When it comes to a project like the upcoming Ash vs. Evil Dead television series on Starz, sometimes it’s worth giving fans a little reminder now and then that the project is indeed still happening and wasn’t just a fever dream inspired by reading too much fan-fiction. That certainly seems to be the impetus for the latest, ever-so-brief teaser for the show that the network released over the weekend.
The 30-second promotional video for the series features a blood-soaked chainsaw being attached to the arm of the show’s titular hero, demon-fighter Ashley J. Williams. After confirming that the situation is still “groovy,” he can be seen (and heard) revving up the chainsaw for what is likely to be even more bloody battles with the forces of evil.
Set to span ten half-hour episodes, the new series once again stars Evil Dead franchise veteran Bruce Campbell as Ash, the reluctant savior of the world who works at a department store when not hacking, slashing, and boom-sticking a gory path through hordes of “Deadites,” the demonic forces bent on swallowing our souls. Forced into action after spending the last 30 years avoiding responsibility, Ash must face a new threat from the Deadites when they unleash a terrible plague on the world — and must find a way to overcome his own personal demons if he’s going to have any hope of defeating the literal ones.
The series is executive produced by filmmaker Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert, and Campbell, the architects of the original Evil Dead series that began with 1981’s Evil Dead, and later followed with 1987’s Evil Dead II and 1992’s Army of Darkness. An attempt to reboot the franchise with 2013’s Evil Dead was received well commercially and critically, but that plan was seemingly abandoned when Ash vs. Evil Dead was given the green light in recent years.
Along with Campbell, the new series will feature Xena and Spartacus actress Lucy Lawless as a mysterious character who believes Ash is the cause of the Deadite plague, Ray Santiago (Meet the Fockers) as an idealistic immigrant who becomes Ash’s sidekick, Dana DeLorenzo (A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas) as a “moody wild child” with a checkered past, and Jill Marie Jones (Sleepy Hollow) as a former Michigan State Trooper with a vendetta against Ash.
The first episode of the series is directed by Sam Raimi and was co-written by Raimi, his brother Ivan Raimi (Darkman, Drag Me To Hell), and Tom Spezialy (Chuck). Reaper and Chuck producer Craig DiGregorio serves as an executive producer and showrunner for the series.
Ash vs. Evil Dead is expected to premiere on Starz this fall.
