Gimme some sugar, baby, and hail to the king! After years of rumors and teases, the long-awaited next film in Sam Raimi's iconic franchise is a go and will debut exclusively on HBO Max. While Bruce Campbell will not star in the film, he will serve as producer alongside Raimi and Rob Tapert as The Hole in the Ground director Lee Cronin will take over behind the camera. Fede Alvarez helmed the 2013 reboot which kept the action at the cabin in the woods that kicked off the 1981 classic. This new film will shift locations to a much different setting.
Moving the action out of the woods and into the city, Evil Dead Rise tells a twisted tale of two estranged sisters, played by Alyssa Sutherland (TV’s The Mist and Vikings ) and Lily Sullivan (Picnic at Hanging Rock, Jungle), whose reunion is cut short by the rise of flesh-possessing demons, thrusting them into a primal battle for survival as they face the most nightmarish version of family imaginable. Sutherland and Sullivan will take the lead roles.
Said Raimi in a statement, “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. 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.”
"At its core, Evil Dead is about ordinary people overcoming extraordinarily terrifying situations,” added Campbell, “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.”
Said Cronin, “The Evil Dead movies filled my brain with terror and awe when I first saw them at nine years old. I am excited and humbled to be resurrecting the most iconic of evil forces for both the fans and a whole new generation.” Richard Brener, President, and Chief Creative Officer, New Line Cinema added, “New Line has a proud history of involvement in some of the most influential and enduring horror films of all time, and the original The Evil Dead was a landmark moment for the Studio. The movie transformed the genre and with each new installment, Sam, Rob, and Bruce have continued to raise the bar. It’s exciting to have them back in the fold for Evil Dead Rise after all these years, especially as they bring with them an immense talent in director Lee Cronin. His inventive spirit and his reverence for the franchise make him the perfect director to unleash Evil Dead once again.”
Plans are to film Evil Dead Rise on location in New Zealand, with post-production work to be completed in Ireland. There is a chance that Evil Dead Rise will receive a theatrical release in territories where HBO Max is not available.