Bruce Campbell Teases More ‘Evil Dead,’ But Without Ash Williams
Bruce Campbellis laying Ash to rest. The chainsaw-wielding protagonist of the camp-horror classicThe Evil Deadhas been battling the forces of evil for nearly 40 years, but Campbell may soon be hanging up his chainsaw hand. But others will be there to take his place, as Campbell promises theEvil Deadfranchise will live on past Ash Williams.
In an interview with theInqusitir, Bruce Campbell revealed that, despite the cancellation ofAsh vs. Evil Dead, theEvil Deadfranchise is still very much alive. More stories in theEvil Deadfranchise are in development, Campbell teased, but probably without his iconic character Ash Williams:
“I’m still doing video games, I’m doing voices for Ash. I’m just not going to grovel in the blood anymore…They’re going to see different versions, they’re going to be seeing moreEvil Dead, too. We’re not done with theEvil Deadsaga, more stories to tell.”
Campbell danced around the idea of his retirement as Ash Williams onscreen, though he didn’t explicitly confirm it, instead saying, “I’m retiring from certain types of roles, ones that require looking at tennis balls on sticks.” This likely refers to the action sequences he’s required to do as Ash, though the “tennis balls on sticks” comment seems out of place considering the emphasis on practical effects theEvil Deadfranchise has long had.
But without Campbell anchoring the franchise, what will become ofEvil Dead? Campbell has appeared in everyEvil Deadtitle apart from the 2013 reboot directed by Fede Álvarez and produced by franchise creator Sam Raimi, and has become the chainsaw-wielding face of the series. Hell, most of the marketing forAsh vs. Evil Deadwas just close-ups of his maniacal, blood-covered face. But the future ofEvil Deadcould be in video games, like Campbell hinted at, or in reboots, remakes, or a new TV series. There’s no format that theEvil Deadfranchise hasn’t seen — there was even anEvil Deadstage musical at one point. The forces of evil will always need someone to hack off its limbs with a chainsaw, and I’m sure plenty of people will be happy to step into Ash’s bloodstained shoes.
