Sam Raimi Confirms THE EVIL DEAD Remake

The good news is that finally, after years of development hell, Sam Raimi has just issued a press release with the news that a new Evil Dead film is in the works. The bad news - it's a remake and he's not directing!

By Tom Ryan / July 14, 2011

The good news is that finally, after years of development hell, Sam Raimi has just issued a press release with the news that a new Evil Dead film is in the works. The not so good news is that rather than a fourth installment, its a remake, and Sam Raimi isnt directing it. Horror site Dread Central first broke the news on Monday that long-time Raimi editor Bob Murawski was on his way to Detroit to begin work on a small indie production of a new Evil Dead movie. Many fans were hesitant to believe the news at first seeing as how every fews years a rumour emerges that gets their hopes up only to then be debunked almost immediately. Franchise star Bruce Campbell soon followed up on this report via his twitter account, confirming that the new movie is in fact happening and also dropped the bombshell that it would be a remake, and not a fourth movie as fans had hoped. On Tuesday Bloody Disgusting reported that Federico Alvarez was hired to direct the remake and that it would be produced under Raimis GhostHouse production company. Alvarez came to Raimis attention back in 2009 for his short film Panic Attack. Upon seeing the short, Raimi hired him to work for Ghost House, looking to find a project for Alvarez to make his feaure film debut with. Looks like he's found one. Today the release of an official press announcement from Sam Raimi (with the interesting note that Diablo Cody (Juno, Jennifer's Body) is doing script revisions) .

GHOST HOUSE PICTURES WILL RESURRECT THE DEAD

Original Producing Team Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert & Bruce Campbell 

Remaking Horror Classic The Evil Dead

To be Written and Directed by Fede Alvarez

Los Angeles (July 13, 2011) Sam Raimi and original producing partners Rob Tapert and Bruce Campbell (who also starred in the original franchise) are gearing up to remake their cult sensation THE EVIL DEAD through their long standing Ghost House Pictures partnership. Raimi and Tapert were such instant fans of Fede Alvarezs short film Panic Attack that they set up a blind deal with the filmmaker and through that process have attached Fede Alvarez to write and direct the film. Alvarez wrote the script with Rodo Sayagues. Academy Award® winning screenwriter Diablo Cody is currently doing revisions on the draft. Ghost House is committed to renewing the franchise and has the film on the fast track. Raimi, Tapert and Campbell will serve as producers. Ghost House Pictures partners Joe Drake and Nathan Kahane will executive produce. Nicole Brown and J.R. Young will oversee the project for Ghost House. Lionsgate will handle international sales on the film. The three producing partners commented, "We are committed to making this movie and are inspired by the enduring popularity and enthusiasm for the Evil Dead series. We can't wait to scare a new generation of moviegoers using filmmaking techniques that were not available to us thirty years ago as well as Fede bringing a fresh eye to the films original elements." Raimi wrote, directed and, along with Tapert and Campbell, produced the original horror classic THE EVIL DEAD that tells the story of five twenty-something friends who become holed up in a remote cabin where they discover a Book Of The Dead. An archaeologist's tape recording reveals that the ancient text was discovered among the Khandarian ruins of a Sumerian civilization. Playing the taped incantations, the youths unwittingly summon up dormant demons living in the nearby woods, which possess the youngsters in succession until only one is left intact to fight for survival. THE EVIL DEAD spawned a franchise with the equally successful installments EVIL DEAD II and ARMY OF DARKNESS. Fede Alvarez is represented by CAA, Anonymous Content and attorney Karl Austen. Diablo Cody is represented by Sarah Self at WME, Mason Novick, and attorney Jeff Frankel of McKuin Frankel Whitehead LLP.

What do you guys think of this news? Good idea? Bad idea? Do you even care for the franchise after all these years? Evil Dead is my favourite movie, I can't imagine it being made without Raimi behind the camera and news of Campbell's involvement isn't too well known other than the fact that he's producing. I'll be following this story with great interest and hoping for the best. You can see Alvarez's short film that brought him to Raimi's attention here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dadPWhEhVk&feature=player_embedded