Director Fede Alvarez is currently wrapping up photography on Evil Dead, FilmDistrict and Ghost House Pictures’ remake of Sam Raimi’s 1981 cult-hit horror classic, now filming in Auckland, New Zealand. The film was written by Alvarez and Rodo Sayagues (with a polish by Diablo Cody) is produced by Sam Raimi (Spider-Man); Rob Tapert (30 Days of Night) and Bruce Campbell who played the popular Ash character in the original trilogy.

Now Raimi confirms what we’ve more or less been suspecting, that the character of Ash will not be in the remake. He told MTV, “No, that character’s not in this movie“. He also said that the new one is “gut-wrenching, scary and intense“. This all fits nicely with what I’m expecting from the movie so far. From what I’ve heard, this thing is intense and gory and stays true to the spirit of the original without copying its exact story. In other words, I’m expecting it to do what remakes are (at their best) supposed to do.

In the reboot, “Five twenty-something friends become holed up in a remote cabin where they discover a Book Of The Dead and 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.” A core cast of young, fresh talent includes Jane Levy (Suburgatory) as Mia; Shiloh Fernandez (Deadgirl, Red Riding Hood) as David; Lou Taylor Pucci (Carriers) as Eric; Jessica Lucas (Cloverfield) as Olivia and Elizabeth Blackmore (Legend of the Seeker) as Natalie.

The film is due in theaters on April 12th, 2013. Head inside to watch Raimi discuss the remake.