Horror icon Bruce Campbell has suggested that the upcoming sequel Evil Dead Rise may change its release plans following positive test screenings. Lee Cronin's follow-up in the groundbreaking franchise is tentatively set for a 2022 release, though no specific date has been announced. Campbell will serve as an executive producer alongside Sam Raimi, the original Evil Dead trilogies creator.

In a new approach to the Evil Dead mythos, Evil Dead Rise will tell the story of Lily Sullivan's Beth, who takes a long trek to visit her sister Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland) and her three children in L.A. However, when a mysterious, cursed book is uncovered in the depths of her apartment building, Beth and her family must defend themselves from hellish Deadites intent on brutally tormenting the living. While Campbell has retired from the role of beloved series hero Ash Williams, the star returned to produce the fifth installment in the Evil Dead franchise. Though the film was originally set to release on HBO Max, Campbell has suggested that positive early receptions could lead to an altered release strategy.

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In an interview with CBR, Campbell teased during a recent appearance that early positive reception may lead to the film being considered for a theatrical release. The producer revealed that the film had just received a test screening that had been wildly praised by the audience. Campbell explained that while the film had originally been planned to be released directly to HBO's streaming service, the screenings' positive reception could lead to a theatrical release in the fall of 2022. Check out Campbell's full response below.

"We just had a preview that went… That was very high ratings. They were potentially going to stream it on HBO Max, but it might go theatrical. Maybe in the fall.”

Evil Dead Army of Darkness Bruce Campbell as Deadite Ash

Campbell previously praised the film's horror, highlighting how the family dynamic altered the story's tone when compared to the franchise's traditional entries. In an interview in 2021, Campbell explained that the upcoming film's central family and the struggles they will endure would set the film apart from previous Evil Dead movies. While the original movie featured a sibling dynamic between Ash and sister Cheryl (Ellen Sandweiss), Campbell emphasized that greater emphasis on the family would lead to a more "excruciating" viewing experience.

Evil Dead Rise will see the franchise return to feature-length entries for the first time since 2013's Evil Dead remake, with the series having expanded to television and video games following Fede Álvarez's gory adaptation. Both Campbell and Raimi praised the upcoming sequel for its horror, meaning that the sequel has the approval of two of the key voices in creating the 1981 cult classic. With audiences also praising Cronin's entry in test screenings, a theatrical release could potentially mark another horror franchise's successful return to the big screen.

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Source: CBR