Although an Evil Dead sequel may not be forthcoming as Sam Raimi and Fede Alvarez are currently hard at work on A Man in the Dark, Starz bears good news with the announcement of a 10-episode Evil Dead follow-up series. Going by the name of Ash vs. Evil Dead, groovy Bruce Campbell will be slipping into Deadite hunting mode as Ash, joining forces once again with director Sam Raimi and his longstanding producing partner Robert Tapert.
After having spent 30 years avoiding responsibility, maturity and the terrors of the Evil Dead, waning philanderer Ash finds himself forced to face his demons again when a Deadite plague threatens to destroy mankind.
Raimi, set to direct the pilot episode, commented: “Evil Dead has always been a blast. Bruce, Rob, and I are thrilled to have the opportunity to tell the next chapter in Ash’s lame, but heroic saga. With his chainsaw arm and his ‘boomstick,’ Ash is back to kick some monster butt. And brother, this time there’s a truckload of it.”
Having recently enjoyed success as Commander Sam Axe (AKA Chuck Finley) in Burn Notice, Campbell is dying to kick more small screen butt, this time of the monster kind: “I’m really excited to bring this series to the Evil Dead fans worldwide – it’s going to be everything they have been clamoring for: serious deadite ass-kicking and plenty of outrageous humor.”
Raimi penned Ash Vs. Evil Dead together with Ivan Raimi (Army of Darkness, Drag Me to Hell) and Tom Spezialy (Reaper, Desperate Housewives) so it certainly sounds like the series is in the best of hands.
All going to plan, STARZ will air the series some time in 2015.
Howard Gorman / @HowardGorman