We sit down with Sam Raimi and Ivan Raimi to discuss transferring horror to TV with Ash vs.
Evil Dead, and what the future(s) hold for Ash.
Just in time for Ash vs.
Evil Dead (two days before its Halloween premiere)!
Sam Raimi is often described as a master of horror and for good reason.
However, he also hasnt visited that world of Deadites and demons for over 20 years.
On Halloween night, the premiere episode ofAsh vs.
Evil Deadwill debut on Starz to undoubtedly gory fan approval.
What do you think it is about this character that makes him so compelling to follow on television?
Hes had enough and hes kind of hiding out.
Nothing subtle about it.
Nowadays, the drive-ins gone.
But basically, theyre not really first-run houses anymore.
So making an Evil Dead movie, we didnt really have a great format for it anymore.
Something audiences cant get on normal TV.
So, it just so happens that TVs changed the point that something likeEvil Deadmight be appropriate for it.
You guys endedArmy of Darknessoriginally where Ash is thrown into a post-apocalyptic world.
So, I had to write a different ending with [Ivan], which is a happier ending.
Were just kidding, folks!
He made it back to our time and hes doing fine!
Ivan Raimi:Yeah, hes got a job and everythings good.
SR:So, they both exist for some reason, because Dino DeLaurentis had already released it foreign.
And it was the weirdest situation to be in.
I said to Universal, The movies already out!
I cant make another ending.
And they said, You make another ending or were not releasing it!
But we talked about starting so many different things [for writingAsh vs. Technically, both would be in the future.
Sam Raimi:It was that kind of thinking, but then I said, Forget it!
The films are famous for their crazy camerawork.
On the TV series, can we expect to see some of that?
SR:That will not be the strength.
It takes time and budget to do a lot of that crazy camera stuff.
It takes the development of rigs and a lot of preproduction planning.
In TV, Im finding it works much quicker than that.
But if we made another movie we might go back to that technique.
So, we kind of play on the strength of that.
People really like the qualities of Ash.
How do you think the TV show will be able to explore this further than film?
SR:I think they like the fact that hes this rare breed of monster-fighter.
I was trying to figure that out myself.
I was thinking, Why on earth are they like this?
Its a real slugfest, and thats what Ash does well.
Is there a chance we could see something like that happening in the TV series down the line?
Theres a lot of story to explore with just Ash alone, I think.
Do you see Ash is a different person now than he was back then during the films?
SR:Just in the way that we all change as we get older.
Hes become more set in his ways, more stubborn.
He doesnt get a break!
SR:Hes more cranky than before, you might promise your readers that.
They have that to look forward to.
Some people get smarter and they blossom.
IR:Some develop wisdom in old age.
I promise your readers that!
We will deliver that!
What is it you love about Ash [that keeps you coming back]?
And youre kind of rooting for him, but you felt bad because youre rooting for him.
Youre a little embarrassed for him.
SR:Yeah, I agree with you.
And I also like that we dont give the audience a choice.
Theres a bunch of monsters killing innocent people, and theres this guy.
Who are you going to identify with?
Oh, youre going to choose him?
Well, hes anidiot!
And hes a blowhard and a coward!Thats your hero!Its really a punishment of the audience.
We talk about torturing Bruce, but we really like torturing the audience.
One part of Ash lore that I love is you had him time travel inArmy of Darkness.
And its playing out through representation of the average man, which is Ash.
And I think these battles can take place anywhere and at any time.
IR:You play the cards youre dealt.
SR:I think it can take place any time and anywhere, and still be that same struggle.
Why go with TV instead of a traditionalEvil Dead 4, and why half-hour episodes?
IR:Why TV?
So, we decided to do that and see what we could do with that.
Half-hour was [from] a lot of discussion about what to do.
Comedies are often half hours.
Drama and action are often an hour, and ours is a little bit of a mixture of both.
That was never part ofThe Evil Dead.
We always wanted to cut those parts out.
Is it still mostly practical effects for the gore or is there more CG?
One of the things that I love about theEvil Deadfilms is their use of sound and horrific soundscapes.
Can we expect more of that on the series?
Specifically horror films have to [force] the audience to use their imagination to build a world.
Thank you very much.
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