Can you believe it has been 16+ years since we last had a new entry into the Friday the 13th franchise? There have been no new movies or shows since the 2009 remake directed by Marcus Nispel. But that's finally about to change.
1428 Elm previously reported that Linda Cardellini had been chosen to play Pamela Voorhees in A24's prequel series Crystal Lake. Now, the show has finally gone into pre-production. It has been a long and bumpy road to get to this point, with a previous version of Crystal Lake from showrunner Bryan Fuller getting scrapped due to alleged creative differences between parties. For a while, it didn't seem likely that the series would happen.
But on April 22, showrunner Brad Caleb Kane took to Instagram to announce that the production offices are open.
"MACHETES FOR EVERYONE!" he joked.
The photo doesn't provide much insight; it just reveals that the draft is complete and things are cooking behind the scenes.
Crystal Lake was initially announced more than two years ago as an A24-produced series bound for streaming service Peacock. Although the project has had to conquer multiple obstacles, it's very exciting to see that things are moving full steam ahead, especially considering how long it has been since Friday the 13th has produced new content.
For those who missed the beginning drama surrounding Crystal Lake, the series was initially going to be helmed by Hannibal and American Gods showrunner Fuller, with Peacock ordering a full season and a second season likely. Fuller later departed the show, and Kane stepped in.
Kane has experience creating horror prequel series, as he's also involved with the HBO series It: Welcome to Derry, which is expected to premiere later this year.
Not many details have been revealed about Crystal Lake and what fans can expect, but we know Dead to Me actress Cardellini is playing Jason's mother, Pamela. Now that pre-production is underway, we'll probably start getting more information on the cast. The series isn't expected to debut until sometime in 2026.
Though the legal rights over the slasher property and Jason Voorhees have become increasingly complicated, there has been some movement on that front. In May 2024, Horror, Inc. exclusively revealed plans for an expansive "Jason Universe," including games, merchandise, and more. You can sign up on the official site to receive news and updates when content becomes available. Jason also appears in the Warner Bros. game MultiVersus, a free-to-play crossover featuring characters from DC and other iconic properties.
Stay tuned to 1428 Elm for more updates on Friday the 13th and the Crystal Lake prequel series.