British filmmaker Justin Hardy dies at 61 before premiere

British filmmaker Justin Hardy, the son of "The Wicker Man" director Robin Hardy, has died at the age of 61. He passed away on Friday, July 31, 2026, after suffering a heart attack, just weeks before the scheduled world premiere of his latest film, "Wrath of the Gods."

The film, which Hardy recently completed, is positioned as the concluding chapter of the folk-horror trilogy begun by his father's 1973 cult classic and continued with the 2011 film "The Wicker Tree." It is set to premiere at the FrightFest horror festival in London on August 28.

In a statement, Hardy's family said they were devastated by his sudden death. They described him as being "so full of life right to the end, and incredibly energised to be working towards premiering his latest film this month." They added that he was "a man of family, of boundless creativity and of devotion for everyone he held dear." He is survived by his wife, Larissa, and their four children.

Hardy's career spanned television and film, with a focus on historical dramas and documentaries for broadcasters including the BBC, Channel 4, and CNN. His nearly 50 directing credits include works such as "City of Vice," "Spanish Flu: The...