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Diablo Cody Hired to Rewrite ‘Evil Dead’ Remake

News moved rather quickly this week that a fourth "Evil Dead" film was on the way, nearly 20 years after Army of Darkness. If you couldn't believe it, an official press release from Ghost House Pictures reveals that creator Sam Raimi along with producing partners Rob Tapert and Bruce Campbell will "remake" cult classic original, The Evil Dead. After signing an uncredited butpromising filmmaker in Fede Alvarez to write and direct, the release also says Diablo Cody will revise the script.

Ever since breaking onto the scene in 2007 with her Oscar-winning screenplay for Juno, Cody’s been rather busy. She wrote the script for the 2009 horror/comedy Jennifer’s Body and served as the main creative force behind the Showtime dramedy United States of Tara, which nabbed its lead actress Toni Collette an Emmy Award.

Cody’s script Young Adult is in the hands of Juno director Jason Reitman, so they’re bound to make magic once again. Even so, the scribe is taking on another project, something very different from what we’ve seen her do in the past.

I’m in the minority that enjoyed Jennifer’s Body, which saw her writing venture into horror-oriented territory while also maintaining some nice wit. It wasn’t quite as impressive as Juno, but a tongue that’s bitingly in cheek is just what this “Evil Dead” reboot needs.

Check out the press release below.

“Sam Raimi and original producing partners Rob Tapert and Bruce Campbell (who also starred in the original franchise) are gearing up to remake their cult sensation THE EVIL DEAD through their long standing Ghost House Pictures partnership. Raimi and Tapert were such instant fans of Fede Alvarez’s short film ‘Panic Attack’ that they set up a blind deal with the filmmaker and through that process have attached Fede Alvarez to write and direct the film. Alvarez wrote the script with Rodo Sayagues. Academy Award® winning screenwriter Diablo Cody is currently doing revisions on the draft. Ghost House is committed to renewing the franchise and has the film on the fast track.

Raimi, Tapert and Campbell will serve as producers. Ghost House Pictures partners Joe Drake and Nathan Kahane will executive produce. Nicole Brown and J.R. Young will oversee the project for Ghost House. Lionsgate will handle international sales on the film.

The three producing partners commented, ‘We are committed to making this movie and are inspired by the enduring popularity and enthusiasm for the ‘Evil Dead’ series. We can’t wait to scare a new generation of moviegoers using filmmaking techniques that were not available to us thirty years ago as well as Fede bringing a fresh eye to the film’s original elements.’

Raimi wrote, directed and, along with Tapert and Campbell, produced the original horror classic THE EVIL DEAD that tells the story of five twenty-something friends who become holed up in a remote cabin where they discover a Book Of The Dead. An archaeologist’s tape recording reveals that the ancient text was discovered among the Khandarian ruins of a Sumerian civilization. Playing the taped incantations, the youths 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. THE EVIL DEAD spawned a franchise with the equally successful installments EVIL DEAD II and ARMY OF DARKNESS.”

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