Despite Ash Williams being the main character of the original Evil Dead trilogy, he didn't really appear in Evil Dead Rise, so here's how he could make his grand return in Evil Dead Rise 2. While Ash does have a small voice cameo in the 2023 Evil Dead reboot, his presence isn't all that significant, especially considering his major role in past entries in the Evil Dead franchise. There are still all kinds of ways that Ash could return in Evil Dead Rise 2, though, and here are 10 of the best theories regarding how he could come back in the sequel.
Ash Williams was the first main character of the Evil Dead franchise, with him being the protagonist of all three films in the original trilogy. However, Army of Darkness was far from the end of Ash, as Bruce Campbell later reprised the role for all three seasons of Ash vs. Evil Dead. Despite not being a main character, Ash even had a cameo at the end of the 2013 Evil Dead reboot. So, while his voice did appear, Evil Dead Rise is the first time Bruce Campbell's chainsaw-wielding Deadite hunter didn't appear on-screen in an Evil Dead project. However, Evil Dead Rise 2 can fix this.
10 Evil Dead Rise 2 Could Retcon Ash vs. Evil Dead's Ending
The ending of Ash vs. Evil Dead creates a problem for Ash's Evil Dead Rise 2 return, making it incredibly difficult. At the end of the series, Ash is flung to the distant future, with him being stuck there the last time he was seen. Due to the cancelation of Ash vs. Evil Dead, this storyline was never resolved, with Ash presumably still being in the future at this point in the timeline. So, one of the easiest ways to bring Ash back to the modern day is to simply retcon the end of the show. Although retcons are sometimes difficult, it would mean Ash could return in the sequel.
9 Ash vs. Evil Dead's Necronomicon Story Could Play Into Evil Dead Rise 2
Another option for Ash's return could be for Evil Dead Rise 2 to directly build off of Ash vs. Evil Dead's story. Ash vs. Evil Dead heavily builds upon the lore of the Necronomicon, adding all kinds of plot elements that could unite the characters of Evil Dead Rise with Ash Williams. It could be that the Necronomicon chooses one of the characters as its host, or it could be that someone like Ruby uses their powers to bring the characters together. Ash vs. Evil Dead gives the Necronomicon all kinds of new powers, and these could be used to bring Ash back.
8 Evil Dead Rise 2 Could Reintroduce Time Travel
If Evil Dead Rise 2 wanted to keep the events of Ash vs. Evil Dead canon, the movie could introduce time travel. This isn't too far-fetched, as Army of Darkness heavily used time travel, setting a precedent for the sci-fi concept to appear in the movies. It could be that the Necronomicon simply opens another portal, allowing Ash to quickly come back, or it could be that Evil Dead Rise 2 is fully a time travel story. Either way, this would be one of the most interesting ways to have Ash return.
7 The Events Of Evil Dead Rise Could Cause Ash To Start Fighting Deadites Again
Since making Ash vs. Evil Dead's ending non-canonical seems like the most likely option due to the show's cult status, the rest of these theories will operate under that assumption. One of the simplest ways to have Ash return would be to just have him start fighting Deadites again after the events of Evil Dead Rise. Realizing that the Necronomicon has been activated again, it's likely that Ash will jump back into action, allowing him to fight Deadites once again in Evil Dead Rise 2.
6 Ash Could Hunt Down The Necronomicon In Evil Dead Rise 2
Rather than just fighting Deadites, Ash could take a more active role by deciding to hunt down the Necronomicon in Evil Dead Rise 2. Destroying the Necronomicon has proven to be the best way to deal with the Deadites, so it would make sense for Ash to look for the book. Ash could meet the survivors of Evil Dead Rise on his way to the film's apartment building, allowing for a fun crossover story.
5 Evil Dead Rise 2 Could See Beth Looking For Ash
On the other hand, Evil Dead Rise 2 could see Beth looking for Ash. The records in the apartment building featured some warnings from Ash, meaning that Beth could easily discover who Ash is. With the knowledge that Ash is a famous Deadite slayer, she might decide to track him down, enlisting his help in the battle against the dead.
4 Ash Could Be Related To Beth
Although Beth is Ash's replacement in Evil Dead Rise, Evil Dead Rise 2 could reveal that the two are actually related. The timelines would match up, and due to Ash being known for his frequent hookups, it's believable that he would have a daughter he doesn't know about. This would be a fun way to connect the two, as a father-daughter Deadite hunting duo would be a new twist on the Evil Dead formula.
3 Ash Could Just Have Another Cameo In Evil Dead Rise 2
It's also possible that Ash could just have another cameo in Evil Dead Rise 2, allowing the film to stay focused on Beth. Ash only appeared in a post-credits scene in 2013's Evil Dead reboot, and he had a voice-only appearance on Evil Dead Rise's Necronomicon recording. Bruce Campbell is known for his cameo appearances, and he could continue this trend by having another small cameo in Evil Dead Rise 2.
2 Ash Could Take Over As Evil Dead Rise 2's Main Character
On the other hand, Ash could take over for Beth as Evil Dead Rise 2's main character. The sequel could sideline Beth, allowing Ash to take over as he investigates the events of Evil Dead Rise. This would make the film much more of a sequel to Ash's Evil Dead saga than a true Evil Dead Rise 2, but it would be an exciting successor to the series.
1 The Next Evil Dead Could Be A Crossover Between All 3 Series
The most exciting option, however, would be to have the next movie be a crossover between all three Evil Dead series. Ash, Mia, and Beth are the protagonists of the original series, the 2013 Evil Dead reboot, and Evil Dead Rise respectively, and it's finally time to bring the trio of protagonists together. Evil Dead Rise introduces the third Necronomicon that is talked about in Army of Darkness, meaning that it would make sense to do a big Evil Dead crossover now. Although the future of Evil Dead Rise is uncertain, there are plenty of ways that the sequel could bring back Bruce Campbell's Ash Williams.
