New Evil Dead Sequel Coming To HBO Max

The 1981 film The Evil Dead was, of course, a landmark in horror film history. Unsurprisingly then, it spawned a franchise and a reboot. However, never mind the original and never mind the reboot:  a new, new Evil Dead sequel is coming.

The New Evil Dead Sequel, Evil Dead Rising, Will Tell a New Story

While the original story took place at a quintessential cabin in the woods, the new film, Evil Dead Rising, won’t. Actually, it’s a city slicker. It also won’t follow the adventures of perennial Evil Dead hero Ash (Bruce Campbell) whose adventures continued on into the recently-ended series Ash vs. Evil Dead. It also won’t follow, well, whatever went on in the 2013 reboot (I haven’t seen it). Instead, it will focus on two sisters, whom Alyssa Sutherland (Vikings) and Lily Sullivan (Barkskins) will play.

Evil Dead (2013), image via Sony Pictures Releasing

According to Deadline, the sisters reunite after an estrangement. However, their “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.” Don’t you hate it when that happens? Anyway, there’s no word yet on how or if the Necronomicon (last seen in the Creepshow season 2 premiere) will figure into all this. Ooh, maybe it’s an app now (Ncronomr).

Sequel Will Play Exclusively on HBO Max…Maybe

Lee Cronin, who directed The Hole in the Ground, will direct this movie. However, just because Sam Raimi’s not directing the movie doesn’t mean that he’ll be absent. Instead, he’s a producer on this new version, along with Bruce Campbell and original Evil Dead producer Robert Tapert. They hand-picked Cronin, who will also write the movie as well as direct it. To that end, Raimi said, “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.”

The film is in preproduction right now, but when they complete it, it will be exclusive to HBO Max. Well, sort of. For areas where the streamer isn’t available, it could have a theatrical release. That, of course, is too far in the future, though, to tell at this time. They haven’t even started making it yet, after all. But we’ll let you know.

What do you think about a new Evil Dead sequel? Tell us in these comments or on our social media.

featured image via New Line Cinema

Salomé Gonstad is a freelance writer who grew up in the swampy wilds of south Alabama. When she's not yelling about pop culture on the internet, she's working on a supernatural thriller about her hometown. Also, we're pretty sure she's a werewolf. Email her at salome@comicyears.com.