Evil Dead Burn will have a surprising connection to the lore of the original films through one of its characters. The upcoming horror sequel will be the sixth installment in the franchise.
What is the Evil Dead Burn lore detail fans should know?
In a profile on Out, Evil Dead Burn star Hunter Doohan revealed a key detail about his character, Joseph, that will excite fans of the franchise. Doohan revealed that his character’s grandfather knew Professor Knowby, a recurring character from the Evil Dead franchise who appears on screen in Evil Dead 2.
“Joseph is working on a book about his grandfather’s research,” Doohan said. “His grandfather knew Professor Knowby. I loved how this script not only ties back a little bit to Evil Dead Rise — but this movie connects the lore through the whole franchise, which I found really exciting.”
The new revelation connects the new film to the original Sam Raimi trilogy in an unexpected way. Professor Raymond Knowby is an off-screen character in the first film, an archaeologist who discovered the Necronomicon at the Castle of Kandar. The Necronomicon, or the Book of the Dead, unleashes the Deadites in each installment of the franchise.
Professor Knowby was played by John Peakes in flashback sequences in Evil Dead 2. In the first film, the character was voiced by Bob Dorian. The character recorded his translations of the book onto a tape recorder, which is later played by the film’s characters and activates the demonic entities.
Evil Dead Burn has been positioned as a standalone entry, similar to the films in recent years. The franchise will continue to subvert horror traditions with the new entry. The film has received positive reviews from critics and fans, with ComingSoon’s Jonathan Sim also praising it in his review.
Evil Dead Burn, directed by Sébastien Vanicek, releases in theaters on July 10, 2026.
