ASH VS. EVIL DEAD - Set Photo and New Series Details
Ash Vs. Evil Dead is currently in production and shooting in Auckland, New Zealand. We have our first photo from the set of the film featuring Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell, Rob Tapert, and the classic 1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88 that Ash drove in the original Evil Dead films. It's so awesome that they brought the car back! I guess it wouldn't truly be Evil Dead without it.
The three guys took a little bit of time to jump on a conference call with the press to talk about the upcoming series, and they offered up lots of good details that you’re going to want to know. The following information comes from Collider.
One thing that Campbell made clear, “This is not going to be a watered down version of Evil Dead. …[The fans] want the hardcore stuff, and they’re going to get it.”
Here are some points of interest that I wanted to highlight from the interview:
The series is set in an alternate universe after the events of Evil Dead 2. Raimi explains,
“It doesn’t really exist in the exact same universe. It’s a slightly altered universe. It takes place somewhere in an alternate universe after Evil Dead 2.”
The events of Army of Darkness still exist, but it’s something they won’t really reference. Raimi says,
“Army of Darkness, does it exist? Well, certainly Ash went through that experience. We’re not referencing specifics from that, but he certainly has that in his memory.”
The series picks up when the Deadites come back from a long period of being dormant. Raimi opened up about the setting,
“The Deadites have been fairly dormant over the last 20-30 years and Ash has been living a low life, hiding out. Our story really begins when they come back and someone is needed to stand up against them.” Is it Ash’s fault that they come back? “Of course.”
Raimi also described the tone of the series saying that it will be a mix of the ingrained horror of Evil Dead and the fun comedy of Evil Dead 2 and Army of Darkness.
“We have elements of the Evil Dead films, which have always had very hard-edged, intense horror really designed to frighten the audience, and no holds barred there…But also, there is a comedic element that is alive in this…. I think what we tried to do is go back to the horror of the first and second Evil Dead, but with the character that Bruce created over the second and third Evil Dead. We’re really a combination; something we haven’t quite seen before.”
Campbell said that Ash is a basket case and traumatized by the horrific events that he went through in the first three films.
“He is a basketcase. We’re going to find Ash is potentially damaged goods and, god forbid, this is our hero.”
Tapert continued,
“He’s not a nobler or saner character than when we last saw him. In fact, I think if anything, he’s digressed. He’s kind of sunk to his lowest instincts, and that’s where we find him.”
The chainsaw arm will definitely be in the series. I’m sure his broomstick will too, but that’s not confirmed. Tapert said,
“He’s been living in fear of a resurgence of the Evil Dead, of the Deadites, so that old rusted hulk of his, that’s the one thing he’s kept oiled up and in tip-top shape just in case. So I think we will see that sweet baby come back, come roaring to life, slicing and dicing on the Deadites.”
The special effects were designed to keep in line with the previous Evil Dead films. Tapert went on to say,
“We’re working with a great makeup effects artist down in New Zealand, Roger Murray, we’ve worked with him on various things over the years. That’s one of the expectations from the franchise; makeup effects, gore effects. So absolutely we plan to have those and continue with what the audience expects from the franchise in a new and different way.” Campell agreed, “This is not going to be a watered down version of Evil Dead. The very first Evil Dead has no rating. The second Evil Dead has no rating. Only Army of Darkness was ever rated. Thankfully by partnering with Starz, the gloves are off and we have no restrictions, almost literally…[The fans] want the hardcore stuff, and they’re going to get it.
Tapert went on to explain that the reason they went with the half-hour show format is so they could match the “breakneck” pace that the films set.
“One of the reasons we decided we wanted to do a half hour was that we thought that this was – the breakneck pace that the movies often had, that really was the right format in the world of television for this particular project.” Raimi continued, “I really appreciate that Starz let us keep this half-hour idea. That’s what makes it really cool to me, that we can really fire on all cylinders, and be outrageous and fast paced and non-stop without a lot of secondary character exposition that sometimes you find in these hour shows.”
Even though this series is being made, Raimi is still hoping that there will be a sequel to the remake.
“I love the Evil Dead remake. I think Fede Alvarez did a brilliant job…I love that movie, and I hope there will be a sequel. After we had made his movie, as much as the fans loved it, they also seemed to want to see Bruce again in this series. So we thought, this is our time. If we’re ever going to do it, we have to set aside that crowd. Now is a good time. And television seems like an interesting format to take it forward in. So we chose to make Bruce’s story right now. I hope we can get Fede back to continue the new Evil Dead series once we’ve established Bruce’s story.
There’s also a possibility that we will see another Evil Dead movie featuring Ash, so don’t count that out.
“It’s a possibility no matter what happens, because I think we always want to keep that ability in the back of our minds to tell a story on the big ol‘ screen. Nothing will preclude anything, regardless of what happens.”
If the first season does well, everyone involved would come back for a second season. Campbell stated,
“I’m not going anywhere. This is the show I’m going to devote basically every ounce of my aging energy into. This is something that you don’t take lightly. This was a long road to get here, starting back in ’79.”
Tapert added,
“It would be a joyless process that the mantle would be passed to anyone else. I just don’t see that as a possible outcome in this.”
Raimi continued,
“I feel the same way. I think we’re really doing this to work together again as a team.”
There’s a lot of great stuff here, but there’s a lot more over on Collider, so make sure to head over there for more information! Ash vs Evil Dead is set to premiere on Starz in fall 2015, and it sounds like it's going to be glorious.