The Deadites are returning in full force next year with the arrival of small screen sequel, Ash Vs. Evil Dead. Based upon the Evil Dead film franchise, creator and director Sam Raimi will be back at the helm to lens the pilot, and he’ll be bringing along long-time Dead producer, Robert Tapert. Of course, no Evil Dead series would be complete without the man leading the charge, and so, rounding out the franchise talent coming back for Starz’ ten-episode half-hour show is Mr. Boomstick himself, Bruce Campbell.
Armed with his wit and charm, Ash will be embarking on a new battle against the Deadites. Thus far, we’ve had little else to go on in terms of story, but thanks to an EW interview with Campbell, a slew of juicy details have come to light.
The decision to transition to a different format was all about fan demand said Campbell, so they could “give people exactly what they wanted and expand the character and the story even more. Ash would probably have more dialogue in one season than in three movies. He’ll have to become a more fleshed-out character as well.”
If there’s one aspect of the Dead movies that locked them in as cult classics, it’s undoubtedly Ash’s catchy one-liners. By the sounds of this approach, we’ll be getting plenty more of those.
Turning to the actual story, the article goes on to reveal a new logline which lays down the specifics of the show’s premise:
Ash is living in a trailer park and working his latest thankless big-box store job when a return of the Deadites prompts him to take a road trip with two young co-workers (and, of course, his trusty boomstick).
Bringing a couple of fresh faces into the series ought to provide Ash – who Campbell now describes as “this crabby middle-aged man who doesn’t want to get dragged back into this” – with a much-needed helping hand. After all, he’s notorious for getting himself into scrapes and could probably do with some young blood:
It’s a threesome, which is a good number. Since it’s not cast yet, it would be silly to fully describe them. But they’re supposed to be two very good counterparts. One is a male-bonding situation; the other is father-figure deal, since Ash could have a daughter the same age as this character. Hopefully we’ll pull Ash out of his loner-veteran mode and get him back into being a human being again.
Campbell’s affection for his most well-known character shone through, as he outlined in what state we’ll find our loveable antihero:
He continues being a trash-talking know-it-all who doesn’t really know anything. He’s the ultimate anti-hero. He’s a guy with no appreciable skills. He’s not a former Navy SEAL, he’s not a former CIA or FBI. He’s no special anything. He’s just a guy from S-Mart, you know?
Ash has survivor’s guilt. You could have a heyday with his PTSD. He’s a war vet. He doesn’t want to talk about it, and he’ll lie about that stump on his hand to impress the ladies. This is a guy who’s got some issues. He’s emotionally stunted. But he’s the guy you want in the foxhole next to you. “
With Raimi, Tapert and Campbell all deeply rooted in bringing a version of Ash’s antics to the small screen that fans will relish, the star addressed one key element of the series’ success: gore.
“Fans want the carnage and the mayhem,” he says. “So we intend to give them quite the explosion of viscera. Most of it directed at me, unfortunately.”
If there’s one thing that’s for sure, it’s that it’s gonna be one helluva groovy – and gory – 2015 when Ash Vs. Evil Dead finally lands.
