Jessica Lucas, who starred in the CW remake series Melrose Place, has joined the cast of The Evil Dead remake for FilmDistrict and director Federico Alvarez. Newcomer Elizabeth Blackmore has also signed on.

The story centers on a group of friends who spend the weekend in a remote cabin, only to unwittingly unleash an evil force after reading from The Book of the Dead. We reported last month that Suburgatory star Jane Levy will play the female lead Mia, who goes on the trip to try and kick her drug addiction. Jessica Lucas will play Mia's best friend, who is also a nurse. Shiloh Fernandez and Lou Taylor Pucci have already signed on for the remake. Elizabeth Blackmore will play Shiloh Fernandez's fiancee.

Federico Alvarez is directing The Evil Dead from a script he co-wrote with Rodolfo Sayagues, which was rewritten by Diablo Cody. Production is scheduled to begin next month in New Zealand.