Evil Dead Wrath, a Prequel Set in 1972?
While fans are counting down the days until Evil Dead Burn tears into cinemas this summer, producer Robert Tapert has already dropped a major revelation about the franchise’s next chapter. According to Tapert, Evil Dead Wrath will take place in 1972, making it the earliest story in the Evil Dead timeline and effectively a prequel to Sam Raimi’s original 1981 classic… and Within The Woods!
Speaking at an appearance at Michigan State University, Tapert described Wrath as a film that “predates everything,” placing the action nearly a decade before Ash Williams and his friends stumbled upon the Necronomicon in that infamous cabin.
That’s a fascinating direction for the franchise. Rather than revisiting familiar mythology, writer-director Francis Galluppi appears to be exploring an entirely new corner of the Evil Dead universe. Tapert revealed that the story centres on a French woman trapped in a troubled marriage in America, with hints of abuse and a family that may be every bit as terrifying as the Deadites themselves.
Perhaps even more intriguing is the film’s visual approach. Tapert says Galluppi and his cinematographer are aiming to recreate the look of early-1970s cinema by emulating the warm, tungsten-heavy appearance of Ektachrome 100 film stock. The result should feel authentically rooted in its era rather than simply being a modern horror movie set in the past.
The producer also contrasted Galluppi’s deliberate, almost Tarantino-inspired style with the frenetic energy of Evil Dead Burn director Sébastien Vaniček. The two upcoming films couldn’t be more different, which continues the franchise’s recent trend of allowing filmmakers to put their own distinct stamp on the mythology.
Adding to the intrigue, Tapert hinted that Wrath will feature coming-of-age themes and sexual misadventures that are largely unexplored territory for the franchise. It’s a bold swing that suggests Evil Dead Wrath may end up being one of the most unconventional entries the series has ever produced.
With Evil Dead Burn arriving in July 2026 and Evil Dead Wrath currently scheduled for release on April 7, 2028, the future of the franchise looks more ambitious, not to mention stranger, than ever. If this 1972 setting is any indication, we’re about to discover just how far back the evil truly goes.
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