“It Was Unpitchable”: How ‘Wicker’ Became the Horniest, Most Tender Film of the Year
Real-life couple Eleanor Wilson and Alex Huston Fischer adapted Ursula Wills-Jones’ short story into *Wicker*, a fantasy romantic comedy about an ostracised fisherwoman who asks a basket weaver to make her a husband from wicker. The film has drawn attention online for the striking, erotic image of the wicker spouse, while its directors say its story also carries a tender message about devotion and acceptance.
Wilson and Fischer say the project took five years from first draft to release and gained momentum after Olivia Colman joined as lead actor and executive producer. Alexander Skarsgård plays the enchanted husband, whose practical wicker suit was made by a New Zealand effects studio. The directors describe the couple’s chemistry as apparent from camera tests, and say they had not anticipated how meme-friendly the film would become.
- *Wicker* pairs Olivia Colman with Alexander Skarsgård as a wicker husband.
- The fantasy rom-com became an unexpected online sensation.
- Its directors say tenderness lies beneath its erotic premise.
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Wicker is a fantasy romantic comedy based on a short story by Ursula Wills-Jones. It follows an ostracised fisherwoman who asks a basket weaver to make her a husband from wicker, exploring loneliness, devotion and acceptance.
The film was adapted and directed by real-life couple Eleanor Wilson and Alex Huston Fischer. Olivia Colman stars as the fisherwoman and also helped produce the film, while Alexander Skarsgård plays the enchanted wicker husband.
The unusual handmade costume has drawn attention online, but the story also centres on the bond between its two main characters. The film’s mix of romance, fantasy and striking practical effects has helped it reach audiences beyond its original premise.