The
cult film The Wicker Man is to receive
the Hollywood treatment, with actor Nicolas Cage
set to play the lead role in a remake of the 1973
horror classic.
The original, which told the story of the sun-worshipping,
remote Hebridean island of Summerisle, culminates
with Presbyterian policeman Howie (Edward Woodward)
being burned alive as part of a pagan ritual.
The new version transports the action to the other
side of the Atlantic, possibly North Carolina.
This has angered Anthony Shaffer, author of the
original screenplay. He is also unhappy at the
decision by Universal Studios, which is bankrolling
the £40 million project, to give the lead role
to Cage. Mr Shaffer believes the actor is "wrong"
for the part of Howie.
Universal’s senior vice-president of production,
Lenny Kornberg, said: "It will be a recreated
version of the original."
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The
cult film The Wicker Man is to receive
the Hollywood treatment, with actor Nicolas Cage
set to play the lead role in a remake of the 1973
horror classic. 