Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell have not been shy about talking about a proposed reboot of the “Evil Dead” franchise. In fact, a year ago, Campbell talked about how director Lee Cronin was handpicked by Raimi to take the reins of the new film in the franchise. Well, now all of that is confirmed, and we now know that “Evil Dead Rise” is coming to streaming with two brand-new stars attached.
According to THR, “Evil Dead Rise” is going to be produced by New Line and distributed by HBO Max. As already announced, Lee Cronin (“The Hole in the Ground”) is writing and directing this new addition to the franchise, with Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell returning to produce. But it appears that Campbell won’t be leading the cast, as the film will instead star Alyssa Sutherland and Lily Sullivan as two estranged sisters that find their reunion cut short by demons. And no, the film will not be set at a cabin in the woods, but instead, will be set in the city, marking a pretty big change from previous films.
“I’m thrilled to bring ‘Evil Dead’ back to its original home at New Line 40 years after the release of the first film. The company’s history as pioneers of horror speaks for itself,” Raimi said. “I’m equally excited to be working with Lee Cronin, whose gifts as a storyteller make him the ideal filmmaker to continue the enduring legacy of the franchise.”
Campbell added, “At its core, ‘Evil Dead’ is about ordinary people overcoming extraordinarily terrifying situations … I can’t wait for Alyssa and Lily to fill the blood-soaked shoes of those who have come before them and carry on that tradition.”
An exact HBO Max release date for “Evil Dead Rise” has yet to be announced, but filming is expected to begin in New Zealand next month.