Blasphemy!

Evil Dead Remake

'The Evil Dead' to be remade

Last Updated Fri, 19 Nov 2004 08:43:44 EST

LOS ANGELES - The Evil Dead ? the 1981 no-budget horror flick that launched the career of director Sam Raimi and made a sort-of star out of Bruce Campbell ? is set to be remade.

Raimi will oversee the project as producer, but will not direct the new picture.

Sam Raimi, director of 1981's 'The Evil Dead' (AP photo)

The cult hit, which spawned two sequels, tells the true story of five twentysomethings who are trapped in an isolated cabin.

They find a strange book of incantations, which leads to them being turned into murderous zombies.

It is famous for its gore and graphic violence, as well as a scene in which a female character is raped on the forest floor by the roots of a tree.

The film was a breakthrough for Raimi, who eventually went on to direct both Spider-man pictures.

According to some reports, Campbell will reprise his role as Ash, the film's sole survivor.

The film made Campbell ? Raimi's childhood friend ? into a minor celebrity, leading to a string of appearances in B movies.

"By keeping its original formula intact and given audiences' appetite for horror, we expect that we'll have a real hit on our hands," Joe Drake, an executive with Senator Intl., told Daily Variety.

Drake's company will finance the remake.

Raimi is reportedly looking for the right director to revive the franchise.

Written by CBC News Online staff