EVIL DEAD BURN Is Coming For Your Souls!

May 23, 2025

Introduction

The Evil Dead franchise has been a landmark in horror cinema due to its innovative blend of visceral horror, dark humor, and groundbreaking practical effects. Beginning with Sam Raimi’s low-budget cult classic The Evil Dead (1981), the series pushed the boundaries of what could be achieved with limited resources, thus setting a new standard for indie horror. Raimi’s kinetic direction, including his signature “shaky-cam” and inventive camera angles, brought a frantic energy that influenced countless filmmakers.

The franchise has since evolved from the pure horror of the original film to the horror-comedy blend of Evil Dead II (1987) and the subsequent fantasy-infused third entry, Army of Darkness (1992). This versatility paved the way for future horror films such as the Scream franchise and Shaun of the Dead (2004). Also, Bruce Campbell’s portrayal of Ash Williams introduced a rare and new type of horror hero. One that was an idiot one minute and a chainsaw-wielding hero the next. Ash reshaped the archetype of horror protagonists.

More than anything, the Evil Dead brand has shown that it still has legs. Its almost forty-five-year run has inspired reboots, TV series, and new generations of filmmakers that have taken on the mantle started by Sam Raimi. What’s most impressive is the quality of all of these products. All of this proved that horror could be self-aware and still terrifying. With its emphasis on DIY filmmaking and practical gore effects, the old-school techniques of the horror masters from decades past are alive and well in the digital age.

What’s Next?

With the critical and commercial success of the latest installment in the franchise, Evil Dead Rise (2023), it was full steam ahead for future projects. In February of last year, it was reported that Sébastien Vaniček (Infested) was attached to direct and co-write a new spin-off film. Titled Evil Dead Burn, Raimi personally picked Vaniček and long-time producing partner Rob Tapert to helm the latest installment. Vaniček told the French publication Konbini:

“I told the studio that I wanted to make a nasty film, a film that hurts, from which you come away tested, I’m going to put all the horror I have inside, it will be cathartic, and if I haven’t ruined my career and I can continue to make films behind it, I will move on to something other than horror!”

Warner Bros. has global distribution rights for Evil Dead Burn and has indicated that the film is on track for a Summer 2026 release. Sébastien Vaniček co-wrote the screenplay with Florent Bernard (Meet the Leroys). Swiss actress Souheila Yacoub (Dune: Part Two) is slated to star in the film. Raimi and Taper’s Ghost House Pictures also recently teamed up with Francis Galluppi (The Last Stop in Yuma County) to write and direct another new Evil Dead movie, which, as of this writing, does not yet have a title.

Deadline recently broke the news that has broken the news that Hunter Doohan (Your Honor), Luciane Buchanan (The Night Agent), and Tandi Wright (Pearl) have joined the cast of Evil Dead Burn, which has started production in New Zealand. While promoting Evil Dead Rise last year, Campbell stated:

“We’re going to try and do them more like every two or three years rather than every 10 years. It’s also the first time Sam is working with his brother Ivan to create an overall Bible that will give future writers and directors an idea of where this thing should go next, to potentially tie in some of these stories. So, I think it’s going to get a little more tied in as the years go by”

As soon as we have more news on the forthcoming Evil Dead Rise, we’ll let you know!