It has been a full decade since the last Evil Dead film graced the silver screen and five years since Ash vs Evil Dead wrapped up its run on Starz. This to say, it’s been a while since we’ve had any Deadite and/or Ash Williams action. That is going to change in the very near future, as Evil Dead Rise is due to hit theaters next month. But what about getting Bruce Campbell back as Ash? It turns out, that may happen in the form of an animated project, which increasingly sounds like a very real possibility.
Last year, Campbell explained that they were “talking about” an animated series, though very little was said beyond that. Now, in a recent chat with the folks at Bloody Disgusting, the actor shed some more light on the situation, revealing that it’s absolutely something that Sam Raimi, the director of Evil Dead, Evil Dead II and Army of Darkness, is actively pursuing. The only problem? He’s a busy guy.
“All I can say is we’re actively pursuing it. Sam’s a busy guy. He had a big hit movie, so he’s got a lot on his plate, but he and his brother are actively shaping out the world. It’s one thing to get an animator and say, ‘Hey, animate this!’ You’ve got to know what you’re going to animate. I look forward to it, because my voice hasn’t aged as much as I have.”
Campbell has previously made it very clear that he’s done playing Ash in live-action, in part due to his age and what it requires to make that happen. It’s a physically demanding role that is undoubtedly less fun, in practice, as one ages. But providing the voice? That’s another thing altogether. The actor recently reprised the role of Ash for last year’s Evil Dead: The Game, so why not an animated TV show or movie? Assuming Raimi and Campbell could find a home for the project, it’s hard to see a reason against this coming together.
Let us not forget that before Evil Dead Rise got a theatrical release, the plan was to release it directly to HBO Max. So who knows? The brass at HBO Max may want to stay in the Deadite business. Maybe Netflix would like to get another franchise on its books? Or maybe Shudder would come in and save the day, as they so often do for horror fans. The main point being, this feels very possible - it just may take some patience.
Evil Dead Rise is set to hit theaters on April 21 and you can also catch it on our latest FANGORIA cover.
