The Wicker Man have been more fantastical in subject matter than the original film, and relied more heavily on special effects. In this continuation of the story, which begins immediately after the ending of the first film, Sergeant Neil Howie is rescued from the burning Wicker Man by a group of police officers from the mainland. Howie sets out to bring Lord Summerisle and his pagan followers to justice, but becomes embroiled in a series of challenges which pit the old gods against his own Christian faith. The script culminates in a climactic battle between Howie and a fire-breathing dragon – the titular
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