Sam Raimi announced at Comic-Con this year that he, his brother Ivan and Bruce Campbell were working on an Evil Dead spin-off TV series. They offered no further details, but now we know that US cable channel Starz has ordered the show, called Ash Vs. Evil Dead{
Their regular cohort, producer Rob Tapert is also aboard the show, which will see Campbell back as Ash and returning to his usual Deadite-thwacking ways for a weekly dose of madness across 10 episodes of 30 minutes each, some time next year. Raimi, who will direct the pilot and naturally set the tone for the series is at work on the first script with Ivan, and they’ve also hired Chuck veteran Tom Spezialy to oversee the show as executive producer.
“Evil Dead has always been a blast. Bruce, Rob, and I are thrilled to have the opportunity to tell the next chapter in Ash’s lame, but heroic saga. With his chainsaw arm and his ‘boomstick,’ Ash is back to kick some monster butt. And brother, this time there’s a truckload of it,” says Raimi in a statement.
Campbell is also thrilled to be returning to his signature role. "I'm really excited to bring this series to the **Evil Dead **fans worldwide – it's going to be everything they have been clamouring for: serious Deadite ass-kicking and plenty of outrageous humour,” said Campbell.
Starz feels like a good fit for the franchise, which has always prided itself on OTT gore moments and madness. With fewer creative restrictions than broadcast TV across the pond, and an established working relationship with Raimi and co after Spartacus, it sounds like Ash’s continuing adventures are in good hands (or hand plus chainsaw?) and will hopefully make it across the ocean not long after the show’s US premiere.