As he revealed to us this past summer, Sam Raimi and company are working on a brand new installment in the Evil Dead film franchise, with Bruce Campbell noting in October that Raimi has hand-picked a “new filmmaker” to take over directing duties. All we can really be sure of at this time is that the film won’t star Campbell as Ash, as he has retired the character.

That’s what Campbell has been insisting, at least. But it seems like Raimi is still holding out hope. During an Ask-Me-Anything chat on Reddit tonight in promotion of The Grudge, Raimi addressed the future of the franchise. “Bruce, Rob [Tapert] and I are working with a young filmmaker who is writing a new Evil Dead story that he will direct,” he again noted.

Raimi continued, “As for me…. I would love to direct a new Evil Dead movie… but I’d really like to do it with Bruce. And he says he’s retired the character. I hope not.”

Innnteresting. What about a sequel to Fede Alvarez‘s remake, you ask? It sounds like that’s still on the table too. “If Fede would write or direct it, yes, in a split second!” Raimi responded to a fan who asked whether or not the 2013 film would ever be getting a sequel.

So it sounds like the Evil Dead team is open to pretty much anything at this point, but what’s important here is that a new film is most definitely in the works right now. And it sounds like it’s not a sequel to Alvarez’s remake, but rather a brand new Evil Dead story.

More as we learn it…