Written by: Sam Santiago
It’s been 17 years...17 long-ass years, since Jason Voorhees last stalked theaters in New Line Cinema’s 2009 "Friday the 13th" reboot, and fans have been waiting ever since for the next chapter. Now, key creators are finally clearing the legal roadblocks.
Original "Friday the 13th" director Sean S. Cunningham has confirmed that his long-standing copyright dispute with original screenwriter Victor Miller has been resolved. Under U.S. copyright law, Miller regained domestic rights to the original film after years of litigation over whether the screenplay qualified as a “work made for hire.”
With that hurdle behind them, Cunningham says he and Miller, along with their company Horror Inc., are collaborating on the Jason Universe, a fresh creative initiative that reimagines the iconic slasher. Since they can’t use the Friday the 13th title or Jason’s classic looks, the Jason Universe will serve as an alternate continuity for the character. Yep, you heard that right: there is now a multiverse for Jason... great.
Cunningham told TMZ that an “old school” treatment for a new movie has already been completed. He’s hopeful that the Warner Bros.–Paramount merger, which would consolidate the rights under one studio, will finally give the project traction. Cunningham also noted that the script needs a younger writer to capture the franchise’s signature tension, explaining that the heart of Friday the 13th has always been “the fear of untimely death.” He expects to serve as executive producer if the project moves forward, and the way he put it was basically he's too old to care as well, so a younger writer will be perfect, but will they be?
Fans remain excited about the Jason Universe, with social media buzz and ongoing speculation about reviving "Friday the 13th: The Game" underscoring the franchise’s enduring popularity. While no studio has officially greenlit a new film yet, the groundwork is officially in place, and the future of Jason Voorhees may finally be taking shape.
Adding to the buzz, the A24/Peacock slasher prequel series Crystal Lake—which explores Jason Voorhees’ backstory and Pamela Voorhees’ life before the events of the original film—is well into production.
Fans have recently shared set photos online that show early location shoots and glimpses of the series’ recreated town and period design. However, reactions have been mixed, with some horror fans calling the images underwhelming.
The Crystal Lake series is expected to serve as a formal prequel, with Friday the 13th veteran Linda Cardellini cast as Pamela Voorhees and Callum Vinson portraying a young Jason.
We'll keep an eye on this one, but won't be holding our breath.