Can you believe it’s now been 15 years since we last saw Jason Voorhees on the screen?
After years of legal troubles, the Voorhees family was set to return in a new Friday the 13th television series. This project, titled Crystal Lake, is a collaboration between A24, Peacock, and Bryan Fuller (“Hannibal”).
Still Alive, But Changing
Recent reports have cast doubt on the show’s future. Filming was supposed to start this year. Sneider’s report leaves the show’s status unclear, and A24 had no comment on whether this decision is permanent or temporary. There’s hope that Peacock might shed more light on this situation, as the project was announced back in 2022.
Contrary to the initial report, Bloody Disgusting reported that A24 has NOT canceled Crystal Lake. The show is still happening but is undergoing some retooling behind the scenes. Recently, we learned that Bryan Fuller, the creator of Hannibal, is no longer the showrunner. A24 has decided to take the project in a different direction, which means the overall vision for the series will likely change.
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What Could Have Been
Kevin Williamson, known for his work on Scream and Sick, was set to write an episode of Crystal Lake.
He expressed his disappointment on Twitter, praising Fuller’s initial vision of the show. Williamson described the pilot as a “gorgeous portrait of a mother unraveling in her grief” and mentioned he was looking forward to crafting an hour-long chase episode.
Unfortunately, we won’t see his take on this epic horror chase. Vincenzo Natali, the director of Cube and Splice, also shared his thoughts. He had read the first two episodes and described Fuller’s Crystal Lake as a potential Hannibal-level reinvention—beautiful, sad, poetic, funny, and horrifying.
What Is Crystal Lake About?
Peacock gave the project a straight-to-series order in 2022. Crystal Lake is described as an “expanded prequel” to the original Friday the 13th franchise.
The series will feature both Jason Voorhees and his mother, Pamela Voorhees. Adrienne King, the original final girl from Friday the 13th, had signed on for a recurring role. Bryan Fuller was initially set to be the writer, showrunner, and executive producer. The original Friday the 13th writer, Victor Miller, is also on board as a producer alongside Marc Toberoff, Rob Barsamian, and A24. Additionally, Kevin Williamson was set to write an episode.
Searching for New Leadership
With Fuller’s departure, A24 and Peacock are now on the hunt for a new showrunner to steer the project. While the direction may change, the anticipation for a Friday the 13th series remains high. Stay tuned for more updates as the project evolves.
Are you excited for this series?
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