Evil Dead Rise Now Set for Theatrical Release, Won’t Premiere on HBO Max

Evil Dead fans rejoice, as the Deadites are coming to the big screen next year. The next installment of the popular horror franchise, Evil Dead Rise, was originally set to premiere on HBO Max, forgoing a theatrical release. However, producer Bruce Campbell had recently teased that the film may end up getting a theatrical run after all due to test screenings performing very well.

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

Now, writer-director Lee Cronin has taken to Twitter to announce that the plans have indeed changed for Evil Dead Rise. Cronin posted an image of his Evil Dead Rise ballcap while announcing an April 2023 theatrical premiere date for the upcoming horror film.

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“The Evil Dead shall RISE!!! 04/21/23,” Cronin said. “Exclusively in theatres. The countdown to carnage has begun.”

Related: How Evil Dead Rise May Help Expand the Evil Dead Franchise

Evil Dead Rise Will Introduce New Protagonists

HBO Max

While Bruce Campbell is involved as a producer, it’s important to note that he will not appear in the movie as his popular Deadite-slaying hero from the franchise, Ash Williams. Campell had previously played the part in the original Evil Dead movie along with its two sequels, Evil Dead II: Dead by Dawn and Army of Darkness. After reprising the role once more for the three-season Starz series Ash vs. Evil Dead, Campbell announced his retirement from playing Ash in any more live-action projects, meaning Ash definitely won’t appear in Evil Dead Rise.

With that said, the film does have the benefit of having Campbell on board to executive produce alongside original Evil Dead director Sam Raimi. Their pal and longtime collaborator Rob Tapert is also producing. The film’s cast includes Alyssa Sutherland, Lily Sullivan, Gabrielle Echols, Morgan Davies, Nell Fisher, and Mia Challis.

The official synopsis is as follows:

In the fifth Evil Dead film, a road-weary Beth pays an overdue visit to her older sister Ellie, who is raising three kids on her own in a cramped L.A. apartment. The sisters’ reunion is cut short by the discovery of a mysterious book deep in the bowels of Ellie’s building, giving rise to flesh-possessing demons, and thrusting Beth into a primal battle for survival as she is faced with the most nightmarish version of motherhood imaginable.

Evil Dead Rise is set to premiere in movie theaters on April 21, 2023.

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