The Evil Dead franchise is set to return to our screens this summer with Evil Dead Burn, a mysterious new entry from Infestedโs Sรฉbastien Vaniฤek. The deadites are set to be summoned once again in this new standalone feature from the French director, yet heโs keeping a lot of key details close to his chest, ready to shock theater audiences.
The groovy, gory franchise has been a staple of the horror genre for more than 40 years, with Sam Raimiโs 1981 original grossing out and captivating audiences for generations. It spawned two sequels – both starring Bruce Campbell – as well as a 2013 remake from Alien: Romulusโ Fede รlvarez. The last time the Necronomicon caused chaos in cinemas was in 2023 with Lee Croninโs Evil Dead Rise, which took audiences (and the box office) by storm. The Boomstick has even hit the small screen, with the wildly popular Ash vs Evil Dead running for three seasons.
Ahead of the next resurrection, FANGORIA has compiled everything we know so far about Evil Dead Burn, from release date to plot, cast, and more.
Release date
Evil Dead Burn is set to be released on July 24, kicking off what is sure to be a summer of screams in 2026. In the same month, Tommy Wirkolaโs Shiver is set to hit cinema screens, while in June, the sixth Scary Movie film will finally be released. August, meanwhile, sees Insidious 6 and Adam Wingardโs latest A24 offering, Onslaught, set for release.
Where does it fit in the world of The Evil Dead?
Evil Dead Burn is a standalone film in the Evil Dead universe, meaning it has no connection to the other films in the franchise or the TV series Ash vs Evil Dead. Itโs not the first standalone Evil Dead film we have received, with Croninโs Evil Dead Rise also departing from the original storyline, as is รlvarezโs 2013 remake.
And this isnโt the only Evil Dead film in the works currently. With The Last Stop in Yuma Countyโs Francis Galluppi penning his own installation in the franchise, which Ghost House is producing. Deadline reported that this will also be a standalone film, and that Galluppi brought the project to Raimi and his team. Speaking to the publication, Raimi said: โFrancis Galluppi is a storyteller who knows when to keep us waiting in simmering tension and when to hit us with explosive violence. He is a director who shows uncommon control in his feature debut.โ
Plot
The plot of Evil Dead Burn is so far being kept locked up tighter than the Necronomicon itself, but we do have a few snippets of information to go by. Speaking to Premiere Magazine, the director said when asked if he could reveal what the film is about: โSorry, no. (Laughter.) Too soon! What I can say is that the protagonist, played by Souheila Yacoub, is a French woman in the United States. The film has a very French DNA. With my co-writer, Florent Bernard, we couldn't see ourselves telling the story of young Americans… Too far from us. So we went looking for things we knew. And I'm also bringing French music, as well as my own expertise, which remains very Frenchy. Even though I filmed in New Zealand.โ
Back in 2024, Vaniฤek said to Konbini, โI told the studio that I wanted to make a nasty movie, a movie that hurts, from which you come out tested. Iโm going to put all the horror I have inside โ it will be cathartic.โ He also added to Variety: โThe ambition remains the same as with Infested: to create a visceral, sensory experience that punches the audience in the gut,โ said the helmer. โI want people to feel physically drained when they leave the theater, like theyโve been through an emotional and intense journey.โ So, itโs safe to say weโre in for a violent and exhausting ride – perfect for Evil Dead fans.
Cast
Evil Dead Burns boasts an exciting cast ready to be put through the wringer, including The Balconettes and Climax star Souheila Yacoub. Speaking to Variety about casting Yacoub, Vaniฤek said: โIโve long admired Souheilaโs work in France, particularly in theater. She brings a rare physicality and emotional intensity to her performances โ exactly the kind of raw, visceral presence I was looking for in this film.โ
She is set to star alongside Wednesday‘s Hunter Doohan, The Night Agentโs Luciane Buchanan, Pearlโs Tandi Wright, Stonefishโs George Pullar, Mฤramaโs Errol Shand, The Dryโs Maude Davey, Scrublandsโ Keanu Karim, and Triple Oh!โs Victory Ndukwe. Buchanan has also lifted the lid on what we can expect from the film, somewhat, telling Collider: โI've watched all the other Evil Deads, I made my way through them, and when I read the script, it's unlike any of the Evil Deads. I guess the director has his own spin on it, and I was very excited. I really enjoyed the script. The actors are incredible, but I'll leave it there.โ
Evil Dead Burn Trailer
We donโt yet have a teaser trailer for Evil Dead Burn, let alone a full trailer, but Vaniฤek did take to Instagram in October to share an intense and bloody behind-the-scenes clip. While much of the action is hidden, we do see someone repeatedly slamming something into a metal oven while screaming like a banshee. The scene goes on for an excruciatingly long amount of time, certainly seeming to show that Vaniฤekโs promise to create a gruelling experience onscreen will be realized.
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Production
It was announced back in February 2024 that a new Evil Dead film was in development, with Vaniฤek signing on to direct from a screenplay he co-wrote with Bernard. Raimi and Robert Tapert are set to produce under Ghost House Pictures, with Campbell and Cronin also serving as executive producers. Casting information began dropping in May 2025, before principal photography began in New Zealand in July 2025, concluding in October of the same year.
