Evil Dead Burn: Horror Franchise Sets 2026 Release Date
Horror fans, brace yourselves: the Evil Dead franchise is back with a chilling new chapter. On December 9, 2024, director Sébastien Vaniček dropped a bombshell via Instagram, revealing Evil Dead Burn as the official title for the sixth installment, slated for theaters in 2026. This spinoff, backed by franchise legends Sam Raimi and Robert Tapert, promises to keep the blood-soaked legacy alive. But what’s driving this latest revival?
The Evil Dead series is riding a wave of renewed popularity. After Evil Dead Rise raked in $147 million worldwide in 2023—on a modest $19 million budget, per Box Office Mojo—studios are betting big on horror’s staying power. Low-cost, high-return films like these are a goldmine in today’s market, where superhero fatigue is pushing audiences toward gritty, original scares. Vaniček, fresh off his spider-terror hit Infested, joins a trend of young directors—like Fede Álvarez and Lee Cronin—reinvigorating the franchise with bold visions.
Numbers don’t lie: horror remains a powerhouse. In 2024, the genre accounted for 12% of domestic box office revenue, outpacing rom-coms and dramas, according to The Numbers. Evil Dead Burn taps into this appetite, with Vaniček teasing a “nasty film that hurts” in a February 2024 Konbini interview. Industry insider John Carpenter, famed for Halloween, weighed in: “New blood like Vaniček keeps horror raw and relevant. Raimi’s smart to hand him the reins.” The script, co-written with Florent Bernard, nods to Raimi’s 1981 original, ensuring fans get that classic Necronomicon chaos.
What’s next? Plot details are scarce, but the 2026 release aligns with Raimi and Bruce Campbell’s plan—shared in a 2023 Variety interview—to drop a new Evil Dead film every two to three years. Production is likely in pre-production now, given the 18–24-month timeline typical for horror flicks of this scale. Meanwhile, another spinoff from director Francis Galluppi is also in the works, signaling a full-on Evil Dead renaissance. “The franchise is a playground for creators,” says Tapert. “Expect more surprises.”
For movie buffs, Evil Dead Burn isn’t just a film—it’s proof horror’s low-budget roots can still thrive in a blockbuster world. Keep an eye on Vaniček’s Instagram for updates, and mark 2026 on your calendar. This one’s set to leave a mark.
