After a 17-year hiatus: New Friday the 13th movie announced
The film is set to return to the series' roots
Jason is back! After a hiatus of more than 17 years, a new "Friday the 13th" movie has been announced. And according to Deadline, the director has also been confirmed.
Steve Miner, who previously directed "Friday the 13th Part 2" (1981) and "Friday the 13th Part 3" (1982), is taking the helm. He was also instrumental in creating the serial killer's iconic look. In the second installment, Jason wielded a machete for the first time, while in the third film he finally donned the iconic hockey mask.
The screenplay for the new installment was written by David Fliegel, a writer who is still relatively unknown. The project is being financed and produced by the Barsamian family, who own the rights to the franchise through their company, Horror, Inc. The film is thus intended to deliberately return to the roots of the horror series and be produced outside the usual studio structures. Robbie Barsamian, Executive Vice President of Horror, Inc., emphasized how important Miner's influence has been to Jason's identity:
"For generations of fans, Jason's identity is inseparable from the creative choices Steve Miner brought to the screen. Reuniting with Steve under a fully independent model allows us the creative control to honor what makes Jason the greatest slasher of all time and deliver the definitive theatrical event that today's audiences expect."
Miner himself is also excited about the opportunity to bring a new "Friday the 13th" film to the big screen:
"When I put the hockey mask on Jason for 'Friday the 13th Part 3', I knew it would create a truly scary image that would work for that movie. I had no idea that it would live on as one of the most iconic symbols in horror films. I'm thrilled to come back and continue the legacy."
The theatrical release
The upcoming film is the 13th installment in the series and also the first theatrical release since the 2009 reboot. Specific details about the plot have not yet been revealed. What is certain, however, is that the filmmakers aim to both attract new horror fans to the Jason universe and meet the expectations of the long-standing fan base. The theatrical release is scheduled for 2027.
Friday the 13th: From Low-Budget Slasher to Horror Franchise
The franchise began in 1980 with a relatively low-budget slasher film that cost just $550,000 to produce. The story centered on several counselors preparing the summer camp at Crystal Lake for its reopening. But soon they are hunted down by an unknown assailant and killed one by one. The tragic death of a boy who had drowned in the lake years earlier also plays a crucial role. Contrary to initial assumptions, Jason himself was not the killer – it was his mother, Pamela Voorhees. It wasn't until the subsequent installments that her son emerged as the central threat.
Directed by Sean S. Cunningham, the film became a huge success and laid the foundation for one of the longest-running horror film franchises of all time. Over the past 45 years, numerous sequels have been released, establishing the franchise far beyond the movie screen. In addition to films , the Jason universe now also includes video games, comics, and merchandise. In total, the theatrical films released to date have grossed nearly $450 million worldwide.
The latest expansion of the franchise also demonstrates that interest in Jason Voorhees remains strong. "Crystal Lake", a prequel series that explores the origins of the story, was recently released. The series stars Linda Cardellini as Pamela Voorhees and Callum Vinson as the young Jason. The series got off to a remarkable start: According to Nielsen, it reportedly accumulated around 1.3 billion streaming minutes within the first eleven days. For Peacock, this marks one of the most successful launches of an original fictional production ever. In Germany, the series is available on HBO Max.
Back in 2024, Horror, Inc. had already announced a new strategy – the so-called "Jason Universe" – to expand the brand over the long term. In addition to "Crystal Lake" and the new feature film, this strategy also includes the short film "Sweet Revenge" by Mike P. Nelson, which was released to mark the 45th anniversary.
