What Could This Show Be About?
Over two years ago, we wrote about what the messy legal battles regarding the Friday the 13th franchise would mean for future projects, (which you can read here). To summarize briefly, Victor Miller, the writer of the original has the rights to everything he created in his script, while producer and original director Sean S. Cunningham has the rights to the materials introduced in the sequels. Hence, that is why we are here with a Crystal Lake sequel with Pamela Voorhees as the main star, not adult killer Jason. On March 24th, it was reported that Linda Cardellini, known from shows like Freaks & Geeks, Dead to Me, and No Good Deed and movies like Scooby Doo, Brokeback Mountain, and Legally Blonde, has been cast as young Pamela Voorhees. The role was made famous by Betsy Palmer back in 1980 thanks to how well she was able to put up the facade of being a caring maternal figure before showing her true psychotic killer nature. So what could this prequel series look like?
There hasn’t been much in terms of story leaks or plot points outside of what we know from the original movie. We imagine that the story will focus on Pamela’s relationship with young Jason, and Deadline has suggested that it could focus on how she gave up a career in the music industry to take care of him. What should be mentioned too is that A24 is producing the show and Brad Caleb Kane is the showrunner, and that could shift the tone the series takes. We could potentially see more of a dramatic and psychological look into Pamela and her relationship with Jason and the outside world as opposed to a more old-school slasher. We’ll get into if a series needs to exist, but it could be a fascinating look into Pamela’s descent into becoming the first slasher of Crystal Lake. Linda Cardellina is a really good actress who has shown a very impressive range. She can be funny and light but also channel the dark place when she needs to. She is a great choice to lead this show.
Do We Need A Friday the 13th Prequel Series?
There is a noticeable obsession among studios to continue creating stories based on already successful franchises. Instead of taking risks with original concepts, the same media types are produced. Prequels, sequels, requels, reboots, spin-offs, and TV shows have become the norm. Surprisingly, this trend has now found A24, a studio typically known for its original projects. This would be one of the first productions under the A24 name to originate from a major franchise. HBO has announced a prequel titled Welcome to Derry, set for release in 2026. Every studio seems eager to acquire intellectual properties with no prior origins to take advantage of this trend. The recent news of Linda Cardellini joining the cast of Crystal Lake and bringing new life to this stalled production begs the question: Do we actually need a prequel to Friday the 13th?
Hannibal and Bates Motel are prime examples of how to successfully create a prequel. Both shows have distinctive styles that set them apart from the movies they originated from. If Crystal Lake can follow the same formula that made those two shows successful, then I can understand the reasoning behind making this prequel. The similarities between Bates Motel and Crystal Lake could revolve around the maternal themes that characterize Norman Bates and Jason Voorhees. With A24 in charge, this prequel has the potential to offer something different from anything we’ve seen before in the Friday the 13th franchise. Is a prequel necessary? No. But does everyone who grew up watching a horror icon wonder about the origins of that evil? Definitely. Regardless of where you stand on the necessity of these prequels, one thing is certain: they have proven to be very successful.
I've always been a movie fan, but I first got big into cinema watching Whiplash when I was younger. That movie led to a greater appreciation of films and got me to dive into the medium. My favorite genre is horror movies, but I’ll always have a secret soft spot for rom coms and musicals. When I'm not podcasting or watching movies, I love working out and going hiking, and I currently work in business analytics with the degree I got from Western New England University.
MY FAVORITE MOVIES: Good Will Hunting, Spiderman: Into The Spiderverse, Whiplash, Moneyball, Top Gun: Maverick
Ever since my mom took me to go see The Blair Witch Project in theaters when I was 7 years old I’ve been obsessed with not just movies but the horror genre. When I’m not watching movies you can find me thrifting, attending a local horror convention, or collecting physical media. I attended the University of Central Florida with a degree in Cinema Studies and use my degree to rant about movies online.
MY FAVORITE MOVIES: The Cabin in the Woods, Cabaret, Seven Samurai, The Blair Witch Project, Inglourious Basterds