Evil Dead Rise 2 Hits a Wall Despite Massive Box Office
Evil Dead Rise crushed the box office, but a direct sequel still isn’t a sure thing. Director Lee Cronin says a follow-up isn’t locked and his own return is uncertain, even two years on.
If you were expecting Evil Dead Rise to get a straightforward sequel with Lee Cronin back in the director's chair, I wouldn't bet your mortgage on it. It's probably not what committed fans wanted to hear, especially considering that Rise was something of a box office juggernaut when it landed back in 2023. But here we are: two years on, and the sequel's fate is more of a question mark than ever.
So What's the Story with Evil Dead Rise 2?
Lee Cronin, who helmed Evil Dead Rise, has recently piped up about his involvement—or more accurately, his possible lack of involvement—in any follow-up. In a new chat with ScreenRant, Cronin was asked directly about whether he'd fancy a return trip to Deadite country. His answer was basically a polite version of 'not my call, ask the bosses'.
To spell it out, Cronin said:
"I feel very, very lucky to have been the steward of that franchise for a moment in time, and to make Evil Dead Rise and to catalyse in a way that's allowed the core OG inventors in Sam, Rob, and Bruce. So I always think that that's better for them to answer because it is very much their world, and I'm really respectful of that."
Translation: he's chuffed to have played his part, but the ultimate direction of Evil Dead is firmly in the hands of Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert, and Bruce Campbell. Completely fair—it's their baby, after all. Still, if you thought Cronin was busy plotting another rampage of possessed lodgers, he's moved firmly back to the 'audience' seat for now.
Where Cronin's Head (and Projects) Are At
It's not like he's short of ideas, mind. Cronin did admit he'd been mulling over a possible Evil Dead return, but he's also been eyeing up one of those 'based on a true haunting' paranormal stories from Ireland for another feature. Did either of those catch fire? Not really, because something bigger and dustier came along: The Mummy. According to Cronin, that put everything else on the backburner:
"And then The Mummy just kind of took over."
If you were hoping for some mad Evil Dead universe expansion, it's currently more 'watch this space' than 'coming soon'. Cronin is definitely still a fan, saying he's excited for whatever's next—even if he's just watching it along with the rest of us.
The Chain of Command: Who Actually Decides?
- Sam Raimi - Original director, produces and still calls the shots on big franchise moves.
- Rob Tapert - Producer, alongside Raimi since the old-school days.
- Bruce Campbell - Star of the classics, now on the producing side (and he's had plenty to say about franchise direction over the years).
Any direct sequel, reboot, or off-the-wall side-story gets the stamp—or the kibosh—from these three. If Cronin's not leading Evil Dead 2, it's because they haven't gone down that road yet.
For now, the Evil Dead machine is rumbling on, but whether it's Cronin behind the camera again, or someone else, is still up for grabs.