Bruce Campbell has retired from playing the role of EVIL DEAD franchise hero Ash, but that doesn't mean the franchise is over, and it doesn't mean that Campbell's association with it has come to an end. Campbell owns the rights to EVIL DEAD with Sam Raimi and producer Rob Tapert, so if anything happens in that world he's going to have some say in it.
It was announced a few months ago that a new EVIL DEAD movie is in the works, one which will see Raimi handing the helm over to a "young filmmaker" who hasn't been named yet, just like he did with Fede Alvarez for EVIL DEAD 2013. Campbell was at Fan Expo Vancouver last weekend, and during his Q&A panel he said this new EVIL DEAD might be filming by the end of this year.
When a fan asked if he'll be starring another EVIL DEAD sequel, Campbell reiterated that he has retired from playing Ash, but
we're producing more EVIL DEAD movies. Maybe one later this year. Sam Raimi has hand picked the next guy to make another creepy EVIL DEAD. It just won't have Ash. Yeah, it is cool. There are more stories to tell, sir."
Representatives of the site Horror Bound were at Fan Expo Vancouver and were filming during this part of Campbell's Q&A. You can see Campbell give this answer around the 6:40 point in the video embedded below.
Although I wish Campbell would change his mind about never playing Ash again (and so does Sam Raimi), I'm looking forward to seeing what this new EVIL DEAD movie will be like, and I'm very anxious to find out who's writing and directing it.