Acclaimed Horror Director Ready to Drop Everything to Helm the Next Lord of the Rings Epic

Here’s one you probably didn’t have on your Lord of the Rings bingo card: Lee Cronin, a guy who definitely knows his way around decapitated heads and supernatural mayhem, really wants a shot at Middle-earth. Yes, the director behind Evil Dead Rise is openly campaigning to take the reins on a future Lord of the Rings movie. Admittedly, the idea of the guy who made Deadites extra nasty in an elevator also putting his stamp on Tolkien isn’t the most obvious fit—but hey, stranger things have happened in Hollywood.

So, Why Is This News?

Well, with the Lord of the Rings universe now ballooning again (remember when it was just Peter Jackson’s trilogy?), we’re getting more stories, starting with The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum in 2027. New Line is apparently in no hurry to hand out the keys to randoms—so it says something that Cronin wants to throw his hat in this particular ring. And yes, he’s serious about it. In his own words:

'Lord of the Rings, for sure. The fact that that’s over at New Line — I’d always be whispering a little bit of elvish in the corner. That’s a world that I absolutely adore. I’d drop everything for an opportunity to play around in Middle-earth.'

Who Is Lee Cronin Again?

If you missed Evil Dead Rise, he’s the guy behind the blood-soaked modern sequel to Sam Raimi’s classic horror series. He also did The Hole in the Ground (a creepy Irish supernatural flick from 2019) and is working on The Mummy reboot slated for 2026. On top of that, he’s not letting up on the Evil Dead chaos: his next horror-fueled entry, Evil Dead Burn, drops this year, with Evil Dead Wrath lined up for 2028. The man clearly does not take long vacations.

More Franchises On His Wishlist

Tolkien’s world isn’t the only legendary franchise Cronin wants to sink his teeth into. He’s also itching for a turn with Freddy Krueger, saying he’d 'find it very hard not to have a swing at ol' Freddy Krueger, because he haunted my nightmares throughout my entire childhood and still pops up about four times a year.' Bold words, but let’s be real—New Line would have to be feeling particularly brave (or reckless) to greenlight a new Nightmare on Elm Street right now.

Even so, Cronin admits he probably won’t be attached to another established franchise next. He’s apparently looking to do something different for his next project, which is probably a genius move if you don’t want to get typecast as 'that sequel guy.'

Where Does This Leave Us?

• Lee Cronin is enthusiastic (possibly to the point of obsession) about tackling Lord of the Rings.
• He’s also eyeing Nightmare on Elm Street, if the studio ever calls.
• Current resume: The Hole in the Ground (2019), Evil Dead Rise (2023), The Mummy (2026), Evil Dead Burn (2024), and Evil Dead Wrath (2028).
• The next Lord of the Rings movie, The Hunt for Gollum, lands December 17, 2027—so unless something wild happens, don’t expect Cronin to be involved in that one (but hey, New Line, he’s obviously available).

All in all, it’s one of those stories that makes you tilt your head and say, 'Wait, really?' But who knows, maybe Middle-earth could use a little horror edge. We’ll see if anyone at New Line is listening.