Bloody Disgusting reports that things are moving forward with the EVIL DEAD remake. The Fede Alvarez directed and co-written film will begin production in March, where filming will take place in New Zealand. The script was co-written with Rodo Sayagues with revisions by JUNO-writer Diablo Cody.

The story of THE EVIL DEAD was very simple and the update doesn’t seem to be too much different, where five young adults vacation in a cabin in the woods and discover The Book of The Dead only to release unspeakable evils and attempt to survive the night. In the update there’s purportedly a drug subplot, as well. There’s been word that the remake will definitely stand its own ground, and just imagining a large-budget version of this story is a little mind-boggling.

The film is currently in casting.

It was announced today that Sony Pictures would partner with Ghost House Pictures and Film District to distribute the Fede Alvarez-directed EVIL DEAD remake worldwide.  Rob Tapert, Sam Raimi, and Bruce Campbell, producers and chiseled chinned star of the original film, will produce.  Tapert had this to say:

For 30 years, Sam, Bruce and I have been looking for the right home where we could return the deadites to the big screen. Amy Pascal and Jeff Blake at Sony and Peter Schlessel at FilmDistrict have always been incredible partners who share our passion for great storytelling as well as our obsession for scaring the pants off the audience. Together, we are looking forward to terrorizing a whole new generation.

Peter Schlessel, Film District CEO, said,

I have been part of the extended Ghost House family for a long time. It’s fantastic to continue the relationship as we bring this classic horror film to a new generation of fans.

The script was written by Alvarez and Rodo Sayagues.  Academy Award winning screenwriter Diablo Cody worked on rewrites.

Previous news posts have suggested that Ash would not be a part of the remake, although Bruce Campbell might be making some sort of cameo.   Production is scheduled to begin some time in 2012.

Watch the full interview below:

Diablo Cody, writer of JUNO, JENNIFER’S BODY and the upcoming Jason Reitman-directed YOUNG ADULT, has recently talked about her contribution to the remake of THE EVIL DEAD.

“I was nervous to take the job because I thought, Ugh, I’m gonna get $*^# for this. People are not gonna like this, because all people know of me is like Juno and they think I’m gonna pollute Evil Dead with like wacky dialogue and cute stuff and folk music, and it’s like “No, look I understand what this is. I’m interested in storytelling here and making it scary and good and true to the original,” quoth Cody.

First-time feature director Fede Alvarez and co-writer Rodo Sayagues brought Cody in to do a re-write on their current draft. It’s definitely seeming to be its own entity separate from the original, as stated by former EVIL DEAD star Bruce Campbell.

Cody continues: “Because the director’s draft was really scary, I tried to stay away from some of the big horror set pieces. I didn’t wanna mess with his vision, because he’s the one who ultimately has to shoot it. That being said, there is a moment near the — I mean it’s unbelievably violent (laughs). Occasionally I threw in a wound here or there. I didn’t write anything extravagant.”

THE EVIL DEAD is currently in pre-production. Do you think this series deserves a remake? Are you excited about returning to that cabin in the woods? Do you think Diablo Cody’s a good choice? Tell us in the comments!

Shock Till You Drop received a synopsis of the film from the American Film Market press materials.  As one might expect, it’s not a radical departure from the original:

Five twenty-something friends become holed up in a remote cabin where they discover a Book Of The Dead and unwittingly summon up dormant demons living in the nearby woods, which possess the youngsters in succession until only one is left intact to fight for survival.

That description could just as easily describe the first movie.  I guess you can’t blame director Fede Alvarez for making more of what made the first film so popular, but c’mon.

Bloody Disgusting takes that plot description a step farther.  They talk about how the film will have an interesting plot point not present in the original:

The “new spin” is the motivation behind the trip, with the lead character taking his younger sister to the family’s cabin to help her kick her drug addiction. Without her drugs she becomes insane and difficult to control, which makes it impossible to see that she’s actually possessed.

That’s…interesting.  The tone of the film definitely sounds more akin to the first movie than the comedic sequel.  Time will tell if this EVIL DEAD redux can live up to its source material.  A hint to producers:  a Bruce Campbell cameo would go a long way toward appeasing fans.

We’re hitting quite the Quadranscentennial (25 year anniversary) here on FM with THE PRINCESS BRIDE cast reunion and now news of the release date of EVIL DEAD II on Blu-Ray! The cult classic is getting the deluxe treatment: loaded with special features, interviews with cast and crew members and an in-depth look at the production of the film.

For those not in the know, EVIL DEAD II falls into that interesting hybrid of sequel and remake where the film revises and retells the story of the original EVIL DEAD in the first act and leads into completely uncharted territory that defies genre. Ash (Bruce Campbell) retreats to a cabin in the woods with his girlfriend Linda where he plays a recording from The Book of the Dead, which unleashes all manner of unholy spirits that possess Linda’s soul and threaten to do the same to Ash. Faced with no escape, Ash fights for his sanity against the spirits armed with little more than a double-barrel shotgun and a chainsaw.

All right… I guess you can read this first and then go buy it.

John Landis’ MONSTERS IN THE MOVIES: 100 YEARS OF CINEMATIC NIGHTMARES is a venerable treasure trove of horror history, containing gems from all the way back in the silent era to today’s CGI blockbuster creations. More so, this is one of those rare books that you should feel free to judge by its cover.

Before it's even opened, it steals your very soul...

Split into chapters based on the different types of monsters, the book contains separate sections for Vampires, Werewolves, Mad Scientists, Zombies, Ghosts, Mummies, Myths Legends & Fairy Tales, Monstrous Apes, Atomic Mutations, The Devil’s Work (The Devil, Hell, Wicked Witches, Killer Dolls), Space Monsters, Monstrous Machines, Human Monsters (Nazi Monsters, Scary Older Women, Burke & Hare), and The Monster Makers. And if the monsters themselves aren’t enough for you, the pages of this terrifying tome also contain several interviews and subsections on such genre icons as Lon Chaney Jr., Christopher Lee, David Cronenberg, John Carpenter, Guillermo del Toro, Sam Raimi, Rick Baker, Joe Dante, and stop-motion genius Ray Harryhausen.

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The original novel, written in 1951 by John Wyndham, has spawned a literary sequel, a radio play, a film and 2 miniseries. Raimi is aiming to direct the newest adaptation himself.

Haven’t read the original novel? Here’s a quick run down.

Until a few short hours ago – before the sky exploded into a shower of flaming green hell – triffids had been regarded as merely a curious and profitable form of plant life. Now these shadowy vegetable creatures became a crawling, killing nightmare of pain and horror. Madness hung in the air, fear lurked in every side street, death hovered in every doorway. Stripped of civilized veneer by terror and desperation, the handful of surviving humans began to turn on each other. And all the while the triffids watched and waited.

The company has just made a deal to show a brand-new 35mm print of the horror film to debut this Friday, March 5 at Landmark’s Nu Art theater. Here’s what their rep had to say:

“We’re expecting a sold-out crowd for Evil Dead in Los Angeles, following our successful openings in New York, Seattle, Dallas, Houston, Portland, and other cities,” says David Szulkin, Grindhouse Releasing’s theatrical director. “Demand for the movie led us to make a new print, which includes our all-new horror trailer show. Our plan is to keep Evil Dead playing in theaters throughout 2010.”

Grindhouse has joined forces with the notorious Austin, Texas-based Alamo Drafthouse franchise for upcoming dates in Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Alexandria, Virginia. Additional deals have been made with arthouses and other intimate venues, so with any luck you’ll have an Evil Dead screening coming to a town near you in the near future.

Perhaps if this type of release proves profitable (as it seems to be), Grindhouse will follow up with a similar schedule for the superior sequel, or even the still-awesome Army of Darkness. This re-release is ironic considering the film’s state of acceptance around the time of its original release.

Controversial for its over-the-top depiction of gore and violence, it was initially turned down by almost all U.S. film distributors until a European company finally bought it in the Cannes Film Festival marketplace. Now almost thirty(!) years after its arrival on screens in 1981, the film has obviously struck a chord with everyone in tune with its daffy sense of humor mixed with carnage.

For upcoming Evil Dead playdates, visit GrindhouseReleasing.com.

Our Spidey-rumor-sense is tingling after hearing that McAdams met with the producers of the film to discuss “a major role” – that of Felicia Hardy, AKA the burglar-turned-Spidey love interest known as The Black Cat. Not only is this great news for fans of the wardrobe choice mentioned above, it’s a move that makes sense given Sam Raimi’s approach to the franchise so far. In each film, the villains introduced have both battled Peter Parker in costume and made things more complicated in his personal life. The Spider-lovin’ Black Cat is sure to do exactly that.

It’s further rumored that the studio is also casting for a male villain, which means a few things. First, SM4 will follow the two-villain formula of the last movie – it really didn’t work out last time, but maybe the characters will be appropriately fleshed out this time. Second, this effectively snuffs out speculation that The Lizard will be the primary antagonist, since Dr. Curt Connors has been cast since the second movie – and that Bruce Campbell will appear as the dome-headed Mysterio. Campbell has stated that he does have a major role in this flick, so the jury’s still out on what form that will take.

I continue to be unenthusiastic… but maybe Raimi’s learned from Spiderman 3. Maybe it’ll be different this time!

OK, probably not. But, if it’s true, McAdams as Black Cat might drag me into the theater anyway.