Friday the 13th: Jason Lives director Tom McLoughlin passed on directing Scream

Tom McLoughlin, director of the sixth Friday the 13th film, may have gotten the gig of directing Scream if he hadn’t initially turned it down.

Could you imagine anyone other than Wes Craven directing the cult classic horror film Scream? It almost happened!

In a new chat with admin Stephen Wilkie of the Facebook group Club Voorhees, Jason Lives director Tom McLoughlin opened up about his career. Obviously, the topic of Friday the 13th Part 6 was discussed in detail. But as it turns out, McLoughlin could have also been a part of not just one, but two other major horror franchises!

Before A Nightmare on Elm Street director Wes Craven had gotten the directing job, the script for Scream — then titled Scary Movie — made its way to McLoughlin. Producers were engaging his interest in directing the flick, but at the time McLoughlin felt it was a bit too similar to Jason Lives. After some time had passed, McLoughlin had reconsidered his decision, but by then that train had left the station:

"“I️ read the Scary Movie aka Scream  [script] and ‘passed’ because I️ felt it had similarities to the satirical aspects of my [film] Jason Lives. When a few months later I️ didn’t read anything I️ liked as much as Kevin [Williamson]’s script I️ asked my agent if it was still available and he said, ‘Nope, Wes signed on.'”"

via New Line

I like to imagine him taking the news this way.

Learning about McLoughlin missing out on Scream is crazy enough, but, apparently, he could have directed a Freddy Krueger film as well! A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master was in need of a director after production had already begun, and McLoughlin was asked if he’d be interested. In this situation, the Jason Lives director said no, unwilling to step into a production after shooting had already begun without him:

"“On Nightmare 4 I️ was called into the New Line office to meet on possibly during the film. I️ had not read the script yet. But in the meeting I️ asked when would the filming begin and they said it already has two units shooting. I️ said, ‘And there’s no director yet?’ They said yes, they started the special effects units cause they needed to get going. That’s how they do things. I️ said I️ can’t be involved directing something I’m not directorially overseeing like I️ did on my Friday. So I️ passed on even reading the script.”"

Next: Halloween: What does the original Michael Myers mask look like today?

McLoughlin clarifies that neither of these were technically an “offer” to do the film. In both cases, studios were seeing if he was interested before making a final decision. Still, it’s interesting to see just how close McLoughlin came to being involved in both of these franchises, considering how popular his entry in the F13 series remains to this day.