborated with his brother Dominic on the documentary "Children of the Wicker Man," which explored the enduring legacy of their father Robin Hardy's iconic film. Throughout his career, Justin Hardy directed numerous historical documentaries and television series for prominent broadcasters including the BBC, Channel 4, and CNN. His directorial work included "Princes In The Tower," "Trafalgar Battle Surgeon," "The Relief Of Belsen," and "Spanish Flu: The Forgotten Fallen."
His family described him as "a man of family, of boundless creativity" and "so full of life right to the end." His brother Dominic shared that Justin had "an incredible appetite for life" and was a filmmaker in his own right, noting that the work on "Wrath of the Gods" was "incredibly beautiful" and a source of great satisfaction.
"Wrath of the Gods" was inspired by previously discovered scripts and storyboards from his late father, Robin Hardy. The trilogy began with the original "The Wicker Man" in 1973, followed by "The Wicker Tree" in 2011, and concludes with Hardy's final film.
Justin Hardy also served as a screenwriting instructor at University College London. He is survived by his wife, Larissa, and their four children.