After starring as Ash Williams in three ‘Evil Dead’ films and in three seasons of ‘Ash vs. Evil Dead’ over the span of nearly forty years, actor Bruce Campbell announced retirement from the role last year. According to director Sam Raimi, who also created the character, Campbell had ‘lost interest in the gruesome and gory special effects processes of shooting grisly adventures’.
Raimi shared during a panel at New York Comic Con about Campbell’s future in the franchise, “I think you’re referring to the fact that ‘Ash vs. Evil Dead’ was on for three seasons, and now it’s done. And I want more,” he continued, “but Bruce Campbell has said ‘No,’ he’s tired of me throwing blood on him. 40 years of Bruce and those sticky syrup shirts… He wants to work again, but he just doesn’t want to play that role right now.”
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Having played the role so many times over the course of 37 years, it’s understandable that he grew tired of it and decided to seek out other opportunities. However, Campbell himself has previously confirmed that he is still heavily invested in the future of the franchise, just not as a performer; he has established in the past that he had committed to another ‘Evil Dead‘ video game in the works, which would only require him to lend his vocal talents.
In 2013, Campbell, Raimi, and Rob Tapert all served as producers in the reboot directed by Fede Alvarez. The reboot avoided finding new actors to stepping up as new incarnations of the original film’s famous characters, but Campbell has expressed support of a new actor taking over the role of Ash.
“I’d be perfectly fine if they find some young Ash, do some new incarnation, let some other poor bastard get covered in blood. I hope there are very many variations of ‘Evil Dead’. You’ve got the leftover characters from the series, you’ve got the characters from the remake that we did a few years ago. You can intersect universes,” Campbell said to Entertainment Weekly.
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After the reboot failed to bring in a lot of money, Raimi had indicated that he is interested in another film to continue the story. Earlier this year, he shared with Bloody Disgusting:
“I’d love to make another one. I don’t think TV is in its future but we’re talking about – Bruce, Rob, and myself – one or two different ways to go for the next movie. We’d like to make another ‘Evil Dead’ feature and in fact we’re working on some ideas right now.”
Fans of the media franchise will be disappointed that the actor that originated Ash Williams will not be returning any time soon if ever, but they can find solace in the possibility that this will open up a new avenue and creative mind for the next film.
Stay tuned for updates on an ‘Evil Dead’ film in the future.
Source: Comic Book
