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 (2006 film) the original film's director Robin Hardy and star Christopher Lee were preparing a semi-remake of their 1973 film, titled "The Riding of the Laddie", with Vanessa Redgrave and Lee's "Lord of the Rings" co-star Sean Astin attached. Hardy stated Lee would not play the villain as he did in the original "Wicker Man", but instead a door-to-door born again Christian preacher who comes to Scotland along with his wife (Redgrave) as they are introduced to the neo-pagan cult. Hardy hoped for filming to begin in Glasgow, Scotland in 2003, but "The Riding of the Laddie" would not materialize until years