Bruce Campbell’s Hidden Evil Dead Rise Cameo Explained (Is He Playing Ash?)

Warning! This article contains spoilers for Evil Dead Rise!Bruce Campbell has a subtle off-screen cameo in Evil Dead RiseWhich could be a precursor to his potential return to the franchise. Directed and written by Lee Cronin, Evil Dead Rise is the fifth film in the series and the second not directed by series creator Sam Raimi. Evil Dead RiseThe cast of characters spends the film trapped in an apartment building with Deadites, providing a brutally fresh take on the central premise of the original. Evil Dead Film. The film largely avoids the series’ classic characters, including Bruce Campbell’s Ash Williams.

Ash has appeared in every previous entry in the franchise, even as a post-credits cameo in Evil Dead. Although Ash is absent from the plot and ending of Evil Dead RiseThat doesn’t mean Campbell’s influence isn’t felt in the film. In fact, Cronin found a way to include Campbell in a surprisingly secret way, while still teasing a potential way to bring Ash back for more adventures in the Evil Dead Universe. Here’s how Bruce Campbell delivers an audio cameo in Evil Dead RiseAnd what it means for the franchise’s lore.

Who Bruce Campbell is playing in Evil Dead Rise (it might still be Ash!)

Bruce Campbell’s Cameo Could Be a Throwaway Easter Egg, or a Hint to the Future

Bruce Campbell cameos as a priest speaking on a record Found by the letters in Evil Dead Rise. When Ali’s oldest child Dan finds the book of the dead, he also finds some vinyl records from 1923, which he plays back on his turntable. On the record, the priest voiced by Campbell reveals that the book they discovered is called the “Book of the Dead.” While Ash Williams is clearly not in Evil Dead RiseBruce Campbell is not necessarily playing a different character.

Director Lee Cronin suggested that the “priest” voiced by Bruce Campbell could still be Ash Williams. Screen Rant reported Cronin asking Campbell “if he was going to do that tiny, tiny, little cameo … it’s not necessarily Bruce Campbell playing someone else. It could very well be Ash Williams.” Although this would mean that Ash traveled in time to 1923 when the priest’s voice was recorded, it is not out of the realm of possibility that he time traveled in Army of Darkness. A potential Evil Dead 6 Can confirm whether Bruce Campbell’s “priest” in Evil Dead Rise is actually ash.

When Bruce Campbell’s cameo can be heard in Evil Dead Rise

Danny listens to Bruce Campbell Evil Dead Rise

The Bruce Campbell Evil Dead Rise Cameo comes shortly after the earthquake that exposes the Book of the Dead in the apartment’s parking garage. Campbell’s cameo comes at the 26-minute mark in the film. The clearly recognizable voice of the actor confirms the artifact that the teens found to be one of the Book of the Dead, calling out to another priest to stop reciting the enchantments.

Fittingly, it’s Campbell (potentially as enduring franchise lead Ash Williams or even just as another minor character) who warns of the dangers of The Book of the Dead in Evil Dead Rise. It would even make sense that it is potentially Ash, given his deep personal history with the artifact. It’s a clever cameoOne that doesn’t distract from the story but feels like a love letter to the fans of the series.

Bruce Campbell’s other contribution to Evil Dead promotion explained

Bruce Campbell’s other audio cameo in Evil Dead Rise

In addition to the priest who may or may not be Ash, Bruce Campbell has another hidden role in Evil Dead Rise. When the now-deadite-possessed attacks Gabriel in the apartment hallway, she eats his eyeball off his face and seriously injures him. To reach this scene, The filmmakers needed some nasty sound work That Campbell helped provide.

Lee Cronin narrates Digital Spy That munching sound of the eyeball scene was accomplished by Campbell “eating an apple furiously.” As such, Bruce Campbell has two weird audio cameos in it Evil Dead RiseBoth as a hero and as a deadite. Campbell was involved on multiple levels of Evil Dead Riseand served as an executive producer on the film alongside Sam Raimi. The fact that he returned for the cameos highlights the actor’s love for the franchise, even if he may never play Ash on screen again.

Will Bruce Campbell return as Ash in future Evil Dead movies?

Bruce Campbell can’t be done with The evil death Quite still

On the face of it, the Bruce Campbell Evil Dead Rise Cameo seems like a fun throwaway easter egg for fans. However, there are few signifiers hint Bruce Campbell may return as Ash In Evil Dead 6. First of all, Cronin’s comments that he thinks that the priest from 1923 on vinyl is Ash, on the return of the character. Not only that, but one of four Evil Dead 6 Cronin’s idea is an origin story about the Book of the Dead. This means that the film must have the mysterious priest who may or may not be Ash.

Unfortunately, it’s well-documented how reluctant Campbell is to reprise his role as Ash in the franchise. Campbell retired Ash yet Ash vs Season 4 has been cancelled. The actor explained, “I’m done playing Ash, so that determines a lot of where we go with the franchise without that character, but there are more stories.” however, Evil Dead Rise Was a phenomenal success, and could spur another return for the franchise. Given that Campbell is one of the franchise’s producers, Evil Dead Rise‘s success may change Campbell’s mind.

Via: Box Office Mojoscreen rating, Digital Spy