After years of here say and misinformation it appears that things are actually gearing up for the reboot of the EVIL DEAD franchise. Bruce Campbell was just on an VH1 morning show the other day and he was talking about it and then today comes a press release and a title treatment.
Here's the word directly from the press release:
Sam Raimi and original producing partners Rob Tapert and Bruce
Campbell (who also starred in the original franchise) are gearing up to
remake their cult sensation THE EVIL DEAD through their long standing
Ghost House Pictures partnership. Raimi and Tapert were such instant
fans of Fede Alvarez’s short film “Panic Attack” that they set up a
blind deal with the filmmaker and through that process have attached
Fede Alvarez to write and direct the film. Alvarez wrote the script with
Rodo Sayagues. Academy Award® winning screenwriter Diablo Cody is
currently doing revisions on the draft. Ghost House is committed to
renewing the franchise and has the film on the fast track.
Raimi, Tapert and Campbell will serve as producers. Ghost House
Pictures partners Joe Drake and Nathan Kahane will executive produce.
Nicole Brown and J.R. Young will oversee the project for Ghost House.
Lionsgate will handle international sales on the film.
The three producing partners commented, "We are committed to
making this movie and are inspired by the enduring popularity and
enthusiasm for the ‘Evil Dead’ series. We can't wait to scare a new
generation of moviegoers using filmmaking techniques that were not
available to us thirty years ago as well as Fede bringing a fresh eye to
the film’s original elements."
Raimi wrote, directed and, along with Tapert and Campbell,
produced the original horror classic THE EVIL DEAD that tells the story
of five twenty-something friends who become holed up in a remote cabin
where they discover a Book Of The Dead. An archaeologist's tape
recording reveals that the ancient text was discovered among the
Khandarian ruins of a Sumerian civilization. Playing the taped
incantations, the youths unwittingly summon up dormant demons living in
the nearby woods, which possess the youngsters in succession until only
one is left intact to fight for survival. THE EVIL DEAD spawned a
franchise with the equally successful installments EVIL DEAD II and ARMY
OF DARKNESS.
Campbell mentioned on that VH1 show that he will not be reprising the role of ASH and it appears that his involvement will be primarily behind the scenes although I am sure that a cameo of some sort will be worked in. I've got a sneaking suspicion that we're going to be hearing casting news real soon so keep it here cause this one is gearing up.
