Updated: August 3, 2026
Few modern fairy tales feel as strangely tender and sharp as “The Wicker Husband.” Ursula Wills-Jones’s 2008 short story about a lonely fisherwoman who commissions a husband woven from willow has quietly grown into a cultural touchstone. First adapted as a folk musical in 2020, it now arrives as the star-studded film Wicker, directed by Eleanor Wilson and Alex Huston Fischer. With Olivia Colman as the outcast fisherwoman and Alexander Skarsgård as her living wicker creation, the story is heading to theaters this October after a strong Sundance premiere.
What makes the tale endure is its simple premise delivered with emotional honesty. In a closed-off fishing village, a woman mocked for her appearance and smell decides she has had enough of solitude. She asks the local basket weaver to craft her a husband. What follows is part romance, part social satire, and part quiet magic.
Table of Contents
The Original Story’s Quiet Power
Wills-Jones’s short story opens with the line that sets its tone: an “ugly girl” living on the margins of a judgmental community. The wicker husband she receives is dutiful, affectionate, and incapable of the small cruelties ordinary men practice. He tends the house, speaks only truth, and treats her with unwavering care. Villagers, unsettled by this perfect match, respond with envy and interference.
The story examines isolation, the tyranny of beauty standards, and how communities punish difference. It never feels heavy-handed. Instead it moves with the logic of folklore—strange events accepted as everyday fact—while remaining deeply human. Readers often finish it feeling both charmed and slightly unsettled, exactly the effect of the best short fiction.
From Page to Stage: The 2020 Musical
In March 2020, Watermill Theatre in Newbury turned the story into a folk musical with book by Rhys Jennings and music by Darren Clark. The production boldly cast a large, flower-adorned puppet as the wicker husband. Reviewers praised the live musicianship, strong singing, and the way the puppet’s childlike devotion contrasted with village small-mindedness. The show ran against the backdrop of early pandemic closures, giving its themes of isolation extra resonance. It proved the material could expand without losing its heart.
The 2026 Film Adaptation and Its Star Power
The film Wicker expands the story into a romantic fantasy comedy that premiered at Sundance on January 24, 2026. Colman plays the Fisherwoman with her trademark mix of grit and vulnerability. Skarsgård undergoes a remarkable physical transformation, wearing a full-body wicker suit created by Wētā Workshop without relying on CGI. Peter Dinklage portrays the Basket Weaver, while Elizabeth Debicki, Marli Siu, Nabhaan Rizwan, and Richard E. Grant fill out the village.
The movie deepens the private moments between the couple and sharpens the community’s jealous response. Early reviews describe it as bawdy, winsome, and surprisingly moving. Trailers released in late July 2026 showcased Skarsgård’s striking woven appearance and the film’s blend of humor and tenderness. Black Bear Pictures acquired North American rights, with a limited theatrical release set for October 23, 2026, followed by a wider rollout on October 30.
Key Facts About The Wicker Husband and Its Adaptations
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Original Story | 2008 short story by Ursula Wills-Jones |
| Setting | Small fishing village, timeless/folklore |
| Core Premise | Outcast woman commissions a wicker husband |
| Stage Musical | 2020 Watermill Theatre production |
| Film Title | Wicker (2026) |
| Directors | Eleanor Wilson & Alex Huston Fischer |
| Lead Cast | Olivia Colman, Alexander Skarsgård, Peter Dinklage |
| Theatrical Release | October 23 (limited), October 30 (wide), 2026 |
| Runtime | 1 hour 45 minutes |
| Notable Effects | Practical wicker suit by Wētā Workshop |
Why This Story Still Matters
Several reasons explain the lasting appeal:
- It treats loneliness without pity and desire without shame.
- The wicker husband offers an idealized partner who cannot lie or withhold affection, exposing ordinary human failings by contrast.
- Village reactions mirror real social dynamics—conformity, gossip, and the discomfort caused by anyone who steps outside the expected path.
- The material adapts easily across mediums while keeping its emotional core intact.
In an era of polished romantic comedies, Wicker stands out for its willingness to be weird, physical, and sincere at the same time.
Conclusion
“The Wicker Husband” began as a concise, haunting short story and has grown into a musical and now a major film that feels both timeless and of-the-moment. With Colman and Skarsgård at its center, the 2026 adaptation looks set to introduce a new audience to Wills-Jones’s sharp, tender fable about love made rather than found. Whether you discover the original story, seek out the stage version, or wait for the theatrical release this fall, the tale rewards attention. In a world quick to judge difference, a husband woven from willow still has something worth saying.