Bruce Campbell announces retirement from leading ‘Evil Dead’ franchise

Actor Bruce Campbell has announced he will not return to lead the ‘Evil Dead’ franchise. In a post on X, the 68-year-old explained that his decision was based on both ability and interest, stating, “I didn't want Ash to be compromised by declining skills and as a borderline Geezer, my interests have diverged.”

Campbell has been the face of the franchise since the 1981 original, portraying the character Ash Williams in several films and the Starz series ‘Ash vs. Evil Dead’. While he is stepping away from the lead role, he has remained involved as an executive producer for recent entries such as ‘Evil Dead Rise’ and ‘Evil Dead Burn’.

The franchise is set to continue without him in ‘Evil Dead Wrath’, which is scheduled for release on April 7, 2028. Separately, Campbell previously shared that he has been diagnosed with an incurable but treatable form of cancer, noting that he expects to be around for some time.