Fango has learned that writer/director Robin Hardy’s THE WICKER TREE—the British helmer’s semi-sequel to his 1973 classic THE WICKER MAN—has been picked up for distribution in North America and the UK, as early as this fall. The film’s international sales agent, High Point Media Group, will screen THE WICKER TREE at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival on May 14 and 16.

Anchor Bay Entertainment will release THE WICKER TREE, described as a “companion piece” to the original film and based on Hardy’s 2006 novel COWBOYS FOR CHRIST (the initial title for the follow-up movie, previously attempted and scuttled a few years ago), which takes place 40 years after the events of the previous film. Another pagan community on a remote Scottish island lights a fire for the arrival of two fresh-faced evangelists from Texas. Pop singer Beth and her cowboy friend Steve, two virgins promised to each other through “the silver ring thing,” set off from the Lone Star State to enlighten the Scottish heathens in the ways of Jesus. After initial hostility, feudal laird Lachlan Morrison and his wife invite the missionaries to the village of Tressock. The innocent couple is greeted with joy and assumes their hosts simply want to hear more about Christ. Not exactly…

Graham McTavish (from the indie shocker PENANCE and now shooting THE HOBBIT), Brittania Nicol and Henry Garrett topline THE WICKER TREE. Legendary actor and ’73 WICKER MAN star Sir Christopher Lee makes a cameo in the new movie, though it remains a mystery whether the scream great reprises his Lord Summerisle role. See the teaser trailer below and go here for Hardy’s exclusive comments on THE WICKER TREE.

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