While we know that a new Evil Dead movie, Evil Dead Wrath, is still on the horizon, but what comes after that?
In a recent interview, Bruce Campbell, who plays Ash Williams in the franchise, said that, moving forward, he really hopes that the franchise can remember the humour that made it so special before this current run of movies: “A little more humor wouldn’t kill you and one hero that you really can root for. Ash is an idiot, but you want him to survive.”
We also know that Evil Dead Wrath will be a prequel to the series, going back to the 1970s and telling the origins of the Book of the Dead and how it ended up in a cabin in the woods where all the horror first started. WE know that it will be a trilogy closer after Evil Dead Rise and the recent Evil Dead Burn and will build on the lore of the series with the recent reveal of The Circle of The Wise Men, a mysterious group of archaeologists dedicated to the study of malevolent supernatural entities, artifacts and how they can be stopped.
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We also know that 11 years ago, Evil Dead had its first spinoff with the tremendously fun Ash Vs Evil Dead TV series and it seems that another may be in the pipeline.
In a recent interview, Evil Dead producer Rob Tappert talked about the series and discussed giving fans what the want and even about how such projects get financed but in the middle of the interview (around 8:59 – you can see it here), he drops in this little bit of info: “We have a plan in the future to maybe spin something off from this universe, and that will have to go back and be done at a lower price.”
Huh.
Now, interestingly, we may already know what this is.
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Back in 2024, Campbell revealed that an Evil Dead animated series was in development, saying: “We are developing an animated version, like a series,” the star said, “I’ll do that. I’ll do Ash’s voice all day long because my voice hasn’t aged as much as I have.”
He went on, saying: “We’re out of the cabin, Sam [Raimi] doesn’t have to direct, I don’t have to star as Ash… the trick is to take the elements that people like, which is innocent people being tortured by a malicious entity, and it’s people who have no skills to stop it.”
Could this be what Tappert is alluding to here? Now, just as a follow-up to Campbell’s above quote, the star has now revealed that he has stepped down from playing Ash – age and health have sadly caught up to him – but while announcing it, he seemingly out of nowhere added that he was “not [be] going to do any animated voice work” saying that they “can get Joe Ash soundalike,” adding that “there are ways to [recreate my voice] now.”
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That, to me, suggests that the animated series is in development, as Campbell said two years ago but now, sadly, he won’t be attached.
I’m willing to bet this is what Tappert is getting at but if he isn’t, what could it be?
Will we see a new hero/heroine introduced to the franchise who will carve their own new pathway? Might we see a series about The Circle of The Wise Men, perhaps? Or might it be something completely new?
Whatever it is, Tappert seems to understand that the fans will want it, but they might, given Burn’s disappoiting performance, have to pivot when it comes to budget… but anyone who knows the Evil Dead story, will know that’s when they produce their best stuff.
Evil Dead Wrath is set for release on April 7th, 2028
Marc
Marc is a self-confessed nerd. Ever since seeing Star Wars for the first time around 1979 he’s been an unapologetic fan of the Wars and still believes, with Clone Wars and now Underworld, we are yet to see the best Star Wars. He’s a dad of two who now doesn’t have the time (or money) to collect the amount of toys, comics, movies and books he once did, much to the relief of his long-suffering wife. In the real world he’s a graphic designer. He started Following the Nerd because he was tired of searching a million sites every day for all the best news that he loves and decided to create one place where you can go to get the whole lot. Secretly he longs to be sitting in the cockpit of his YT-1300 Corellian Transport ship with his co-pilot Chewie, roaming the universe, waiting for his next big adventure, but feels just at home watching cartoons with his kids….
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