Sam Raimi Successfully Blocks Unauthorized 'Evil Dead' Sequel

Earlier this year Renaissance Pictures, the company run by Sam Raimi and Robert Tapert, filed suit against Award Pictures, a small outfit that was hoping to make an Evil Dead sequel. While Raimi and Tapert have wavered in their commitment to make a fourth Evil Dead movie (not counting the just-wrapped remake directed by Fede Alvarez), they are certain of one thing: they don't want anyone else making Evil Dead 4.

So when Award Pictures tried to follow through on a long-stated goal of making Evil Dead 4: Consequences (that's the real title, no joke) Renaissance Pictures recited the passages from an old book that summons lawyers instead of demons. And now a court has ruled that Award Pictures has to back off.

THR reports that Award Pictures and company president Glenn MacCrae failed to respond to the Renaissance lawsuit in court, giving Raimi & Co. a pretty easy win. The source of Award's intent to make an Evil Dead film is actually rooted in Raimi's waffling over the years, as McCrae asserted that Raimi's stated lack of interest in making Evil Dead 4 amounted to trademark abandonment.

McCrae said that the lawsuit from Renaissance killed a deal Award had with Anchor Bay, which meant that Award had no money to hire trademark lawyers. Hence the no-show in court. He does tell THR that he wants to challenge the ruling, but don't expect him to have much luck.

As part of the suit, Raimi says that any film produced by Award would interfere with his own plans to make a fourth Evil Dead film, but whether that movie will ever materialize is open to question. Raimi & Co. could simply be trying to block Award from going forward — a move that I think few would question.