In response to an article we published yesterday, Bruce Campbell last night announced his retirement from playing Ash Williams, in the wake of Starz pulling the plug on “Ash vs. Evil Dead” after just three seasons. “Big props to fans for the effort, but I’m retired as Ash,” Campbell tweeted. He included the hashtag, “#timetofrysomeotherfish.”

Today, Campbell has released a full statement in regards to his Evil Dead retirement.

“Good people, Evil Dead fans everywhere, I bid you a heartfelt farewell playing Ash – the character I took acting lessons with for 39 years. I am hereby retiring from that portrayal. It’s time. I followed Ash from his formative years thru his mid-life crisis and decline. What a thrill! What a privilege!

We had a great resurgence with the help of Starz (kudos not jeers, folks). They made it possible for 15 more hours of Evil Dead-ness in your life – the equivalent of 10 more features!

Is Ash dead? Never. Ash is as much a concept as a person. Where there is evil in this world, there must be one to counter – man or woman, it matters not.

Thanks for watching.

Love, Bruce.”

Now we don’t want to read *too much* into that “Is Ash dead?” paragraph, but I personally couldn’t help but think of another one-handed Deadite slayer when I read it. With “Ash vs. Evil Dead” over and Campbell retired as Ash, now would seem the perfect time to make a sequel to Fede Alvarez’s Evil Dead, with the return of Jane Levy as Mia. Alas, we reached out to Alvarez for comment over the weekend, and he told us that no forward momentum has been made on that front – at least not with his involvement.

But this isn’t about the future right now. It’s about Bruce Campbell formally retiring from the role that made him a household name. And as sad as we are about that, we’re incredibly grateful to Starz for giving us 15+ more hours of Campbell as Ash, which we honestly never expected to be gifted with. It was a big time gift, that’s for damn sure.

We can’t wait to see what you do next, Bruce.