The Wicker Man for "The Loathsome Lambton Worm", a direct sequel with fantasy elements. Hardy had no interest in the project, and it was never produced. In 2006, an ill-received American remake was released, from which Hardy and others involved with the original have dissociated themselves. In 2011, a spiritual sequel entitled "The Wicker Tree" was released to mixed reviews. This film was also directed by Hardy, and featured Lee in a cameo appearance. Police Sergeant Neil Howie (Edward Woodward) journeys to the remote Hebridean island Summerisle to investigate the disappearance of a young girl, Rowan Morrison (Gerry Cowper), about whom he has
The Wicker Man elements from the previous versions (in particular, additional scenes of Howie on the mainland were restored, showing the chaste bachelor to be the object of gossip at his police station, and establishing his rigidly devout posture). The extended DVD cut was released by Canal+ (with Anchor Bay Entertainment handling US DVD distribution) in this 95-minute hybrid version, considered the longest and closest version to Hardy's original 99-minute version of the film. A two-disc limited edition set was sold with both the shortened theatrical release version and the newly restored extended version, and a retrospective documentary, "The Wicker Man Enigma." In