In 1973, the face of modern horror cinema changed forever with the release of The Wicker Man, starring screen legend Christopher Lee and veteran character actor Edward Woodward. Now, nearly 40 years later, the time has come for a new offering…

Anchor Bay Films has officially announced the acquisition of the much-anticipated follow-up The Wicker Tree (mini-review). The film reunites producer Peter Snell with the original helmer, Robin Hardy. Directed by Hardy, based on his acclaimed novel “Cowboys for Christ,” and produced by venerable UK company British Lion (who also produced the original), The Wicker Tree will be released theatrically in early 2012. Anchor Bay Films has acquired all rights in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. to The Wicker Tree.

“ ‘The Wicker Tree’ tells the story of singer Beth (newcomer Brittania Nicol) and her cowboy friend Steve (Henry Garrett, “The Bill,” “Skins”), two virginal Texans who come to Scotland to spread the gospel. These two innocents don’t know what they’re getting into as they find themselves trying to spread their chastity message at the estate owned by Sir Lachlan Morrison (Graham McTavish, Rambo, the upcoming The Hobbit films), who has revived ancient local religious practices when an accident at the nuclear power plant he runs rendered the area men infertile.”