Bruce Campbell confirms that an Evil Dead animated series is being developed along with more films

Long time ago Evil Death star Bruce Campbell officially hung up his chainsaw and then retired from playing the live-action Ash Williams Ash versus evil dead ended in 2018, but the actor isn’t leaving the franchise behind completely, as he recently confirmed an animated film Evil Death series is being developed. Having previously admitted that the physical toll playing Ash took on his body was too much to continue, he was forced to step away from live-action duties, although he frequently noted that he would happily continue indefinitely Ash would speak up. Previous reports claimed that an animated film may be in the works, with Campbell noting that the current plan is an animated series. Additionally, he reiterated that the two previously announced live-action films were still in the offing. Campbell can next be seen in Peacock’s Hysteria!which premieres on October 18.

When asked by ComicBook if he and his collaborators were still working on an animated series, Campbell confirmed, “We’re just developing this one. So are we, but these are slow-motion, molasses processes, so it could take years. And so there are two more films.”

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Evil Death fans have experienced many ups and downs in the decades since filmmaker Sam Raimi unleashed the original film’s terror on audiences, with the series always having a cult following but not quite having the same cultural footprint that fans thought it deserved. A 2013 reboot of the film yielded promising responses from audiences and critics, but failed to revitalize the property in any substantial way. In 2015, Campbell returned to his iconic role for Ash versus evil dead on Starz, and even with the involvement of Raimi, Campbell and producer Rob Tapert, the series never gained many viewers and was canceled after three seasons.

Many viewers thought this was the end of the road for the franchise, not seeing the release of Lee Cronin’s until 2023. Evil dead rise. Originally planned as an HBO Max exclusive, the spin-off pivoted to a theatrical release and became the highest-grossing entry in the entire franchise, effectively bringing the series back from the dead. There are two more spin-offs on the way, one from Sébastien Vaniček and one from Francis Galluppi, in addition to the aforementioned animated series Campbell mentioned.

Between the slow process of developing an animated series and the fact that both spinoff films were announced earlier this year, it’s unclear when either of these projects could gain significant momentum. In the meantime, fans can enjoy the ’80s set Hysteria! on Peacock.

The series is described as follows: “When a beloved varsity quarterback disappears during the ‘Satanic Panic’ of the late 1980s, Hysteria! follows a struggling heavy metal band of high school outcasts who realize they can capitalize on the town’s sudden interest in the occult by building a reputation as a satanic metal band. That is until a bizarre series of murders, kidnappings and reported ‘supernatural activities’ sparks a leather-strewn witch hunt that leads straight back to them.”

Hysteria! stars Julie Bowen (Modern family), Anna Kamp (Pitch Perfect), and Bruce Campbell (Kill the evil ones, Army of darkness), as well as Emjay Anthony, Chiara Aurelia, Kezii Curtis and Nikki Hahn.

Stay tuned for updates on the future of the Evil Death franchise. Hysteria! lands at Peacock on October 18.

Are you looking forward to an Evil Dead animated series? Contact Patrick Cavanaugh directly via Twitter or Instagram to discuss all things Star Wars and horror!