Horror franchises often have incredible staying power, just like the iconic villains they feature. The *Friday the 13th* series is a prime example. But sometimes, the biggest scares aren’t the monsters themselves – they’re legal problems! A complicated series of behind-the-scenes disputes kept Jason Voorhees separated from the *Friday the 13th* brand for years – similar to what happened with *Child’s Play* and Chucky creator Don Mancini – but that’s all changed now. Get ready for plenty more gore!
Fans are about to see a resurgence of the *Friday the 13th* franchise, largely thanks to Horror Inc. and Robert Barsamian. They revealed plans in May 2024 for a broader “Jason Universe” (styled as Un1v3rse) with several new horror movies and other projects in the works. This includes a prequel series coming to Peacock in 2026, and the intention is to continue developing content that lives up to the legacy of Jason Voorhees.
I’m really excited about all the upcoming projects exploring the story of the Voorhees family, Crystal Lake, and everything connected to it. Here’s what we know is planned so far.
Jason Universe Movies: New Feature In The Works Following “Sweet Revenge” Short
The original *Friday the 13th* movie came out in theaters on May 9, 1980, and most fans see it as the foundation of a film series, no matter how many new adaptations are made. So, let’s talk about what’s next for Jason in movies, and also remember where it all began with his first big-screen appearance.
Mike P. Nelson’s “Sweet Revenge” – Released
While Pamela Voorhees was the initial villain, her son Jason eventually became the main focus of the series. Since this isn’t a story about Pamela, it’s fitting that the first official narrative from Horror Inc. centers on Jason Voorhees and the people who cross his path.
Mike P. Nelson, who directed *Wrong Turn* and is making the new *Silent Night, Deadly Night*, created a short film called *Sweet Revenge*. It shows Jason Voorhees killing for the first time on screen since the 2009 *Friday the 13th* reboot. While it doesn’t offer anything groundbreaking, it’s an enjoyable and gory watch, packing a lot of action into its under-13-minute runtime – and it still manages to tell a coherent story with believable characters.
Here’s a glimpse of what a new *Friday the 13th* movie directed by Nelson might be like.
Untitled Friday The 13th Movie – Announced
During San Diego Comic-Con 2025, Horror Inc. Vice President Robbie Barsamian announced that a new movie is in the very early stages of development, following the release of “Sweet Revenge.” His announcement was phrased in a way that sparked a lot of curiosity, but made it hard to guess what the movie might be about, according to Bloody Disgusting.
We’re focusing most of our efforts on creating both a sequel movie and a sequel game right now, and we’re finally able to make them happen. Although we aren’t making an official announcement with our partners today, I can confirm that both projects are underway and will be released.
The announcement created a lot of buzz at SDCC and online. (We’ll discuss the video game plans later.) However, there haven’t been any significant updates since then. It’s still unclear whether the new Jason movie will be a direct or thematic sequel to one of the existing Friday the 13th films, or even to Sweet Revenge. Barsamian might have also been using the term ‘sequel’ broadly to suggest the movie will simply follow the story of the upcoming TV series.
A new movie could learn from the approach of David Gordon Green’s *Halloween* and *Exorcist: Believer* by mostly disregarding lesser sequels. The *Friday the 13th* series, for example, became increasingly ridiculous with each new installment. However, even if it was the only option, I’d still happily watch a sequel to *Jason X* set in space.
Jason Universe TV And Streaming:
Okay, everyone’s buzzing about Jason Voorhees coming back to the movies, which is awesome! But honestly, as a big horror fan, I’m really curious to see how the filmmakers are going to build out the ‘Friday the 13th’ world for a longer, ongoing story. It’s a pretty straightforward concept so far, and I’m excited to see where they take it.
Crystal Lake (Streaming Series) – Currently Filming
- Release Date: TBA 2026
- Platform: Peacock
- Creator/Showrunner: Brad Caleb Kane
- Cast: Linda Cardellini (Pamela Voorhees
- Callum Vinson (Jason Voorhees)
- William Catlett (Levon Brooks)
- Devin Kessler (Briana Brooks)
- Cameron Scoggins (Dorf)
- Gwendolyn Sundstrom (Grace)
- Nick Cordileone (Ralph)
- Producers: Brad Caleb Kane, Victor Miller, Marc Toberoff, Robert M. Barsamian, Robert P. Barsamian, Stuart Manashil, Michael Lennox
- Studio: A24
The Peacock series *Crystal Lake* began development around 18 months before the announcement of a broader *Friday the 13th* universe, starting in October 2022. Bryan Fuller, known for *Hannibal* and *American Gods*, was originally the showrunner, with Robert Barsamian producing. However, Fuller was let go in May 2024 due to creative disagreements, which happened around the same time the project’s direction changed. Several other creatives were considered at various points, including *Scream* writer Kevin Williamson, Charlize Theron, *Channel Zero* creator Nick Antosca, director Vincenzo Natali (known for *Cube*), and director Kimberly Peirce (*Boys Don’t Cry*).
By August 2024, Brad Caleb Kane, known for his work on shows like *IT: Welcome to Derry* and *Lodge 49*, was named the showrunner. Casting began soon after, and filming started in April 2025, with the aim of finishing the first season by October. As of now, there haven’t been any previews or official photos released, but I’m really excited to see what Kane creates.
Currently, details about the show’s story are limited, but we know it’s a prequel focusing on Linda Cardellini’s character, Pamela Voorhees. The show will also feature some returning characters from the original film, including Ralph, the boy on the bike. Interestingly, filming is taking place at the very same camp used for the first movie, directed by Sean S. Cunningham.
Jason Universe Video Games: New Project Announced
While the *Friday the 13th* franchise hasn’t always been a major player in gaming, there have been attempts to adapt it for platforms like PC and NES. Jason Voorhees himself has appeared as a guest character in games like *Mortal Kombat*, *Call of Duty*, and *Multiversus*. The most successful *Friday the 13th* game so far was *Friday the 13th: The Game*, a 2018 multiplayer title where one player is Jason and others try to survive. Sadly, legal issues surrounding the franchise caused the game’s servers to shut down in 2020, and it was eventually removed from digital stores in 2023.
Efforts to revive the game were stopped by Horror Inc.’s lawyers, but it wasn’t until July 2025 that the company announced it was creating its own video game focused on Jason. The announcement came alongside news about a new movie and described the game as a “sequel,” though details about the game’s story or which developers are working on it haven’t been released.
Jason Universe’s Other New Projects: Halloween Horror Nights & More
At the San Diego Comic-Con panel, Horror Inc.’s Chief Marketing Officer, Sheri Conn, explained the company’s desire to give fans more content featuring Jason and *Friday the 13th* in any way they can. She stated:
For the past few years, we’ve been diligently working to revitalize and expand our entertainment offerings, including games, theme park attractions, merchandise, and partnerships.
Perhaps Jason’s most significant contribution to 2025, beyond the *Sweet Revenge* short film, has been the haunted house dedicated to him at Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights 34. This is the first time the character has appeared at the event since the *Freddy vs. Jason* maze in 2015. Fans generally seem to really enjoy the house’s focus on classic Jason elements, suggesting we may see more similar themed attractions in the future.
Beyond the interactive experiences, the world of Jason Voorhees is expanding with a wide range of *Friday the 13th* merchandise available in stores and specialty shops. You can find everything from costumes and backpacks to glow-in-the-dark hockey masks and all sorts of drinkware. It wouldn’t be surprising if someone opened a real-life Camp Crystal Lake as a themed weekend trip—though it might not be a relaxing one, knowing the movies!
Things are looking great for Jason Voorhees! There are lots of new Friday the 13th projects and merchandise coming soon. And just like in the movies, you can’t escape him – he’ll always be after you.
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2025-10-14 16:12