Lucy Lawless - H 2015
AP Images/InvisionStarz is staging a Xena and Spartacus reunion.
The premium cable network has tapped Lucy Lawless to co-star in its Evil Dead sequel, Ash vs. Evil Dead, Starz announced Monday.
Bruce Campbell will reprise his role as the title character Ash, a stock boy, aging lothario and chainsaw-handed monster hunter who has spent the past three decades avoiding responsibility, maturity and the terrors of the Evil Dead. When a Deadite plague threatens to destroy all of mankind, Ash is finally forced to face his demons — personal and literal. Destiny, it turns out, has no plans to release the unlikely hero from its evil grip.
Read more Starz Orders ‘Evil Dead’ TV Series
The casting, which brings the actress back to the Starz fold, reunites Lawless with Ash producers Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert on after previously teaming on Xena: Warrior Princess and Spartacus as well as features Spider-Man and Boogeyman.
Lawless will play Ruby, a mysterious figure who is myopic in her quest to hunt down the source of the recent evil outbreaks. The only problem: she believes that Ash is the cause of it all.
The casting marks Lawless’ latest small-screen role following Parks and Recreation, Salem and more.
She joins a cast that also includes Sleepy Hollow‘s Jill Marie Jones, Ray Santiago (Touch, Meet the Fockers) and Dana DeLorenzo (Growing Up Fisher).
Set for a late 2015 premiere, production on the 10-episode Ash vs. Evil Dead will begin in the spring in New Zealand. Sam Raimi will direct the pilot, which he co-wrote with his brother, Ivan Raimi (Darkman, Army of Darkness, Drag Me to Hell), and Tom Spezialy (Chuck, Reaper, Desperate Housewives). Craig DiGregorio (Chuck) will exec produce and serve as the writing showrunner along with Sam Raimi, Tapert and Campbell. Ivan Raimi will co-executive produce, while Aaron Lam (Spartacus) will produce.
Lawless is repped by APA.
Email: Lesley.Goldberg@THR.com
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