Wicker Man sequel halts filming

From filmstalker, This is surprising news indeed, you would have thought that a sequel to The Wicker Man by the very man who directed Anthony Shaffer's original story would have been hot property, but no, it seems that the production has stopped filming in Scotland due to budgetary issues, and there's not word if it will continue.

Filming was set to start this month in Dumfries and Galloway, with casting about to begin for extras and accommodation booked for some ninety people for four weeks, however the local council announced that the plans had been cancelled.

Dumfries and Galloway is actually one of the locations where the original The Wicker Man film was shot in 1973, but local councillor Gill Dykes revealed that the production company had cancelled the shoot due to difficulties with financing and that they are looking to put alternative funding in place.

Councillor Dykes says that this is a big blow to local businesses and the Scottish region, as well as being bitterly disappointing for the film itself.

There's no word on if the production of Cowboys for Christ is going to be scrapped, but the word from the official council press release through the BBC is that the production company are trying to find alternative funding, and the council haven't yet been told that the production won't come to the region and still hold out some hope.

I know you're thinking that this is probably good news because the film is a remake of such a classic piece of cinema, but this is based on the story written by Robin Hardy called Cowboys of Christ, and Hardy himself was the original director. Not only that but the cast included Christopher Lee, from the original film, and Joan Collins. So for me there was definitely a lot more interest in this film than most remakes we hear of.

It is a shame and I really do hope that they find that additional funding to continue.

[JPX] Some information on Cowboys For Christ,

"If you've seen or read THE WICKER MAN - how long have you waited to know more?

After thirty years, along comes 'COWBOYS FOR CHRIST, on May Day' - a book that inhabits the same disturbing territory as THE WICKER MAN, written by THE WICKER MAN director, Robin Hardy.

Young Beth and Steve, a gospel singer and her cowboy boyfriend, both Christian members of a no-sex-before-marriage pact they call 'the silver ring thing', leave Texas to preach door-to-door in Scotland. Scotland and all Europe are as foreign to them as if they were in Papua New Guinea. When, after initial abuse, they are welcomed with joy and elation to Tressock, the border fiefdom of the sinister Lachlan Morrison, they assume thir hosts want to simply hear more about Jesus.

How innocent and wrong they are."
Purchase the book here