After 16 years and changes, a new “Friday the 13th” movie is finally on the way. (Yes, really.) Although we currently have more questions than answers, the team behind the recently launched Jason Universe has said that a movie is in development. Now, the filmmaker behind this year’s official “F13” short film, titled “Sweet Revenge,” has confirmed those plans.
I recently had the chance to speak with director Mike P. Nelson in honor of the release of his remake of “Silent Night, Deadly Night,” which I saw at Fantastic Fest this year. Since Nelson was behind the camera for the aforementioned “Sweet Revenge” film, which debuted on YouTube in August, I asked him if he was aware of any plans for a new feature film. Nelson couldn’t say much, but what he said was enough to assure us that this is actually happening. Here’s what he had to say:
“They’re working on it, I can promise you that, because I’ve heard about it and because I have this direct communication with them, it’s there. So it’s really happening. And yes, they have reached out [to me about it]. Like other people. I can’t say too much, but I will say I’ve given my opinion, I’ve given them my opinion, and right now it’s in their court and we’ll go from there.”
Not only was Nelson able to confirm that things are turning around with Jason Voorhees returning in cinematic form, but he also revealed that he presented his point of view to the producers.
“I can tell you that a new sequel movie and a new sequel game are at the top of our list. That’s where most of our energy is going right now,” Horror Inc. vice president Robbie Barsamian previously said (via Bloody Disgusting).
Mike P. Nelson offered his perspective on Friday the 13th
As for exactly what Nelson is thinking? It’s a little more up in the air. For those who haven’t seen “Sweet Revenge,” stuntman Schuyler White plays Jason Voorhees, who, in classic fashion, sends some young people to the edge of a lake. However, our youngest daughter, Eve (Ally Ioannides), makes things very interesting. The short ends with a confrontation between Eve and Jason, with Eve seemingly transformed by the waters of Camp Crystal Lake.
Would Nelson’s feature film be an expansion of the “Sweet Revenge” story, or something else? For what it’s worth, the director has made big decisions with franchises in the past, including his 2021 reboot “Wrong Turn” and his bold remake “Silent Night, Deadly Night.” Elsewhere in our interview, Nelson explained his approach to pre-established deductibles:
“I think a lot of intellectual property loses its luster because it’s too much ‘holier than thou’ and ‘we have to be careful.’ Man, get over it, man. Go out and try something. That’s the reason original content did so well is because someone went out and did something, you know what I mean? And they did something different. So why not do something different? »
Don’t expect Nelson to make a by-the-numbers “Friday the 13th” movie if the producers follow his pitch. Either way, this project will end a long drought as the franchise has been caught in a complicated legal battle for years. Slowly, it seems like everything is starting to fall apart, while Peacock is also in production on a prequel TV series called “Crystal Lake” (although it has nothing to do with the new movie currently in development).
“Silent Night, Deadly Night” hits theaters on December 12, 2025.
