Evil Dead Rise is the latest Evil Dead film, which is an influential horror franchise, and its iconic protagonist Ash Williams might be witnessing a transition. The franchise is still releasing sequels to the first 1981 movie even after four decades. The newest movie Evil Dead Rise was released on April 21, and Ash Williams was nowhere to be found. He has appeared in the first three movies and briefly appears in the post-credit scene of the 2013 Evil Dead film. His absence from the horror fantasy has fans wondering if they will see the character again.
Ash Williams Does Not Appear In ‘Evil Dead Rise’
Ash Williams does not appear in Evil Dead Rise. However, Bruce Campbell, the actor who plays Ash, does. He plays a priest, albeit auditory. Bruce Campbell has appeared in all the previous Evil Dead movies. He played Ash Williams in the first three movies – The Evil Dead (1981), Evil Dead II (1987), and Army of Darkness (1993). He also briefly appears as Ash Williams in the post-credit scene of the 2013 Evil Dead film.
In Evil Dead Rise, a new group of young people discovers the Necronomicon, unleashing evil. The action takes place in the city as opposed to the woods in the previous movies. The new film follows two estranged sisters whose reunion is disrupted by the emergence of demons as they struggle for survival against a scary version of their family.
Sam Raimi directed the first three films but handed over to Fede Alvarez for 2013’s Evil Dead. The 2013 film introduced new characters and a new heroine, Mia (played by Jane Levy). Before the official release of the cliffhanger, Campbell spoke to Collider about the film, revealing that he will not be seen but heard in the film. “I do have one line of dialogue in the movie. I play a priest. You’ll hear me on an old record that is being played back over the speakers,” he told the outlet.
Ash May Not Be Returning To The ‘Evil Dead’ Franchise
Evil Dead Rise is the second Evil Dead movie to open without Ash as the signature hero. One of the uniqueness of the franchise is that it tells the story of a hero rather than a villain. The franchise, through Ash, uses a blend of horror and comedy. The Evil Dead movies are not the same without him. However, the fact that the 2013 film thrived without Ash and the 2023 one seems to do the same means that the character may be retired for good. Ash Williams may not be returning to the franchise.
In his 2021 interview with the publication, Campbell stated that he has officially retired from the role. Throughout the 2013 film, Ash is not mentioned except for the post-credits Easter egg of him looking at the camera and uttering his signature line, “Groovy!” It features a new group of characters who arrive at the cabin and discover the book.
There are several changes from the previous movies. It features a new protagonist who comes to the cabin with her friends to end her drug addiction, as opposed to the adventurous college students from previous Evil Dead films.
Evil Dead Rise: The Plot Summary
Evil Dead Rise portrays a Los Angeles setting and an entirely new cast of characters. Campbell only provides minor vocal performances in the film, giving the film a connection to the earlier movies. Ash himself is nowhere to be found. The last fans saw of him was him driving off in the sunset into a new future.
The film follows two estranged sisters, Beth and Ellie, whose reunion is disrupted by the emergence of demons as they struggle for survival against a scary version of their family. In the film, Beth joins Ellie and her three kids in their cramped home in Los Angeles. Their reunion is cut short when the Necronomicon is found in the basement of their building. Soon, demonic spirits begin to possess the body of humans.
In his interview, Campbell shared that the Evil Dead stories could be told in a larger context than the franchise’s earlier specifics. Evil Dead Rise is the first film to make use of this theory. Although Campbell is no longer playing Ash, he is still a part of the creative geniuses for the franchise. He co-produced the film alongside Sam Raimi and Robert Tapert.
