Bruce Campbell Confirms Retirement as Ash from the ‘Evil Dead’ Franchise

Bruce Campbell has confirmed that he is retired from playing Ash Williams in the Evil Dead franchise.

Campbell, who first played Ash in Sam Raimi’s 1981 horror classic, said on X that he decided to leave the role after the three-season series Ash vs Evil Dead ended in 2018. He cited both his changing interests and concerns about his ability to continue playing the character at the same level.

“I’ll always love Evil Dead to death – literally,” Campbell wrote.

Campbell was offered a cameo in Evil Dead Rise (2023), but he has said Ash is no longer part of the franchise’s main storyline. The actor believes the series has successfully moved beyond its original cabin setting, Raimi and Ash.

Evil Dead Rise earned about $147 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film in the franchise. Campbell said its success showed that Evil Dead could attract new audiences without relying on its original stars and characters.

Campbell played Ash in The Evil Dead, Evil Dead II and Army of Darkness, and later appeared briefly in the 2013 reboot. The franchise is now continuing with new filmmakers and stories, including upcoming projects Evil Dead Burn and Evil Dead Wrath, which is scheduled for release on April 7, 2028.