In 1981, Bruce Campbell first portrayed Ash Williams in Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead. As the franchise grew, so did its cult status and Campbell’s reputation as one of horror’s most well-liked icons. But all good things must come to an end. When the TV series Ash vs. Evil Dead was canceled, he swore off any live-action versions of Ash.
Thankfully, Raimi was on board, and with the help of a reboot, the franchise positioned itself away from the need for Ash Williams. Despite this, fans still clamor for more of Campbell in the role, so he is once again saying he’s done.
“Evil Dead”
Photo by MATTHEW PATCHES
Campbell as Ash
Outside of a small vocal cameo in Lee Cronin’s Evil Dead Rise, Campbell hasn’t been involved in the franchise on screen in almost 8 years.
“We’ve done three things: We moved away from the cabin, we’ve moved away from Sam Raimi, we’ve moved away from Ash and Bruce Campbell,” he explains to the Detroit Free Press. “Thankfully, Evil Dead Rise made the most of any money we’ve made from any Evil Dead, so far, and it validated the fact that we can get away from those main elements. You’ve got to find a new audience, because the original Evil Dead fans, you get some of them, you’re not going to get all of them, because they like those original elements.”
“They’re Hollywood, they’re studio movies now,” Campbell says of the franchise today. “They’re not indie movies anymore. And that’s where I found that my use has just phased out.”
Earlier this year, he even revealed that he has stepped away behind the scenes as well. While he originally stayed on to produce and consult, he doesn’t feel that is necessary anymore. After explaining the process that went into Evil Dead Burn;
“That’s when I said to myself, ‘You guys got this. I think you guys got this.’ I got tired of arguing points with someone who’s 26 years old about story and structure, and all that sort of stuff, and what matters and what doesn’t,” Campbell told Forbes at the time. “So, I just found out it’s way better to just step back. I’m partners with the guys. Nothing else has changed. I just told them, ‘Guys. I’m actually doing my own thing now, and it takes a lot of time and attention. If I can get fewer emails for approvals not clogging my timeline, that’s good for me at this point.’”
Stepping Away
The actor did say at one point he would be open to voicing the character. However, given how hard the series has worked to distance itself from its initial final boy. Even an animated version may muddy the waters too much. It seems that Campbell wants a clean break from the role, and Evil Dead fans just need to accept that people age.
Stepping away from Ash freed Campbell up to direct and star in his own movie, Ernie & Emma. It sees him as a pear salesman who embarks on a quest after the death of his wife. He must follow a detailed list of instructions on what to do with her ashes, leading him on a series of challenging and reflective escapades. There is decidedly no blood nor gore in this indie comedy.
Evil Dead Burn will hit theaters July 10th, and Evil Dead Wrath is already set to hit theaters in 2028.
