Wicker Man Remake Shooting July 2005

**Matt Gemmell** · 6th March 2005, 01:24 PM

Variety has reported that Nicholas Cage will start filming the remake of The Wicker Man in Maine this July . He has to complete his work on Ghost Rider first and then it's off to New England . The story has'nt been changed much as Cage will play a sheriff who travels to an island off the coast of Maine to investigate the dissapearance of a young girl .
Personally I don't mind the idea of a remake . The original is one of my favourite movies and anything that gets the general public interested in seeing it ( including a remake ) is ok. by me . Besides , no matter how bad or good it is , it can only shine light on the original .

**Renate Knobloch** · 7th March 2005, 07:16 PM

I wonder whether it's true. Well, we shall see.
Of course you are right, Matt, no matter whether it will be considered a "good" movie or not, as a "remake" it will get people interested in the original. And that certainly is good :D .
But the next thought that came to my mind was: if the movie is a success and it turns out that people are interested in this topic and that there's money to make there, it may also help the "May Day" project fo finally go ahead, and that would be even better. What do you think, could that be possible?

I have seen Nicolas Cage only in the 1996 movie "The Rock", and I liked him in that movie, but I can't really comment much on him as an actor. Does anybody know who is to play the role of Lord Summerisle in the Remake?

Tau

**Helen Dyer** · 21st March 2005, 06:20 AM

As Matt G mentioned Variety and now several other sources are saying that shooting will start in July 2005 in Vancouver....It seems a little more legitimate as a possibility as they are now including the following information:
...with Millennium Films, Equity Pictures and Emmett/Furla Films producing.
Millennium acquired the remake rights from Canal Plus. LaBute adapted the screenplay.

Guess we will just have to see....

I really wish they wouldn't call it the Wicker Man :( as they are changing the premise of the film from Celtic to Pilgrim? This makes absolutely NO sense. Which I guess is why they are doing it.....Famous for that.....

basseo · 21st March 2005, 09:17 PM

Well, if a Wicker Man movie is to be done, let's hope that Chris Lee will be appearing in it -- he's the only one who can play that Sumerisle part! I hope he's recovered and he will be making lots of movies soon (my wishes: I'd love to see CL in films by French director Jean-Pierre Mocky, or a sci-fi adventure other than Star Wars, in more work from Joe Dante, as Sherlock Holmes again, but most of all, in many many films!) What a fascinating presence he always is!

**Brandon Jones** · 18th April 2005, 04:53 AM

Is Mr. Lee going to be in this film?

**Luke Farookhi** · 18th April 2005, 08:15 PM

Is this a straightforward remake of the Wicker Man, or is it the new film May Day?

**Helen Dyer** · 19th April 2005, 03:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luke648019651

Is this a straightforward remake of the Wicker Man, or is it the new film May Day?

This isn't the film May Day...As for straight forward remake? Matt, talked a bit about it in an earlier posting, the story hasn't changed much, but it is set in Maine and the Celts are now pilgrims....As for Mr. Lee in the film, if I remember right, in another earlier posting...no, he is not in it......

Cheers,

**Benjamin France** · 19th April 2005, 07:28 PM

I think I have the same opinion as everyone else.... this film will be pretty horrifying, but for all the wrong reasons. Firstly, no Mr Lee.... secondly, you can bet your life that some bright spark will try to turn this into a franchise.... Chills your bones.

**Pam Stockbarger** · 19th April 2005, 11:17 PM

Ok, that's scary. Nicholas Cage. Hmmm...who the heck could play Lord Summerisle other than Christopher? Ok, Sean Connery (I'm going to be burned for saying that, right?)

I wish they'd leave it alone, unless it sparks the "May Day" film. It was done so right the first time, they'll never come close to the 1973 original. Ok, I'm prejudiced, but I'm right.

I liked the new "Phantom of the Opera" for example, but it's NOTHING compared to Michael Crawford's version on stage. Sorry, I adore Gerard Butler, but he's not the real Phantom...

I once told Christopher in a letter that I thought Nicholas Cage should play him in a biopic, and sent him a photo ironically with Sean Connery in the same picture. Nicholas seemed physically similar, although they'd have to dub the voice. Kinda of a "Darth Vader" thing...Christopher could do his own voice. Ok, I'm nuts, sorry...it's just a thought.

And no, he never responded to my suggestion, because he's a gentleman.

24th April 2005, 06:30 AM

Im sorry but i am totally against this remake. When will Hollywood learn you cannot recreate a classic. It will turn out to be yet again overblown big budget Hollywoodized rubbish like most other remakes of the past ten years or so.
Im afraid to say this but this film will not draw attention to the original because the general public tend to forget that certain films are a remake of an original film. Its happened with almost remake of any film, nobody remembers the original when there is remake unless they are a true film fan. Mention "Cape fear" they think of Scorsese, mention "The Fly" they think of Cronenberg mention "Manchurian candidate" they think of denzel washington and so and so on. Im sorry but its a fact.The original Wicker Man cannot be matched, it was a totally new idea and there has been nothing like it since. No doubt Hollywood will include some ridiculous romantic interest to appeal to the "mainsteam" audience and cast loads of young pretty boy and girl actors to appeal to the teenage market, as with every other remake. Im probably going to get shot down with hail of bullets for this post but im getting sick of tired of remakes of classic films....GET SOME NEW IDEAS HOLLYWOOD AND STOP BUTCHERING ORIGINAL FILM CLASSICS!!!!!!!!

**Neil Baxter** · 30th May 2005, 05:33 PM

I'm not bothered either way if they do a remake - it can't stop the original from being one of the finest films ever made whether or not!

Reamkes are pretty interesting... 'The Jackal' was so-so, and I'm quite a fan of the new 'Dawn Of The Dead' even though the original can never be surpassed... plus 'Texas Chainsaw' - for me the remake was a far better version!

Anyhow, as long as in the new version no one tries to sing:

"Fair maid said he... your kettle's cracked..."

Because no one else could do it justice other than the great C.L.

:)

N.

**Matt Gemmell** · 2nd June 2005, 08:25 PM

Here's a look at the teaser poster for Cages remake .

I hope the film's more interesting .

**Andrés Verdú** · 30th June 2005, 01:51 AM

Hello everyone,

I came across this article which advances some further details on the "forthcoming" "remake" of The Wicker Man (warning: the article contains "plot spoilers:") http://filmforce.ign.com/articles/629/629916p1.html

The article claims that the remake will commence shooting next month in Vancouver with Nicolas Cage, but after all the conflicting reports that have appeared in the past about this, I am not going to hold my breath. In any case, for those of you who are interested to find out some details about the remake, this review goes into great length about what will supposedly be explored in this new version, comparing and contrasting with the original film. I think it makes for rather interesting reading (assuming it is true - one never knows with these things!)

Whether or not the remake is ever accomplished, I very much doubt that it will come anywhere close to the unique brilliance of The Wicker Man. I am currently reading the novel The Wicker Man, based on the film, and written by Anthony Shaffer and Robin Hardy. Apart from containing some wonderful additional material, it sets down so eloquently the dialogue and flavour of the film itself. It is well worth reading, and serves to remind me just how magical and literate the film was. I have never seen a film quite like it, before or since, and I doubt I ever will:

Warmest regards,

Andrés :)

**Helen Dyer** · 12th August 2005, 09:36 PM

Well, data on this movie is still difficult to obtain....

It seems that filming has started in Vancouver......

Some sites are reporting that Leelee Sobieski is reprising Britt Eklands role....and that Ellen Burstyn is playing the part of the matriarchial leader of the island cult....
I assume this means she is portraying what was Lord Summerisle's character....Lady Summerisle?

Accuracy of this information?...difficult to say, except that I have found it at a number of sites now...
This info is from Variety and the Hollywood reporter....

Cheers,

**Helen Dyer** · 3rd January 2006, 05:20 PM

Upcoming Horror Movies. com has obtained two pics of the "Wicker Man" burn scene. And most sites are reporting a release in 2006.......

If you are interested in seeing the pics they can be found at:

http://www.upcominghorrormovies.com/

Cheers, Helen