British film-maker Justin Hardy, the son of The Wicker Man director Robin Hardy, has died aged 61, just three weeks before the premiere of his latest film, Wrath of the Gods, a sequel to the cult 1973 folk-horror. According to Culture | The Guardian, Hardy passed away after a heart attack. His family expressed their devastation at his sudden passing, stating he was full of life and energized about his upcoming film premiere.
Hardy had recently completed Wrath of the Gods, inspired by a story idea discovered in his father’s archives. The director’s family said they are proud of him and his work, and are heartbroken that he won’t be present at the premiere. The BBC reported that Hardy's death was caused by a heart attack, as stated by his family.
The death of Justin Hardy is significant as it comes at a crucial time, just before the premiere of his film, and marks the loss of a talented film-maker who was following in his father's footsteps in the folk-horror genre.