By Mike Lera
Drowned, burned, stabbed, hacked, hanged, frozen, electrocuted, blown up, launched into space,
sent to hell and even melted in Manhattan, Jason Vorhees certainly ranks first as the most durable killers in gore cinema history. And whether or not we feel the hockey masked “mama’s boy” should continue his vengeful rampage on camp counselors or hang up his machete and spear gun for good, Jason will always find and forge his way into pop culture media in one form or another.
In commemoration of the 45th anniversary of Friday the 13th, Horror, Inc. (owners of the Friday franchise) hosted a Jason Universe panel July 25th at the world famous San Diego Comic Con (on a Friday!), unmasking a boat load of upcoming thrills, chills, and kills to further advance the (almost) half-century old legacy.
First and foremost, Horror, Inc.’s VP Robbie Barsamian announced that a new Jason feature film and another Friday the 13th video game are indeed in the works! “It’s been sixteen years since we’ve had a Jason movie,” said Barsamian. “and I can tell you that a sequel to the [2017] video game and a new movie are at the top of our list and are where most of our energy is going
right now.”
Crystal Lake, a long-awaited Jason “prequel” series from Peacock and A24, has just wrapped
its third episode, and while a preview was not given to panel attendees, a few behind-the-scenes videos and photos of the set design was shown. Nothing of Pamela Vorhees (played by Linda Cardellini), Jason (young or adult) or other key characters, unfortunately. However, Sean S. Cunningham (director/producer of the original Friday the 13th who will also serve as executive producer of the show) appeared on the screen and expressed his excitement for the series, which will be set in the 1980’s.
Sweet Revenge, a short 13-minute Jason film released on August “13th”, served as a hot topic at the panel, attendees shown a trailer of the “vignette” as well as a new Jason hockey mask designed by Walking Dead producer/director Greg Nicotero that is featured in the movie. The film also involves producer Judson Scott (M3GAN/The Monkey/The Conjuring). “Because Crystal Lake was delayed for a year, we wanted to bring Jason back onto the screen in 2025 to appease anxious Friday fans and create something that would pay homage to the 80’s films,” stated Sheri Conn, Horror, Inc.’s CMO. Filled with practical effects kills and loads of “easter eggs”, Sweet Revenge is directed by Mike P. Nelson (Wrong Turn, V/H/S/85), and as a huge Friday the 13th groupie, he adds his own takes and spins on the familiar franchise. “This is all mind blowing for me,” Nelson expressed. “For years as a kid I made Friday the 13th rip-off movies starring a madman in an orange hunting jumpsuit wearing a motorcycle helmet. Never in a hundred years did I expect to make an actual Jason movie!”
Another cool unveiling at the panel included a new NECA Vorhees action figure, based on the
Friday the 13th video game’s Jason designed by legendary makeup and effects artist Tom Savini, who worked on the original 1980 film. Attendees were also shown rare never-before-seen photos from the first Friday movie and “Final Chapter”.
Christmas (or Halloween) came early for panel attendees as they were given a few “goodies” from Horror Inc., including a new Spirit Halloween hockey mask, a limited-edition 18 by 12 Mondo lithograph poster inspired by Sweet Revenge and an exclusive 45th anniversary Jason cap. Tossed out to attendees (literally) were “13” free passes for the upcoming Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights, the J-verse partnering with Universal in creating a terror-ific “Jason maze” for the popular fall event.
“We are all in on this,” declared Horror, Inc. president Robert Barsamian. “After forty-five years of Jason, we want another forty-five years. We hear fans loud and clear, and we’re doing everything we can to push the envelope. And if something doesn’t work, either we – or Jason – will fix it!”
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*All photos belong to Mike Lera