Lucy Lawless Joins Cast of Starz's ‘Ash vs. Evil Dead’

Lucy Lawless, 46, best known for playing the title role in the long-running TV series Xena: Warrior Princess and for her character roles in the Battlestar Galactica and the Spartacus trilogy series is cast as Ruby in Starz's upcoming Ash vs. Evil Dead, the TV series sequel to The Evil Dead film franchise created by Sam Raimi. Lawless will be portraying Ruby, described only as "a mysterious figure who's on a quest to stop the evil outbreak and believes that Ash is the one who's the cause of it."

Ash vs. Evil stars original lead actor Bruce Campbell, 56, who has been playing the part of Ashley 'Ash' Williams, the chainsaw-handed smart-ass protagonist, since the start of the franchise in 1981 and who has appeared in all the Evil Dead films. On what fans may expect from him and the upcoming show on his return to his iconic role, Campbell told Dread Central: "I'm bringing everything to the table. It's a feisty version of Ash, who's grizzled and just wants to be left alone. I was there during the casting process, and they're very talented. Aside from the ensemble [aspect], they each needed to be able to hold their own because they'll have their own series of missions. It's an epic tale. How could you not [plan for that]? I'm a strong proponent of the 'big picture' plan, and we are planning for five seasons." He also added: "We are competitive with 'The Walking Dead,' like, 'We'll show those fuckers!' [Our] Deadites are very clever. They not stupid shufflers. They can mimic people; they can drive cars. They're a fun threat.Lucy Lawless, 46, best known for playing the title role in the long-running TV series Xena: Warrior Princess and for her character roles in the Battlestar Galactica and the Spartacus trilogy series is cast as Ruby in Starz's upcoming Ash vs. Evil Dead, the TV series sequel to The Evil Dead film franchise created by Sam Raimi. Lawless will be portraying Ruby, described only as "a mysterious figure who's on a quest to stop the evil outbreak and believes that Ash is the one who's the cause of it."

Ash vs. Evil stars original lead actor Bruce Campbell, 56, who has been playing the part of Ashley 'Ash' Williams, the chainsaw-handed smart-ass protagonist, since the start of the franchise in 1981 and who has appeared in all the Evil Dead films. On what fans may expect from him and the upcoming show on his return to his iconic role, Campbell told Dread Central: "I'm bringing everything to the table. It's a feisty version of Ash, who's grizzled and just wants to be left alone. I was there during the casting process, and they're very talented. Aside from the ensemble [aspect], they each needed to be able to hold their own because they'll have their own series of missions. It's an epic tale. How could you not [plan for that]? I'm a strong proponent of the 'big picture' plan, and we are planning for five seasons." He also added: "We are competitive with 'The Walking Dead,' like, 'We'll show those fuckers!' [Our] Deadites are very clever. They not stupid shufflers. They can mimic people; they can drive cars. They're a fun threat. They ['The Walking Dead'] are right up there [though] with being responsible for the current resurgence [of horror]."

Aside from Campbell and Lawless, others confirmed in the cast are Jill Marie Jones who will be playing the role Michigan State Trooper Amanda Fisher, Dana DeLorenzo as Kelly Maxwell, and Ray Santiago as Pablo Simon Bolivar.

Original Evil Dead film series producer Rob Tapert, Lawless' real-life husband, is returning to co-produce the small-screen Ash vs. Evil Dead series along with Raimi and Campbell. The studio's plot outline for the upcoming TV series reads: "Campbell reprises his role as Ash, the aging lothario and chainsaw-handed monster hunter who has spent the last 30 years 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." Filming is slated to begin this spring in New Zealand. To comprise of 10 episodes, Ash vs. Evil is tentatively set for a late 2015 premiere. They ['The Walking Dead'] are right up there [though] with being responsible for the current resurgence [of horror]."

Aside from Campbell and Lawless, others confirmed in the cast are Jill Marie Jones who will be playing the role Michigan State Trooper Amanda Fisher, Dana DeLorenzo as Kelly Maxwell, and Ray Santiago as Pablo Simon Bolivar.

Original Evil Dead film series producer Rob Tapert, Lawless' real-life husband, is returning to co-produce the small-screen Ash vs. Evil Dead series along with Raimi and Campbell. The studio's plot outline for the upcoming TV series reads: "Campbell reprises his role as Ash, the aging lothario and chainsaw-handed monster hunter who has spent the last 30 years 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." Filming is slated to begin this spring in New Zealand. To comprise of 10 episodes, Ash vs. Evil is tentatively set for a late 2015 premiere.