Christopher Lee back in Wicker Man sequel
DRACULA LEGEND JOINS CAST FOR NEW FLICK
HORROR legend Sir Christopher Lee will appear in a special cameo role in the sequel to cult flick The Wicker Man - after missing out on the lead part.
The sinister supremo was devastated when a back injury forced him to pull out just before filming began in summer.
But writer and director Robin Hardy quickly reworked the script to include him.
Now fans will be thrilled to see the veteran actor appearing in The Wicker Tree as Lord Summerisle - the role he played in the 1973 original movie.
He said last night: "It was terribly disappointing to have to pull out of the bigger role of Sir Lachlan Morrison.
"I had been looking forward to doing it for so long - and was going to sing a great deal too."
Sir Christopher - who played Dracula in the classic Hammer movies - hurt his back in May. The 87-year-old tripped over a cable on the set of new blockbuster The Resident - a revived Hammer studio flick with Oscar- winner Hilary Swank, 35.
Scots actor Graham McTavish, 48 - who starred with Sly Stallone in the last Rambo film - stepped in to play Sir Lachlan in time for filming to begin near Edinburgh in July.
Last night Robin said: "It's important that Christopher will be in the film. It's an association with the first film.
"His character in the new film is something out of the past. The audience either knows the previous film and knows exactly who he is, or they don't. I think, in the context that I am doing it, it won't matter."
A worldwide hit, The Wicker Man also starred Edward Woodward, now 79, and Swedish beauty Britt Ekland, 67.
Several books have been written about the cult classic telling the eerie tale of a hedonistic Scots community which makes a human sacrifice - and a music festival has been named after it.
A 2006 Hollywood remake relocated the story to America with Nicolas Cage in Woodward's policeman role.
The Wicker Tree is based on Robin's 2006 novel, Cowboys For Christ. The £3million sequel - revolving around American missionaries who come to Scotland and get caught up in strange events in a remote community - is due for release next year.
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Christopher Lee was spotted filming the Wicker Tree at the old bridge at Haddington,East Lothian, in July,he was very friendly with the locals and he signed autographs 'Peter Cushing'who of course went on to marry Whoopee Goldberg but she didnt like her new name much.
By Dino Philipo.. Posted November 15 2009 at 1:14 PM.