Ash vs Evil Dead was canceled before season 4, disappointing fans everywhere. The Evil Dead sequel series gave viewers a look into the later life of horror icon Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell), and by transitioning the franchise into a TV series, the creators expanded the Evil Dead mythos across three wild and hilarious seasons. The series ramped up the comedic side of the Evil Dead franchise, along with an ample amount of blood and gore. Ash vs Evil Dead excelled at showing Ash in a new light, especially with his new trusty sidekicks, Pablo (Ray Santiago) and Kelly (Dana DeLorenzo).
Each season of Ash vs Evil Dead presented an increasingly new level of danger as well as laughs. However, unfortunately, despite being the best Evil Dead project, Starz canceled Ash vs. Evil Dead season 4. Even though the universe is still expanding, as 2023's Evil Dead Rise became a shock box office hit, the TV series seems to have been brushed aside. The answer to why Ash vs. Evil Dead season 4 was canceled is frustrating, especially as season 3 ended on a cliffhanger. However, that doesn't mean Ash won't return in another Evil Dead installment, and Evil Dead Rise director Lee Cronin thinks he already has returned.
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How Ash Vs Evil Dead Got Canceled After Season 3
Before the premiere of Ash vs Evil Dead season 3, the previously released seasons were streamed on Netflix. They were a hit with subscribers and the cast and crew had hoped that it would have a positive effect on the new season. Unfortunately, season 3 saw a steady decline in viewership numbers during real-time broadcasts. Starz didn’t want to depend on Netflix’s influence so they officially canceled the Ash vs. Evil Dead show despite the cliffhanger ending.
The cast had rallied for Ash vs. Evil Dead season 4 and was outspoken about the show’s future. Following the cancellation news, die-hard Ash vs Evil Dead fans created the #BringBackBoomstick campaign on social media, a nod to Ash’s shotgun that he referred to as his "boomstick." Viewers hoped that another network, or possibly Netflix, could take over Ash vs Evil Dead to give the series a proper ending, but the Ash vs. Evil Dead cancellation was deemed final.
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The creators have shared what Ash vs Evil Dead season 4 would have looked like had the show been renewed. Raimi and Campbell were developing a storyline that was compared to Mad Max. It would have taken place in the future as hinted at during the Ash vs Evil Dead series finale, focusing on Ash as he explored the post-apocalyptic world as he presumably reunited with Ash vs Evil Dead's Pablo after his resurrection, Kelly, and Brandy. Following the cancelation, Campbell stated that he'd officially retired from his portrayal of Ash.
The Best Way For Ash To Return Is A Crossover Movie
While 2013's Evil Dead seems like a straight-up remake of the first movie, only this time with Mia assuming the lead role instead of Ash, it's actually set in the same world as the original trilogy. Similarly, 2023's Evil Dead Rise is set in the same universe too. The thread that connects them is the three Necronomicon books that, when read, summon the spirits that turn people into Deadites. Army of Darkness revealed that three Necronomicon books exist, one of which is found in 1981's The Evil Dead, and the other two are found in 2013's Evil Dead and Evil Dead Rise. The Necronomicon could be the key to an Evil Dead crossover movie.
Given that all the movies are set in the same universe, that means Ash exists in some capacity in the two soft reboot movies. Evil Dead Rise director says that Bruce Campbell's voice-only cameo role as the priest heard on the record could be Ash too. With that in mind, as the three main franchise leads - Ash, Evil Dead's Mia, and Evil Dead Rise's Beth - all survived their movies, a crossover is the logical next step for the Evil Dead franchise.
Evil Dead Rise was a huge hit for Warner Bros., as the movie impressively made $149 million worldwide (via Box Office Mojo), which is not only the highest-grossing Evil Dead movie ever, but it's even more impressive given that it had a budget of $15 million. Not only that but the movie was originally planned to be released on Max. Given the renewed interest in the franchise, there's clearly huge potential for an Evil Dead crossover from the studio's standpoint too. This would be the best way to reintroduce Ash into the franchise, something that fans want, and it'd make up for the lack of Ash vs. Evil Dead season 4.
