When Sam Raimi Lets Loose, ‘DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS’ Is Pure Dark Magic. Otherwise, Meh.

May 3, 2022 by Matt Oakes Posted in Out in Theaters Tagged Benedict Cumberbatch, Benedict Wong, Bruce Campbell, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Elizabeth Olsen, Kevin Feige, Marvel, MCU, Rachel McAdams, Sam Raimi, Xochitl Gomez 1 Comment

Not Quite What the Doctor Ordered

The multitude of successes and failures of the larger MCU brand is put on full display with its most recent entry, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The film directed by Spider-Man and Evil Dead director Sam Raimi, more than any other Marvel effort to date, underscores issues of creative overlording (Kevin Feige, master of the box office, checking in) that has long plagued the comic book production house. The push and pull between actual directorial style and ownership of said style and the larger corporatized Marvel Brand has never been so readily apparent in the finished product, resulting in one of Marvel’s most split-identity entries to date. One that also houses some of its most daring and dazzling segments across all of its 28 films and six Disney+ TV events. Read More

Sam Raimi Confirmed to Direct ARMY OF DARKNESS 2

October 28, 2013 by Matt Oakes Posted in Movie Announcements Tagged Army of Darkness 2, Bruce Campbell, Evil Dead, Sam Raimi

While last week saw Bruce Campbell confirmed to return to his most iconic role as the chainsaw-armed Ash, today sees confirmation that Sam Raimi will step behind the camera and actually direct Army of Darkness 2. Although Raimi’s involvement was a strong possibility, there was no official word as to whether he or 2013’s Evil Dead director Fede Alvarez would helm the project. Now, rest assured that the campy horror maestro is officially directing. News that Raimi will direct comes straight from the horse’s mouth as Alvarez confirmed that he would not be directing and Raimi would via his official Twitter account.

Although Raimi has had a bit of an unpredictable track record of late – and his last film, Oz: The Great and Powerful, was absolutely dreadful The 2013 remake/reinvention of the Evil Dead franchise saw life return to the franchise, life that Army of Darkness 2 looks to capitalize on. Speculation has already started to stir about hopes of “world building” – a tactic that could bring together the events of both the old and new franchise in an Avengers style mash-up.

Whether or not Ash will end up crossing paths with Jane Levy‘s Mia or not, you can rejoice in the fact that Raimi is returning to his bread and butter: campy horror. Raimi build his name around this brand of funny, gory films before stepping in to helm the Spiderman trilogy. 2009’s utterly terrific Drag Me To Hell proved that Raimi can easily jump back onto the saddle and direct horror like the back of his hand. While Army of Darkness 2 won’t see a release date for at least a few years, we can only cross our fingers that it will signal a return to form for the auteur.

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Bruce Campbell Confirms He'll Reprise Ash in ARMY OF DARKNESS 2

October 21, 2013 by Jill Landon Posted in Casting News Tagged Army of Darkness, Army of Darkness 2, Ash Williams, Bruce Campbell, Evil Dead, Sam Raimi

Good news, fans of the Evil Dead series, especially the 2013 remake of the original Evil Dead: Bruce Campbell has confirmed he will return as Ash in the upcoming sequel to Army of Darkness. The director of the original series Sam Raimi has had a slower schedule since directing Oz the Great and Powerful and producing the Evil Dead remake, reportedly due to writing the sequel to the Army of Darkness, the 1992 spin off of the Evil Dead series. Potentially drawing on the teaser at the end of the credits of 2013’s Evil Dead, this may hint at a melding of the two timelines for a crossover film coming later.

55-year-old Campbell has played Ash Williams, the original hero of the Evil Dead series voted the “24^th Greatest Movie Character of All Time” by Empire Magazine, in 4 films not including the upcoming Army of Darkness sequel. Speaking at Wizard World Nashville Comic Con, Campbell spoke on the role the possibilities of him reprising it given the time that has passed: “The last one was twenty-two years ago. I just haven’t been racing to do it. Sam Raimi is just a little bit busy making the biggest movies in Hollywood. I used to be busy. Now I’m not. That’s why I’m here. Ash would have to stop occasionally from chasing some deadite to catch his breath. Maybe we could do that, I guess. That would be exciting. Fight in a walker. That would be all right. Hit them with my cane. Fake them out, have a fake heart attack, distract a zombie. I like it…[Seriously] All right, sir, the answer is yes.”

Amusingly enough, this story has yet to be confirmed by Campbell himself. Rumors for the sequel have circulated since March, and the teaser at the end of the Evil Dead remake has primed the pump for a triumphant return to the role, no matter how long the role might end up being. No release date has been given for the sequel – it’s in 2016 – and no word has been given as to who else will be cast or whether Raimi or Fede Alvarez, the most recent Evil Dead’s director, will helm the Army of Darkness remake. However, as the Rumor wheel spins up and Raimi finishes writing the script, more information about Campbell’s involvement, other casting, and the overall production will come to the service. In either case, it’ll be a long three years.

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