Ash vs. Evil Dead – Exclusive Premiere Coverage, Photos, and Interviews
Staci Layne Wilson
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The intersections between Hollywood and Highland and Orange Avenue in Hollywood were completely shut down and barricaded last night for a very special event. Traffic cops stood in the streets, while security guards kept the clamoring crowds at bay. The black and red blood-splotched carpet was rolled out, the crimson velvet ropes were up, and a concert stage was constructed.
I guess you could say Ash is (still) kind of a big deal.
Luckily, so is Dread Central – we were one of the few horror websites allowed access to all the stars as they strolled the press line, plus we got to see the Iggy Pop concert up close and personal.
Iggy hails from Michigan, where the cult classic film franchise was first derived from creators (and then college buddies) Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell, and Rob Tapert in 1979 – and the hometown of the lead character, aging lothario and epic deadite-fighter Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell). Viewers who tune in to the half-hour series that premieres on STARZ on Halloween can hear Iggy’s song “Loose” in the third episode.
Related Story: Ash vs. Evil Dead Premieres in Los Angeles; Pictures Aplenty!
Photo Credit: K.K. Ryder
He didn’t play that song, but the former Stooge wowed the crowd with “No Fun,” followed by “I Wanna Be Your Dog,” “Lust For Life,” “Wild One,” “Some Weird Sin,” and “Search and Destroy.” Iggy and his band were introduced by Bruce himself (channeling his inner ringside announcer), but not before Bruce let everyone know that Starz has already renewed “Ash vs. Evil Dead” for a second season.
But first thing’s first. We chatted with Sam (who said he’s beyond excited that there will be another season of “Ash vs. Evil Dead”), his brother Ted (who said he might be acting in Season 2 of the series), as well as the stars of the show. Lucy Lawless simply laughed at the question of who would win a fight between Ash and Xena, while Dana deLorenza, who plays Ash’s sidekick Kelly in the series, said Ash would definitely kick Kelly’s butt in a death-match – not that the two would ever fight. “I might beat him in a game of Trivial Pursuit,” she said.
Dana went on to say the cool thing about Kelly is, “She can turn anything into a weapon. She does get a more serious weapon in future episodes. Ash is her OG, and she learned everything she knew from him.”
When asked if she’d seen the movies before she took on the role, Dana quipped, “No. I just watched them in the car on the way over here to prepare for your question.” Then: “I did see Army of Darkness in high school, but I’m the kind of person who jumps if a candle flickers. So, I’m more into the horror comedy. I love Goosebumps and stuff like that. Like, I saw The Exorcist and The Shining, and I was done! What’s great about this show is they’ve blended those two worlds of horror and comedy brilliantly. Fans will be getting what they’ve been clamoring for.”
Jill Marie Jones, who plays Amanda in the series, was similarly horror-challenged before taking on the mantle. “I definitely knew about Evil Dead because it’s iconic, but I hadn’t seen the movies before I got the role, so I binged the series. And obviously I was excited because I get to work with Sam Raimi. He’s such a genius. I felt like I won the Lotto. He’s incredibly professional and respectful of the genre – he wears a suit to set every day. It’s so beautiful to meet someone you look up to, and who you meet is exactly who he is.”
As for working with Bruce, Jill acknowledges, “He’s the king. It was amazing working with him. He led, and we followed. It’s been a real honor working with him in ‘Ash vs. Evil Dead’.”
And then: The king himself (or Bubba Ho-Tep’s nemesis, if you prefer) graced us with his presence. Gorgeously attired in a tailored suit complete with cobalt tie and pocket square, Bruce pronounced, “I’m swell,” when asked how he’s feeling about all the fanfare. We asked him to build a little on what Sam told us in our exclusive interview from a couple of weeks ago – that Bruce is as much a collaborator as the writers, and he’s got a lot of input on how “grown up” Ash might be now. “That was my input: He should not be that adult. Everyone wants to know how Ash has progressed over the last 30 years, and the answer is: He hasn’t. Not everyone does, you know. Some people regress. So Ash now has to get out of that, he’s got to pick himself up, and he’s got to take care of business.”
We asked him to expand on that, and he explained, “So, in the first episode, we see he’s let the genie out of the bottle. He’s got to put the genie back in the bottle, and he’s got to find wherever that is, which is going to take him on a bit of a Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride road trip. Ash has got his car, he’s got his trailer, and he’s ready to rock. Have chainsaw, will travel.”
Indeed. To get in on the first leg of the journey, tune in to Starz on Halloween night.
About “Ash vs. Evil Dead”
“Ash vs. Evil Dead” (review) premieres on Halloween, Saturday, October 31, at 9:00 pm ET/PT. The series is executive produced by Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert, and Bruce Campbell, the original filmmakers of the franchise, and Craig DiGregorio, who serves as executive producer and showrunner.
Campbell reprises his role as Ash, the stock boy, aging lothario, and chainsaw-handed monster hunter who has spent the last 30 years avoiding responsibility, maturity, and the terrors of the Evil Dead. When a Deadite plague threatens to destroy all of mankind, Ash is finally forced to face his demons – personal and literal. Destiny, it turns out, has no plans to release the unlikely hero from its “Evil” grip.
The cast is led by Bruce Campbell (Evil Dead, “Burn Notice”) in the role of Ash Williams; Lucy Lawless (“Salem,” “Spartacus”) as Ruby, a mysterious figure who believes Ash is the cause of the Evil outbreaks; Ray Santiago (“Touch,” Meet the Fockers) as Pablo Simon Bolivar, an idealistic immigrant who becomes Ash’s loyal sidekick; Dana DeLorenzo (A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas) as Kelly Maxwell, a moody wild child trying to outrun her past; and Jill Marie Jones (“Sleepy Hollow”) as Amanda Fisher, a disgraced Michigan State Trooper set to find our anti-hero Ash and prove his responsibility in the grisly murder of her partner.
Raimi directed the first episode of “Ash vs. Evil Dead,” which he wrote with Ivan Raimi (Darkman, Army of Darkness, Drag Me to Hell) and Tom Spezialy (“Chuck,” “Reaper,” “Desperate Housewives”). Raimi also serves as executive producer with Rob Tapert (Evil Dead, “Spartacus,” Xena: Warrior Princess”) and Bruce Campbell (Evil Dead, “Burn Notice”) along with Craig DiGregorio (“Workaholics,” “Chuck”), who serves as executive producer/showrunner. Ivan Raimi serves as co-executive producer, and Aaron Lam (“Spartacus”) and Chloe Smith (“Spartacus”) serve as producers.
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