British filmmaker Justin Hardy has passed away at the age of 61, just weeks before the release of his new film.
Hardy suffered a heart attack and died on Friday night, his family has confirmed. He was the son of Robin Hardy, director of the 1973 cult classic movie The Wicker Man, and was due to release his new film, Wrath of The Gods, on August 28.
Hardy's family released a statement, saying they were "devastated" by his death. "He was so full of life right to the end, and incredibly energized to be working towards premiering his latest film this month," they said. "We are all so proud of him and heartbroken he won't be with us at his premiere."
Hardy's brother, Dominic, remembered him as someone "with an incredible appetite for life." Dominic spoke to Hardy's dedication to filmmaking, saying, "He really became a filmmaker in his own right, one who always brought the productions in under-budget, who got extraordinary performances, and who had a wonderful sense of narrative."
Hardy's career spanned directing series and films, including The Bill, Princes In The Tower, and The Relief Of Belsen. He was also nominated for an Emmy and a Bafta, and in recent years had been teaching screenwriting at University College London.
Hardy's final project, Wrath of The Gods, was a follow-up to his father's most famous work. The film stars Game of Thrones' Francis Magee and Norwegian actress Christiane Schaldemose, and tells the story of a grieving woman who returns to an island to bury her late husband, only to find herself torn between the ghosts of the past and the gods of the present.
Hardy's brother Dominic praised his final work, saying, "He did an incredibly beautiful job with Wrath Of The Gods. When he showed the final version to me, I said, 'Now you have made a film with a capital F. It is your film. It is your vision.'"
Wrath of The Gods will premiere at FrightFest in London's Leicester Square on August 28. Justin Hardy is survived by his wife Larissa, and children Sam, Ludo, Nico, and Summer.
