Peacock and A24 Team Up for Upcoming Friday the 13th Prequel Series ‘Crystal Lake’

Peacock and A24 studio are developing a Friday the 13th prequel series, Crystal Lake.

Deadline confirmed that Brad Caleb Kane (It: Welcome to Derry) has been announced as the new showrunner—and he will also serve as the series’ creator, writer, and executive producer. He replaces Bryan Fuller (Star Trek: Discovery, Hannibal), who exited the project in May. Fuller revealed that he left because “A24 has elected to go a different way with the material.” Crystal Lake was first announced in October 2022.

In a statement, Kane said, “From the moment I watched Jason Voorhees squeeze a guy’s eyeball out of its socket (in glorious 3D!) at the tender age of 8 years old, I knew my creative path was someday destined to converge with The Man Behind The Mask.” Kane added, “Nothing defined my childhood more than growing up in the golden age of the slasher flick, and nothing’s defined the genre more than Friday The 13th. I couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity to contribute a chapter to this iconic franchise, particularly with such fearless partners as Peacock and A24.”

The plot details are being kept under wraps, and this project marks A24’s first major IP-driven endeavor as part of its recent push into more commercial projects; executive producers include A24, Victor Miller (who wrote the screenplay for the original 1980 Friday the 13th film), Miller’s copyright attorney Marc Toberoff, and Robert M. Barsamian and Robert P. Barsamian.

The Friday the 13th franchise—comprising 12 slasher films, first for Paramount and then for New Line—is one of the most iconic and enduring horror series in film history. Directed by Sean S. Cunningham, the original film introduces Camp Crystal Lake—where a young camper named Jason Voorhees (Ari Lehman) tragically drowned due to counselor negligence. Seeking revenge for Jason’s death is his mother, Pamela (Betsy Palmer), who processes her grief by murdering camp counselors. In later installments, Jason becomes one of horror’s most recognizable villains, known for his hockey mask and seemingly immortal presence.

Crystal Lake follows Friday the 13th: The Series—which aired for three seasons in syndication from 1987 to 1990. It will be the first project affiliated with Friday the 13th to emerge since a 2009 reboot of the original film from New Line.

Source: Deadline