Wicker is a dark comedy-drama directed by Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson, filmed in Budapest and set in a medieval village populated primarily by British comic actors. The film centers on the Fisherwoman, played by Colman, a character ridiculed by her peers for her appearance and hygiene. Seeking to subvert the village’s patriarchal marriage customs, she commissions the Basketmaker to construct a husband entirely from wicker.
Skarsgård takes on the role of the Wicker Husband, a character augmented with extensive prosthetics and special effects created by Weta Workshop, the company behind the Lord of the Rings films. His costume includes a full bodysuit, mask, and accessories made from flax fiber. The actor notes that the physical constraints required him to exaggerate his movements and expressions beneath the mask to convey emotions effectively to viewers.
The film explores themes of conformity, outsider status, and female agency through its absurdist narrative and comedic tone. The ensemble cast includes Phil Daniels, Richard E. Grant, Peter Dinklage, and Elizabeth Debicki, whose character attempts to sabotage the Fisherwoman’s newfound happiness. Colman emphasizes that her character is notably the only female villager with her own proper name and possesses genuine autonomy within the story.
Wicker adapts Ursula Wills’ short story The Wicker Husband, which had previously been adapted into a stage musical combining live actors with puppetry. Directors Fischer and Wilson incorporated social commentary reflecting issues around conformity and the treatment of outsiders. The production faced a casting change when Dev Patel withdrew due to scheduling conflicts before Skarsgård was cast in the role.
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