The upcoming film Wicker, starring Alexander Skarsgård, Olivia Colman, and Peter Dinklage, is set to open in UK cinemas on 30 October and has already generated significant online attention. Described as a raunchy fantasy rom-com, the film is based on a short story by UK author Ursula Wills.
The Story Behind the Wicker Phenomenon
Wicker draws its inspiration from Ursula Wills’ 2006 short story, ‘The Wicker Husband’. Wills, from Stroud, Gloucestershire, was inspired to write the tale after seeing large wicker sculptures on a camping trip in Cornwall, specifically at Melinsey Mill. Her original 14-page story follows an ostracised fisherwoman who pays a basket-maker to weave her a husband.
The journey from short story to A-list feature film was unexpected for Wills. After gaining interest on a short story website, ‘The Wicker Husband’ was adapted into a musical that premiered in March 2020, only to close after four nights due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Film rights were acquired in 2021, and the project gained momentum when Olivia Colman joined in 2023. Filming took place in Budapest by the end of 2024, as reported by BBC News.
Wills described the finished film as “unique and amazing” and believes “audiences are going to go crazy for it.” Joint writer-directors Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson were immediately drawn to the story, seeing it as more than a period fable but a “satirical comedy about sex and marriage, a unique visual spectacle, and a strange love story.” Although the film remains faithful to the original, the intimate relationship between the fisherwoman and her wicker husband was “embellished to ‘liven it up’.”
Online Frenzy for Skarsgård’s Wicker Husband
The trailer for Wicker created an immediate online frenzy, with an explosion of Gifs, memes, and reels reacting to its bizarre premise. Alexander Skarsgård’s portrayal of the muscular, woven husband, who caters to his new wife’s every domestic need and sexual desire, has particularly captured attention. Online platforms like Threads saw comments expressing “female and gay thirst” for the character, with some joking about making their own partners wear baskets or noting the appeal of a man who fixes things without being asked.
The film’s promotional efforts have also garnered viral attention, including a suggestively designed popcorn bucket from Regal Cinemas, scanned from Skarsgård’s torso and made available for 3D printing at home. Filmmakers Fischer and Wilson told BBC Culture they were “tickled” by the responses, understanding that the Wicker Husband’s appeal lies in his proactive helpfulness – such as fixing a leaky roof without needing a “pat on the back.”
This dynamic taps into a current cultural conversation about the imbalance and mental load often present in heterosexual relationships. The film also fits within the growing genre of monster-human romances, using unusual relationships to explore societal issues, desires, and cultural expectations. According to author Gillian Daniels, such narratives often appeal to a “hunger for seeing imperfect men” and can resonate with LGBT and neurodivergent audiences by exploring themes of being an outsider and unconventional desire.
UK Premiere and Release Details
The UK premiere for Wicker was held earlier this month at the British Film Institute in London. Author Ursula Wills attended the event before having to catch a train back to Swindon and then a rail replacement bus to Stroud. The film is scheduled for general release across UK cinemas on 30 October.
