Starz To Resurrect 'Evil Dead' Franchise

Starz along with director Sam Raimi will look to breathe new life into The Evil Dead with an original series based on the 1980s horror movie franchise, the network said Monday.

The series, Ash Vs. The Evil Dead, will feature the movie franchise's monster hunter character Ash, played in The Evil Dead movies by Bruce Campbell who will reprise the role in the series. After avoiding the terrors of the Evil Dead for decades, a plague that threatens to destroy all of mankind forces Ash back into action, according to Starz executives.

The Evil Dead director Raimi will return to direct the series along with producing partner Rob Tapert, according to Starz.

“Starz first worked with Sam and Rob on Spartacus, and we are thrilled to be back in business with them,” said Carmi Zlotnik, Managing Director of Starz in a statement.  “With Sam writing and directing and Bruce Campbell returning to the screen, we are certain the show will give Evil Dead fans around the world the fix they’ve been craving.”

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.