Breaking: “Ash Vs Evil Dead” Casting and Details!

Some very Groovy casting news comes in this Wednesday afternoon as Deadline reports that Ray Santiago (“Touch”) and Dana DeLorenzo (A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas) have been cast opposite Bruce Campbell in Starz’s 10-episode series “Ash Vs Evil Dead,” the followup to the classic The Evil Dead film franchise.

In first plot details, “Campbell reprises his role as Ash, the aging lothario and chainsaw-handed monster hunter who has spent the last 30 years avoiding responsibility, maturity and the terrors of the Evil Dead. When a Deadite plague threatens to destroy all of mankind, Ash is finally forced to face his demons – personal and literal.“

Santiago, pictured here, will play Pablo Simon Bolivar, an idealistic immigrant who becomes Ash’s loyal sidekick – a Sancho Panza to Ash’s Don Quixote. Pablo believes in Ash’s heroism even if Ash himself doesn’t.

DeLorenzo, on the other hand, is Kelly Maxwell, a moody wild child trying to outrun her past. Reluctantly dragged into the fight against Evil with Ash and Pablo, Kelly finds a different kind of family with her fellow Deadite slayers.

I love that Campbell won’t be forced to carry the series on his shoulders, and I really hope they don’t go “too whacky” with the comedy, even if Army of Darkness was full-on slapstick. I am curious, however, to see if they work the Evil Dead reboot into the mythology. Oh, and I pray to the demon in Prince of Darkness that they don’t use special effects similar to those in “Xena” or “Spartacus”.

The series is set to film on location in New Zealand this spring for premiere on Starz in late 2015.