New Ash from Evil Dead Funko Pops are available for pre-order, offering both a clean cut version of the famed horror movie hero and a bloodstained one. The new collectables are part of the 40th anniversary celebrations for The Evil Dead, one of the most iconic horror films ever made. In the subsequent years after the film’s initial 1981 release, two sequels, one reboot and a TV series have all been part of the franchise, with a fourth film on its way.
Exactly why fans love all things Evil Dead might seem strange to some. After all, the series takes a considerable amount of pleasure in decimating the possessed corpses of the undead. Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell) has been key in this, after inadvertently unleashing hell on Earth via the Book of the Dead. Since then, his weaponry choices have consistently reflected his fondness for ridding Earth of Deadites. But while the Evil Dead films have reveled in gore, director and creator, Sam Raimi, was careful to imbue the series with his own inimitable style. It’s this style that manages to make the franchise’s bloodshed comical – though this approach was somewhat eschewed in 2013 for the Fede Alvarez reboot.
Opinions might still be divided over Alvarez’s addition to the franchise, but despite its differences from Raimi’s previous entries, the tongue-in-cheek appeal of the series remains firmly intact. Because of this, two new Funko Pop! takes on Ash feel completely appropriate – even if one of them is covered in blood. The new figures are currently available for pre-order, with the official release date currently set for September 16, 2021. Funko recently made the announcement via their official Twitter account. Check out the announcement below:
As previously noted, Funko’s new Ash figures are part of The Evil Dead’s 40th anniversary – a milestone that will hopefully bring a variety of new collectibles. But all talk of collectibles aside, what most fans would really love to see arrive during this Evil Dead anniversary is the arrival of Evil Dead 4, officially known as Evil Dead Rise. Unfortunately, that film, which will be written and directed by The Hole in the Ground filmmaker, Lee Cronin, is currently set to begin production this June, meaning that a 2021 release date is very unlikely. However, Evil Dead Rise doesn’t star Campbell and as such, Funko’s Ash figures will be a welcome reminder of the character’s impact on the ridiculously fun franchise.
It’s hard to say which version of Ash is the better Funko Pop, the bloodstained or clean cut version. Some will argue that the bloodstained Ash better encompasses everything that Evil Dead is about. Others, however, might point out that a clean cut Ash is how audiences first came to know the character and is therefore superior. Clearly then, the only solution for any diehard Evil Dead fan is to pre-order both. After all, a 40th anniversary is a very special occasion for any film, but it’s especially vital for one that helped redefine the horror genre.
Source: Funko