Sébastien Vaniček's ‘Evil Dead Burn' Sequel Sets July 2026 Release
Evil Dead fans won't have to wait much longer for their next trip into the woods… or in this case, somewhere even more hellish. Directed by Sébastien Vaniček and co-written with Florent Bernard, the sequel Evil Dead Burn will star Souheila Yacoub, bringing a new lead to a series known for putting its heroes through relentless torment (per Variety).
Yacoub, who portrayed Fremen warrior Shishakli in Denis Villeneuve's Dune sequel, has carved a place for herself in genre cinema with a blend of grit and presence. With her character not expected to return in Dune: Messiah , Evil Dead Burn offers a new showcase for her talents. Her previous credits include Climax , Savages , and the horror comedy The Balconettes . Souheila Yacoub
Vaniček, best known for directing the 2023 French horror film Infested , was first linked to the Evil Dead franchise in early 2024. Long before the official announcement, he hinted that his film would be titled Evil Dead Burn . That cryptic tease has now been confirmed, adding a fiery edge to a franchise better known for blood than flame. Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi will return to produce. Bruce Campbell, Romel Adam, Jose Canas, and Evil Dead Rise director Lee Cronin are also attached as executive producers.
While Evil Dead has never been a blockbuster juggernaut, it has enjoyed a rare kind of longevity. Beginning with Sam Raimi's 1981 cult classic, the franchise has grown to include sequels, a reboot, a spin-off TV show, and an army of fans who know their Necronomicon lore by heart. Most entries were modest box office performers until Evil Dead Rise defied expectations in 2023 with a US$147 million global haul. That film, a standalone chapter with no Ash Williams in sight, proved there's still plenty of life (and death) in this franchise.
Riding the momentum of Evil Dead Rise , Warner Bros. and New Line have doubled down. Evil Dead Burn is just one of multiple projects in development. Another instalment, helmed by The Last Stop in Yuma County director Francis Galluppi, is also moving forward, though details remain tightly guarded. For now, Evil Dead Burn takes center stage. Whether it ends up in a cabin, a city, or someplace entirely new, one thing's certain: Deadites are coming back, and they're not coming quietly.
Evil Dead Burn opens in cinemas on 24 July 2026.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, and anime — you name it. When she's not reading or being a dedicated cinephile, she's probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of Caleb from Love and Deepspace . Evil Dead Evil Dead Burn Evil Dead Rise Evil Dead Spinoff sam raimi
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Geek Culture
18 hours ago
- Geek Culture
28 Years Later
A whole century before 28 Days Later (2002) reinvigorated the zombie film genre, English poet Rudyard Kipling published the poem, 'Boots'. Don't – don't – don't – don't – look at what's in front of you – / (Boots – boots – boots – boots – boots movin' up and down again!) / Men – men – men – men – men go mad with watchin' em / And there's no discharge in war! Count – count – count – count the bullets in the bandoliers / If – your – eyes – drop – they – will get atop o' you! It was featured prominently in the first and second trailers for 28 Years Later , setting a gritty, nerve-wracking tone that fits right into a world ravaged by the infected (director Danny Boyle prefers the term over 'zombies'), and signposting the various foreshadowing and parallel depictions to come. The bold execution has yielded a handsome pay-off, where the familiar sense of post-apocalyptic despair and taut anticipation permeates its entire length. Simmering below the surface, however, are elements that examine morality, mortality, and the importance of accepting death – like the original sleeper hit, the long-awaited threequel is a zombie flick, adrenaline ride, and human drama all rolled into one, evolving what the series does best with strong casting that accentuates its soulful core, even if it doesn't always stick the landing. Marking a reunion between Boyle ( Slumdog Millionaire , Trainspotting ), screenwriter Alex Garland (Ex Machina , Civil War ), and cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle after 23 years (the 2007 sequel, 28 Weeks Later, was spearheaded by a different team), the latest instalment wastes no time in establishing its premise. The containment of the Rage virus to the U.K. mainland has spawned an entire generation of survivors on a small tidal island connected to the mainland by a single, heavily defended footbridge. Leading the narrative is 12-year-old Spike, played by A New Breed of Criminal 's Alfie Williams, who's taking his first steps as a hunter-in-training to gather resources for the community in the mainland, accompanied by his father Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Kraven the Hunter ). Naturally, things go awry quickly, and the pair find themselves crossing paths with various infected species, from lumbering crawlers and fleet-footed ragers to their powerful, intelligent leader: the Alpha. All of these take place while Spike's mother, Isla (Jodie Comer, Killing Eve ), is confined to bed, weak with an unknown illness that causes bouts of memory loss. Jamie's aloof treatment towards her drives him and Spike apart, especially after the latter discovers a solution that could help Isla get better, except it requires a trip back to the mainland. So begins round two and the makings of a coming-of-age story – as much as the desolated, blighted world allows, at least. Young as he may be, Williams proves highly adept at commanding attention, expertly straddling the line between vulnerability and the desire to protect. The fear of not being strong enough, of stumbling at critical moments, adds authenticity and sincerity to his portrayal of Spike, who does stumble or let his guard down along the way. But he's also a barely-teenager still wet behind the ears, and 28 Years Later often reminds viewers that such moments of weakness are normal and human. The same human touch colours the characterisation of Isla and Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes, the Harry Potter series), another survivor described to be a little eccentric. Comer slips into her role easily, sharing strong on-screen chemistry with Williams, and putting up an impressive performance steeped in emotions, splintered memories, and most importantly, a mother's love for her child. Meanwhile, Fiennes breathes life into a tender-hearted, if wild, man who honours death in his own poetic way, imparting a meaningful lesson about mortality that has its roots in the Latin phrase memento mori or, remember (that you have) to die'. It's the kind of heart that fuelled 28 Days Later , and the threequel makes sure to inherit other trappings of its past, starting with thematic relevance to the real world. Where the original tapped into the collective societal fear of deadly infections during the early 2000s, Brexit – the withdrawal of the U.K. from the European Union – and the COVID-19 pandemic served as inspiration for the isolated island and community. Then, there's the stylised cinematography and editing that harks back to Boyle's 1996 black comedy drama film, Trainspotting . Shot primarily on the iPhone 15 Max alongside action cameras, drones, and other digital and film cameras (which makes for a neat nod to shooting the original movie on the Canon XL-1 digital camera), 28 Years Later presents a schizophrenic patchwork of harsh night-vision reds, clips from the 1944 adaptation of Shakespeare's Henry V , and marching soldiers against the haunting voiceover of 'Boots', the poem mentioned in the opening paragraph, as one of its most striking sequences. The punchy, intoxicating frenzy is testament to clever editing, accompanied by quick cuts of distorted camera angles and unsettling zoom-ins, alongside warped synths that run parallel to the footage. It works great for evoking paranoia and anxiety, as well as the occasional imagery or callback scenes, faltering only when paired with the bullet-time effect, which creates the illusion of freezing or slowing down time made popular by 1999's The Matrix . Here, the freeze-frame technique is employed after successful shots to an infected's weak spot, meant to mirror the change from first- to third-person perspective in video games. The execution is more of a flub, however – at best, the refreshing unconventionality loses its magic after the first few attempts; at worst, the jarring transition breaks up the flow of continuity into the next scene. Additionally, the antiquated quality of several archival footage featured in 28 Years Later can be a sharp juxtaposition to modern-day camerawork, as much as it tries to maintain the old-school, scrappy aesthetic. On the note of video games, the infected horde will be a familiar sight for fans of titles like Left 4 Dead 2 ( L4D2 ), The Last of Us , and more. Building on its introduction of fast zombies in the original pic that reinvigorated the genre, the survival thriller returns with two new types of infected: the Slow Lows, grotesque, bloated crawlers who eat bugs to survive (think the Boomer from L4D2 ) – an ingenious nod to 'Boots' sees one of them chewing on shoelaces from a, you guessed it, boot – and the Alphas. As previously mentioned, the latter are more intelligent and stronger than ordinary stragglers, capable of taking multiple arrows to the body without dying. These terrifying, towering beings that can be mistaken for the cousins of the titans in Attack on Titan aren't invincible, but require a lot of effort to defeat. In the case of Spike, an Alpha nicknamed Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry) hounds him as a relentless force, demonstrating his raw strength by ripping out a soldier's head with the spine still attached to the skull. All of that with his bare hands, mind you. And there's plenty more where that came from. 28 Years Later promises a generous helping of blood, violence, and visceral gore, whether it's shredded guts, blood eruptions, or pummelling action. Such acts of barbarism are often preceded or followed by white-knuckled chase sequences and high-strung suspense, which are easily its pièce de résistance. Most notably, the movie has mastered the art of delivering jump scare fake-outs, lulling audiences into a false sense of security before sneaking in an unexpected jolt that accurately conveys the primal fear felt by the characters. Amid the chills, (blood) spills, and thrills are some bright spots of humour. Primarily conveyed through Swedish NATO soldier Erik Sundqvist (Edvin Ryding, Young Royals ), the lighthearted elements bring a welcome change of pace, putting forth the reminder to find joy in the smaller things in life, like how the signboard of a petrol station reads 'Hell' instead of 'Shell' in the film. The jokes land successfully for the most part, although the drastic tonal shift in the ending scene does feel a little out of place. 28 Years Later isn't perfect. The bold, experimental nature of its kinetic camerawork and editing can alienate viewers, while its CGI rendering of explosions lacks finesse. Despite fleshing out the worldbuilding and infected lore, some questions remain unanswered. Yet, these duller elements do little to tarnish the legacy that the franchise has built over the years – in fact, some may even find that they add charm and character to the mix. In an oversaturated and ever-growing genre, Boyle's latest outing stands out with a humanist core that will hold up as a study in morality and mortality come 28 days, weeks, or years later – and beyond, as Candyman director Nia DaCosta prepares to take over the reins for the next instalment, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple . Summary 18 years is a long time to wait, and 28 Years Later makes sure to reward patience. Gritty, striking, and emotionally gripping, it respects and evolves the hallmarks that have made the original so beloved. Story - 7.5/10 Direction - 8.5/10 Characterisation - 8.5/10 Geek Satisfaction - 8/10 Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth's theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia's greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really. 28 Years Later Danny Boyle Review Sony
Geek Culture
4 days ago
- Geek Culture
DC Studios' 'Clayface' Film Moulds Tom Rhys Harries As Lead
DC Studios has set the casting mould for its upcoming superhero film Clayface , and Welsh actor Tom Rhys Harries is taking the spotlight. The relatively fresh face will play the iconic Batman villain known for his ability to shape-shift, ending a competitive search that included rising British stars Jack O'Connell (28 Years Later), 1917 's George MacKay, and Tom Blyth of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes fame. James Watkins, director of Speak No Evil , is helming the project, with prolific horror filmmaker Mike Flanagan ( The Haunting of Hill House , Midnight Mass ) serving as scriptwriter. Story details remain under wraps for now, but sources close to The Hollywood Reporter shared that the movie centres on the titular 'B-movie actor who becomes a walking piece of clay after injecting himself with a substance in an attempt to keep himself relevant.' The character was first introduced in 1940 as a moderately successful actor who adopted the identity of a character he'd portrayed in a horror pic after turning to crime. While he has appeared in various media over the years, the forthcoming feature will mark his official debut in the new DC Universe, with a darker, horror-flavoured touch to his portrayal. Alan Tudyk voices his animated counterpart on HBO's Harley Quinn series and Creature Commandos . DC Studios co-heads Peter Safran and James Gunn are also onboard as producers, alongside Matt Reeves ( The Batman ) and Lynn Harris ( Se7en, The Notebook ). A US$40 million budget has been budgeted for Clayface , which hits theatres on 11 September 2026. As for Harries, the superhero entry is set to be his most significant leading role. The 35-year-old recently appeared in the short-lived Apple TV+ series Suspicion starring Uma Thurman, and Netflix's White Lines , holding roles in the Gerard Butler-led action drama Kandahar , BBC fantasy series Jekyll & Hyde , and more. Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth's theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia's greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really. Clayface DC Studios DC Universe Tom Rhys Harries
Geek Culture
4 days ago
- Geek Culture
First Godzilla LEGO Ideas Set Roars To Life
The third round of LEGO's Ideas selection has concluded, with two new fan-made designs officially chosen to be made into real sets: A hulking Godzilla build and a Rocket based on the classic 1950 Tintin comic series, Destination Moon . Announced via a LEGO Ideas blog post, the two sets were chosen out of 54 qualifying product ideas, with the Godzilla build originally submitted by Matthew Esposito (aka MattE720) in December 2023, while the Tintin Rocket set was submitted by Alexis Dos Santos (aka TKEL86). This will mark the first ever Godzilla set released by LEGO, an while its exact design, part count, pricing and release date has not been announced yet, fans can get a decent idea of what the final set might look like based on the original fan-made design, which will serve as the basis for the official build. According to MattE720, his design was based on recent films like Godzilla vs. Kong and Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire , and considering that the LEGO Ideas line is primarily targeted at adult collectors, the final design should be appropriately large in scale, befitting of the King of the Monsters himself. The Tintin rocket, on the other hand, features a faithful recreation of the iconic ship that appeared in the Destination Moon comic series, the sixteenth volume of The Adventures of Tintin , which was serialised weekly from March to September 1950 and April to October 1952 in Belgium's Tintin magazine. These two approved sets mark the newest additions to the LEGO Ideas co-creation platform, which began in 2008 as LEGO Cuusoo and eventually relaunched as LEGO Ideas in 2014. Each set in the line begins as a fan submission, and upon reaching 10,000 supporters on LEGO's website, it enters the review stage, an extensive process to gain the final approval to be turned into an official set. The LEGO Ideas Review Board is already hard at work on the next round of fan design reviews, a new batch of 57 product ideas that amassed 10,000 supporters each, with the final results due in September this year. Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise 'duds' like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3 . He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying. Godzilla LEGO LEGO Godzilla lego ideas
