Some interesting casting news is coming from the production offices of Peacock's Crystal Lake. While many may appreciate the news that William Catlett of Abigail fame has signed onto the production, Friday the 13th fans may like that they have a chance at appearing as extras even more.
Open Casting at Camp Blood
A24 Films and Grant Wilfley Casting know the perfect talent pool to draw from when looking for actors to play New Jersey locals. They are planning on casting REAL New Jersey locals in the series. Horror fans and budding actors can make a splash at the infamous fictional lake.
The series is set in the 1970s, which harkens back to the old days when college drama students don scary costumes to play weird monsters and strange psychopaths at live horror attractions such as the Haunted Mansion in Long Branch and Dracula's Castle in Wildwood. Extra roles will likely be open to more than college-age actors, opening doors of opportunities to budding professionals and enthusiastic amateurs alike. Filming the series in New Jersey helps the streaming series return the franchise to its independent roots. Using locals adds a rawness and realness to the casting, something that might not manifest when using extras with no connection to the series' setting. Of course, the cast members used their imagination to situate their characters in 1971.
Crystal Lake Thrives in ‘25
Casting for the Friday the 13th prequel will occur between June and October 2025, and interested parties should watch for any casting news related to Mama's Boy, which is the "alias title" they use for casting notices. Productions often use alternate titles to keep shooting details secret and sometimes for security. Of course, that could change, so it may be wise to keep tabs on any casting calls for a horror series. Actually, actors should keep tabs on casting notices for films of all genres, as Mama’s Boy promotions might not necessarily indicate that casting is for a horror project.
Being cast as an extra on the series opens the doors to the incredibly valuable experience of working alongside such professionals as lead star Linda Cardellini and Catlett. They can join fellow New Jersey slasher project alums, including another Garden State-lensed feature, 1981's The Prowler. The new streaming series won’t follow the same formula as traditional slasher films, as it looks more like an extended character study, intending to flesh out the previously thin presentations of Pamela Voorhees.