Will 'Evil Dead Burn' Have Ash Williams? Bruce Campbell's Connection, Explained
Evil Dead Burn (2026) is finally bringing the beloved horror franchise back in its bloody glory since Lee Cronin’s Evil Dead Rise (2023). Of course, as the franchise continues, it’s hard not to think about the past, specifically Ash Williams, played by Bruce Campbell.
Ash first appeared in The Evil Dead (1981) and quickly became a horror icon as the sequels progressed. No character has evolved quite like Ash, and it has people wondering if we will see him again in Evil Dead Burn, and if there will be a connection to his past films.
Is Ash Williams In ‘Evil Dead Burn’?
Evil Dead Burn is already being considered one of the bloodiest films in the franchise. With that in mind, it’s strange not to include Ash Williams getting drenched in blood while fighting to survive. But without mincing words, Ash Williams will not be in Evil Dead Burn, although Bruce Campbell serves as an executive producer on the film.
A recent interview with Bruce Campbell for Deadline even stated: “…We moved away from the cabin, we’ve moved away from Sam Raimi, we’ve moved away from Ash and Bruce Campbell.” Campbell is right on all accounts, but that doesn’t mean some truths don’t hurt more than others, as Ash has become such a horror staple.
To move away from Ash Williams feels like a strange reality to live in, considering he’s been considered the bane of the Deadites for decades. We’ve seen him grow in that time as well, but in reality, the horrors of the Necronomicon existed before Ash and will continue to exist after him. This also leaves room for more survivors to leave their mark on the series as well.
Ash Williams Left The Franchise On An Amazing Cliffhanger
When we were first introduced to Ash Williams in The Evil Dead, he was very much a victim trying to survive. He put up a fight, but more than anything, he handled the situation as anyone would, terrified and screaming. Evil Dead II (1987), on the other hand, changed his character and transitioned him from simply being scared to fighting back. But it wasn’t until Army of Darkness (1992) that he became the skilled Deadite killer we all know and love.
Ash vs. Evil Dead (2015) sees Ash return at a later point in his life, but with a new band of friends who continue to take the fight to the Deadites. But when the series ended, we saw Ash left in the distant future, teasing an adventure with Ash trying to return to the past.
Seeing Ash leave on such a high note is great to see, but we also never got proper closure on his story, and seeing futuristic Deadites could’ve been amazing. It’s why we always want to see him in some capacity when there’s a new Evil Dead story, and it continues to prove how much we love him. However, even with him not returning, there are still some amazing things he’s been a part of.
Ash Williams Could Still Have A Fun Cameo In ‘Evil Dead Burn’
While Ash Williams won’t be in Evil Dead Burn, that doesn’t mean that those involved can’t have fun with his presence in some way. Evil Dead Rise proved this as that vinyl record played, and you can hear Ash telling those reading from the Necronomicon not to do it because the book is cursed.
There’s also the possibility that the house in Evil Dead Burn is actually Ruby’s house from Ash vs. Evil Dead, continuing to tie in Ash’s past with this new era of stories. But with no confirmation as of yet, it’s hard to say what is and isn’t from a couple of trailers.
Even if Ash doesn’t appear in some capacity in Evil Dead Burn, the fact that fans still want him around speaks to just how special he is to the fandom. Few horror heroes have done what Ash did in his franchise, and it’s made him a legend. Evil Dead Burn is yet another chance to continue the story, but also a chance to keep the legend alive in some small way.
