Bruce Campbell, Sam Raimi reunite for ‘Evil Dead’ series on Starz

Fans have been begging for more “Evil Dead” from Sam Raimi and star Bruce Campbell for years and now they’re finally getting their wish. The director and star are reuniting for the Starz original series “Ash Vs. Evil Dead.”

The series, which will air 10 half-hour episodes later in 2015, will star Campbell as Ash, the chainsaw and shotgun-wielding hero who’s been battling the evil Deadite scourge since the original “Evil Dead” movie in 1981.

Raimi and Campbell together made three “Evil Dead” films, culminating in the film “Army of Darkness” in 1993 that sent Ash back to the Middle Ages to combat the Deadites, humans possessed by demonic spirits intent on maiming themselves and causing despair in everyone around them.

The films have always been cult favorites, though the tone has varied wildly. The original “Evil Dead” was a straight horror film, but beginning with “Evil Dead 2” in 1987, the tone started becoming broader and more comedic. By the time “Army of Darkness” came out, there was no hiding the film’s Three Stooges influence.

While the “Evil Dead” remake in 2013 was a return to the franchise’s horrific roots, the series looks to continue with the wise-cracking, slapstick of the latter Raimi-Campbell films.

Raimi himself will return to the director’s seat for the series’ first episode. The series was written by Raimi, Ivan Raimi and Tom Spezialy.

The series will pick up with Ash in the present, where he’s apparently still a stock boy dragged back into battle against his ancient enemy.

In a statement, Campbell said, “It’s going to be everything [fans] have been clamoring for: serious deadite ass-kicking and plenty of outrageous humor.”

As Ash would say, “Hail to the king, baby.”

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