For over four decades, Bruce Campbell and The Evil Dead have been inseparable. Ash Williams turned Campbell into a horror icon, and even as the franchise expanded beyond the original cabin, Campbell remained a guiding force. He famously retired Ash years ago, but that didn't mean he was done with the series—he simply moved behind the camera, serving as a producer alongside longtime collaborators Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert.
Now, Campbell is ready to take another step back. In a recent interview with Collider about his new film Ernie & Emma, he revealed that he's distancing himself from the producing side of Evil Dead. "I am, to a degree. I'm even distancing myself a little bit from that," Campbell said when asked about his continued involvement.
Campbell explained that he "didn't have a whole lot to do with Evil Dead Burn," a significant shift from previous installments. "The previous two movies, I would uproot myself and go to Copenhagen or wherever they're doing post-production, and I'd live there and sit in on the mix," he said. "I'm very interested in sound and all that."
The decision isn't the result of any falling out with Raimi, Tapert, or the new filmmakers. Instead, Campbell has grown weary of the studio system. He recalled watching filmmakers receive extensive notes and realizing he never enjoyed navigating that world. "I realized I have two partners, Rob Tapert [and] Sam Raimi. They know executives by name. I never knew any of these guys," Campbell explained. "They've been in the studio game from the go-get, they make studio movies. They get that world. I never got it, never understood it, and I never liked it."
Campbell stressed that his decision has nothing to do with the people he's worked with for decades. "I'm still partners with those guys, but I couldn't get as joyfully involved as I should be as a partner," he said. "And I said, 'You guys, you guys don't want a grumpy partner on this. Let me just step aside.'"
Despite stepping back, Campbell hasn't lost interest in where Evil Dead goes next. He praised recent directors Fede Álvarez and Lee Cronin, noting that the franchise is "in pretty good hands with the guys." He's comfortable handing over the reins to filmmakers who've reinvented the series.
So, while Campbell's days of traveling overseas for post-production may be over, and Ash Williams remains firmly retired, he's not cutting ties completely. "I'm aware of what's going on," he assured. For fans of the franchise, that's a comforting thought.
For more on Campbell's career, check out his Brisco County Jr. reboot pitch or his Army of Darkness streaming plans. Ernie & Emma is now playing in select theaters.
