I hold the firm belief that actor Bruce Campbell was one hit away from being an A-list actor. All the elements were certainly there – chiseled good looks, a confidence bordering on arrogance, and a melodic, easygoing voice. The man came within a breath of playing the lead role in DARKMAN, however the role eventually went to Liam Neeson.
Despite Campbell's inability to ascend to Brad Pitt status, the man's carved himself out a pretty decent career. For seven season he played the role of Sam Axe on USA's Burn Notice. He was also a cameo staple in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man movies and is currently the host of Ripley's Believe It Or Not! on the Travel Channel. Oh and he's a best-selling author too. However, the role he is most famous for is of course the part of Ash Williams, the deadite slaying, boomstick touting, chainsaw wielding hero of THE EVIL DEAD films.
At sixty-one years old, Campbell is still very much in the game and always happy to work. In fact he's not above asking for work directly on social media as a recent tweet proves. Kevin Smith recently announced that the long gestating MALLRATS sequel (currently titled TWILIGHT OF THE MALLRATS) was back in the works and it appears as if Campbell is a fan of the original. In fact Campbell is such a fan he's willing to play anyone – even a lactose toting serviceman – to be in the sequel:
Although Bruce Campbell may have made this suggestion partly in jest, director Kevin Smith took Campbell's request quite seriously. Or at least as serious as Kevin Smith can take anything:
To quote Leonardo DiCaprio in DJANGO UNCHAINED, "You had my curiosity, now you have my attention." While I don't think we necessarily need a MALLRATS sequel, Campbell's possible involvement definitely peaks my interest. I could definitely see Bruce Campbell taking over the Stan Lee part in TWILIGHT OF THE MALLRATS. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if Campbell played both a fictionalized version of himself and Ash. I can totally see a scene where Campbell has to wipe out some deadites at the mall. Groovy.
Honestly, I think there's a great chance that this cameo actually happens if – and it's a big IF – Smith actually brings the MALLRATS sequel together. The project has fallen apart not once but twice in the last five years. In addition, Smith is currently working on CLERKS III and he's often in demand to direct episodes of DC CW television shows. Regardless of what you think of the man's material over the last decade or so, he's certainly busy.
So what's your take? Would you be down for a Bruce Campbell cameo in TWILIGHT OF THE MALLRATS? Do you think the film will actually happen? Any chance we'll ever get an EVIL DEAD 4? Sound off in the comments below!