It looks like there will be a remake of the cult classic, The Evil Dead:
Official word came Wednesday that filmmaker Sam Raimi, and producers Rob Tapert and Bruce Campbell, through their Ghost House Pictures partnership, are gearing up to remake Raimi’s cult film debut “The Evil Dead,” with first-time feature director Fede Alvarez stepping behind the camera. Alvarez penned a script that “Juno” screenwriter Diablo Cody is currently revising.
Word began circulating in earnest about the project online Tuesday after Campbell, who played beleaguered hero Ash in 1981′s “Evil Dead” and its follow-ups, 1987′s “Evil Dead II” and 1992′s “Army of Darkness,” said via Twitter that the project, which has long been rumored, was indeed happening.
“Believe in the remake, dawg!” wrote the actor, who stars opposite Jeffrey Donovan in USA’s spy series “Burn Notice.” “The project is real. In the works. Cool as hell. Scary as hell.”
But the prospect of a remake is a touchy one. The movie is arguably not well known among mainstream film fans, yet the low-budget thriller (about a group of unsuspecting friends vacationing at a remote cabin in the woods who inadvertently unleash an ancient demonic force) has amassed a wildly devoted following in the 30 years since its original release. Audiences responded to the movie’s delightfully transgressive qualities and Raimi’s gifts as a filmmaker. The projects have enjoyed a long shelf life through multiple DVD reissues and even a staged musical.
A friend on Facebook remarked that her boyfriend was “pissed” about this. Bruce Campbell, who as noted plays Sam Axe on Burn Notice, seems excited about it. I know zombie movie fans were less than thrilled about the 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead, and while I’m a fan of the original; the remake was better.
Personally, I’m pretty stoked about it. The Evil Dead series are among my favorite flicks. It’d be nice to see what they can do with it with today’s CGI, that is if they put enough money behind it.
