No one could have predicted in 1981 that The Evil Dead would lead to a nearly four-decade long (and counting) franchise spanning both film and television. But the series is still going strong with plans to return to the big screen soon. And even if its hero Ash Williams isn’t coming along for the ride (at least on camera), Bruce Campbell has revealed the title for Evil Dead 4. It will be Evil Dead Now, and Campbell also revealed the new writer/director was handpicked by Sam Raimi himself.
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Campbell revealed the film’s title along with its director Lee Cronin in an interview with Empire magazine. The actor said that Cronin, who Campbell cited for leading the “cool” The Hole In The Ground, was personally chosen to write and direct the film by Sam Raimi. And while Ash Williams will not appear in the film, after Campbell retired the character in 2018 following the end of the Ash vs Evil Dead TV series, it does sound like he’ll still be involved with the franchise. But instead he’ll be taking on a role in the film’s production.
As Collider noted Cronin confirmed the news of his hiring on Twitter.
I guess the cat is outta the bag. Or, is Henrietta out of the fruit cellar? Touched by all the kind words and warm wishes. Thank you! Humbled to collaborate with the legends that are Sam Raimi, @robtapert and @GroovyBruce on a new chapter in the Evil Dead universe. #EvilDead pic.twitter.com/1MQh9oMxNo
— Lee Cronin (@curleecronin) June 9, 2020
Campbell also told Empire why he will not be reprising the role of Ash anymore. His explanation also offered some insight into what fans can expect from the film.
“From this point forward, they kind of have to stand on their own. Which is fine. And liberating. You could have different heroes, different heroines in this case. This one’s gonna be a little more dynamic. We jut want to keep the series current. And the mantra, really, is that our heroes and heroines are just regular people. That’s what we’re going to continue.”
It’s hard to imagine the series without him. But this could ensure The Evil Dead is around for another 40 years. And while it might seem scary to make a film without Ash, sometimes great things happen when you’re open to new things. Well, at least when they don’t open up to a world of demons.
Featured Image: Starz