Evil Dead Rise director Lee Cronin sets next movie at the newly merged Atomic Monster and Blumhouse

Evil Dead Rise director Lee Cronin is getting back to work on a new screenplay for a horror movie he describes as "wickedly entertaining and terrifying." In addition to writing the script, Cronin will direct this new film, which New Line Cinema is currently set to release in theaters on April 17, 2026.

Cronin's untitled project has been snapped up by Jason Blum's Blumhouse and James Wan's Atomic Monster, notable because Blumhouse and Atomic Monster recently finalized their merger, and Cronin's project is the first to receive an official greenlight under their new banner. The director's own production outfit, Doppelgängers, will also be involved. In March 2024, Cronin signed a first-look deal with New Line Cinema under his Doppelgängers banner.

Grossing more than $147 million globally, Evil Dead Rise was a big hit in 2023, and it also garnered significant critical acclaim, hitting a high 84% approval rate on Rotten Tomatoes and earning a Certified Fresh seal.

Little is known about Cronin's next project, but The Hollywood Reporter says the film is described as a "modern take on something ancient." I don't know about you, but hearing "something ancient" has me excited since it makes me think the new film might be folk horror or maybe cosmic.

The director shared a photo of his screenplay on X (formerly Twitter) with the release date, though it doesn't contain any new information. Blum reposted.

Per THR, Cronin released a statement about the collaboration: “Collaborating with Jason, James and the wonderful teams from these two storied and massively successful organizations is what perfect nightmares are made of. Getting to return to New Line Cinema and my wonderful partners over there is the cherry on top.”

Besides Evil Dead Rise, Cronin is also responsible for the 2019 film The Hole in the Ground, which he also directed and co-wrote with Stephen Shields.

Evil Dead Rise is now streaming on Max. To stay up to date on thrillers, sci-fi, and horror, bookmark 1428 Elm and follow our Facebook page and Twitter account!