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 Rise, which 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 Rise‘s cast of characters spends the film trapped in an apartment building with Deadites, delivering a brutal fresh take on the central premise of the original Evil Dead film. The film largely avoids the classic characters of the series, including Bruce Campbell’s Ash Williams.

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

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Who Bruce Campbell Plays In Evil Dead Rise (It Might Still Be Ash!)

Bruce Campbell’s Cameo Could Be A Throwaway Easter Egg, Or A Hint Towards The Future

Bruce Campbell cameos as a priest speaking on a record found by the characters in Evil Dead Rise. When Ellie’s oldest child Dan finds the Book of the Dead, he also finds several vinyl records from the year 1923, which he plays back on his turntable. On the record, the priest voiced by Campbell reveals that the book they’ve discovered is called the “Book of the Dead.” While Ash Williams isn’t explicitly in Evil Dead Rise, Bruce Campbell isn’t necessarily playing a different character.

Director Lee Cronin suggested that the “priest” voiced by Bruce Campbell might still be Ash Williams. Screen Rant reported how Cronin asked Campbell “if he would do this teeny, tiny, little cameo… that’s not necessarily Bruce Campbell playing someone else. That could very well be Ash Williams.” While this would mean that Ash traveled in time to 1923 when the priest’s voice was recorded, it’s not out of the realm of possibility his time travel in Army of Darkness. A potential Evil Dead 6 could 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 Hears Bruce Campbell In Evil Dead Rise

The Bruce Campbell Evil Dead Rise cameo arrives 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 actor’s clearly recognizable voice confirms the artifact that the teens had found to be one of the Books 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 for it to be potentially Ash, given his deep personal history with the artifact. It’s a clever cameo, one that doesn’t distract from the narrative but feels like a love letter to the fans of the series.

Bruce Campbell’s Other Contribution To Evil Dead Rise 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 of his face and seriously wounds him. To accomplish this scene, the filmmakers needed some disgusting sound work that Campbell helped provide.

Lee Cronin told Digital Spy that the munching sound of the eyeball scene was accomplished by Campbell “eating an apple furiously.” As such, Bruce Campbell has two bizarre audio cameos in Evil Dead Rise, both as a hero and as a Deadite. Campbell was involved on multiple levels of Evil Dead Rise, and served as an Executive Producer on the film alongside Sam Raimi. The fact that he returned for those cameos highlights the actor’s love for the franchise, even if he may not ever play Ash on-screen again.

Will Bruce Campbell Return As Ash In Future Evil Dead Movies?

Bruce Campbell Might Not Be Done With The Evil Dead Quite Yet

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 hinting Bruce Campbell could return as Ash in Evil Dead 6. First of all, Cronin’s comments that he thinks the priest from 1923 on the vinyl is Ash hints at the return of the character. Not only that, but one of four Evil Dead 6 ideas Cronin has is an origin story about the Book of the Dead. That means the film must feature the mysterious priest who may or may not be Ash.

Unfortunately, it has been well-documented how reluctant Campbell is to reprise his role as Ash in the franchise. Campbell retired Ash after Ash vs. Evil Dead season 4 was canceled. 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 on another return for the franchise. Given that Campbell is one of the franchise’s producers, Evil Dead Rise‘s success could change Campbell’s mind.

Via: Box Office Mojo, Screen Rant, Digital Spy