The Wicker Tree tripped over power cables on set. Although very disappointed, Hardy gave the role intended for Lee to Graham McTavish, the actor who had originally been cast as Beame, the Morrisons' butler. Clive Russell plays Beame instead. Lee is still in the film, making a brief cameo appearance as the unnamed "Old Gentleman" who acts as Lachlan's mentor in a flashback. Robin Hardy has stated that fans of "The Wicker Man" will recognise this character as Lord Summerisle, but Lee himself has contradicted this, stating that they are two unrelated characters. Joan Collins was originally set to play Lady Delia Morrison
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