Somebody had better alert Shiloh Fernandez's family, as the young actor is about to embark on The Ultimate Experience In Grueling Terror. He's been cast as the male lead in the "Evil Dead" remake, supposedly beating out scores of promising young actors for the part. While the story is relatively similar to the still-terrifying, still-brilliant 1981 original, Fernandez is not playing the now-retired character of Ash, made famous by cult legend Bruce Campbell, here onboard as a producer with Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert.
Fernandez will apparently star as the boyfriend to the character originally played by Lily Collins, who had to drop out because of scheduling issues. Or possibly because the "Evil Dead" foliage was a little grabbier than she first anticipated. If the plot leaks are accurate, he'll be helping her overcome a drug dependency in a secluded cabin, only for them to be attacked by the flesh-eating Deadites. Fede Alvarez is directing from his own script, with a polish from Diablo Cody.
Fernandez, who is not a Brundlefly combo of Billy Crudup and Emile Hirsch, was last seen in "Red Riding Hood," and last not seen in the completely-ignored "Skateland." But he's a young actor with a bit of gravity to him, and it will be interesting to see how he fits in the project, and if this script keeps the moody, serious focus of the first film, or features more jokey elements like the second and third. Fernandez will next be seen in the Brit Marling-starrer "The East." [Variety]
As of the draft dated last month, there is no boyfriend character for the female lead. It's her brother. There are three siblings (one male, two female – one being the formerly lily collins role) and then two significant others (of which the female lead has none). I'll be interested to hear which role he's locked down for sure because he seems way young to be playing the male lead who reads more of an early 30's vibe.