The success of AMC’s “The Walking Dead” has raised a spinoff series, “Fear the Walking Dead,” as well as inspired other networks to create their own zombie shows. So it’s little surprise that Starz is resurrecting the “Evil Dead” zombie franchise with “Ash vs Evil Dead.”
And while the first teaser for “Ash vs Evil Dead” doesn’t reveal all that much, it does signal the return of the chainsaw-handed zombie killer Ash.
Starz will launch the 10-episode first season of the half-hour series this fall. It continues Ash’s necromantic tale from “The Evil Dead” (1981), “Evil Dead II” (1987) and “Army of Darkness” (1992). The film franchise’s producers, Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert and Bruce Campbell, return for the series.
Campbell also reprises his role as Ash Williams, who has aged into a “lothario … who has spent that last 30 years avoiding responsibility, maturity and the terrors of the Evil Dead,” according to Starz.
Ash can’t avoid his destiny any longer after a Deadite outbreak threatens mankind. But he finds some resistance in the form of Lucy Lawless. Lawless plays Ruby, a mysterious woman who believes Ash caused the latest Evil plague. (Right now you can see Lawless as the new witch in town on WGN America’s “Salem.”)
Also gunning for Ash is Amanda Fisher (Jill Marie Jones), a disgraced Michigan State Trooper who believes he killed her partner.
Ray Santiago plays Pablo Simon Bolivar, an idealistic immigrant and Ash’s loyal sidekick. Dana DeLorenzo stars as Kelly Maxwell, a wild child trying to outrun her past.
Sam Raimi is directing the first episode of the series, which he wrote with Ivan Raimi, Craig DiGregorio and Tom Spezialy. Sam and Ivan Raimi, Tapert, Campbell and DiGregorio will executive produce while Aaron Lam will serve as producer. DiGregorio is the first season’s showrunner.