The cinematic future of theFriday the 13thfranchise is somewhat murky, but a director who is the perfect choice to breathe new life into Jason Voorhees seems to be interested. As it stands, a prequel series titledCrystal Lakestarring Linda Cardellini is due out in late 2025 from A24 Television, but there hasn’t been aFriday the 13thmovie in more than 15 years, with nothing imminent. Hesitation to fund a new movie appears to be consistent across the major studios, as theFriday the 13thmoviesare notorious for producing horrible reviews and disappointing box office results.
However, enough time has passed that the franchise is due to get another shot, especially after the semi-successful reboot of theHalloweenfranchise over the last few years. With the horror genre in general seeing a resurgence in recent years, driven by unique visions and high-quality storytelling, it’s understandable that studios are hesitant to dip back into what many believe is an exhausted property. However, one modern director who could soon be in high demand has expressed his interest in breathing new life into the infamousFriday the 13thslasher franchise.
The Friday the 13th Film That Almost Killed The Franchise
Jason Vorhees is now a beloved horror icon, but one of his sequels almost killed the whole franchise for its comical take on the original series.
Damien Leone Wants To Do A Bloodier, Scarier Version Of Friday The 13th
The Masked Killer Hasn’t Been Truly Scary In A Long Time
On February 27th, the creator of the box office-breakingTerrifierfranchise, Damien Leone, said in an interview withSlashFilmway back in 2023 that he had ideas about how he would remake the franchise in his own style. Leone expressed what he wanted to change about the franchise, which has been dormant for years:
I would try and make him as scary as possible because I feel like that’s something they kind of lost as the movies went along. You just start getting too comfortable with these villains and you need to be scared of them again.
According to Leone, the notion of him directing aFriday the 13thmovie was more than just fan speculation. In that same interview, Leone revealed that he had even made some forward progress on expressing his interest:
Believe it or not, I’ve gotten to talk to some people who are execs who are in charge of that franchise. I think I’m still a little too obscure on that Hollywood list of people that they would approach to direct that film.
It’s important to note that the interview took place in 2023, which was after Leone’sTerrifier 2became a viral hit. Since then, Leone’s threequelTerrifier 3 became a record-breaking critical hit and box office sensation. Leone established himself by taking a minuscule budget and turning an insane profit, which could be the key to earning the trust of a studio when it comes to resurrecting Jason Voorhees in the modern horror climate. On February 27th, 2025,Leone reposted a post on Xabout him directing aFriday the 13threboot, proving his interest is still very much intact.
Damien Leone Proved He’s The Perfect Choice To Resurrect Jason Voorhees
His Work With The Terrifier Franchise Was Unprecedented
Leone’sTerrifierfranchise transcended the average horror audience to become a viral sensation despite stomach-churning gore. The gore was well-executed and creative, with Leone’s expertise in makeup and effects helping to separate theTerrifierfranchise from run-of-the-mill slashers. His mime-like, sadistic killer also, ironically, radiates charisma and personality, making him a strangely magnetic character despite being a brutal, murderous demon.
The gore and sadistic violence of bothTerrifier 2andTerrifier 3reportedly triggered audience members to become ill, which played a big role in their viral nature.
On top of that, Leone has built an intriguing lore around the mysterious killer clown, revealing very little about his origins but keeping audiences interested. He expanded the franchise to include a heroic foil for Art the Clown, Lauren LaVera’s charming (and possibly immortal) Sienna Shaw. As entertaining as Art’s kills are, what makes theTerrifierfranchise truly special is the supernatural battle between good and evil that’s unfolding as the series continues.
What Damien Leone’s Friday the 13th Could Look Like
Jason Needs A More Cohesive, Creative Backstory
What could make theFriday the 13threboot truly special is that additional level of lore and mystique. The origin of Jason Voorhees has been beaten to death (pun intended) after countless terrible sequels, and the best thing that Damien Leone could bring to the table is a fresh vision of why Jason is scary. Leone would ideally be trusted with a true restart of the franchise as opposed to just a fresh remake, and if he is granted the freedom to build up the character and lore from the ground up, the finished product could be truly entertaining.
AllFriday the 13thFranchise Films
Friday the 13th
1980
$39.7 million
66%
Friday the 13th Part 2
1981
$21.7 million
33%
1982
$34.6 million
11%
1984
$33 million
21%
1985
$21.9 million
18%
1986
$19.5 million
53%
1988
$19.1 million
1989
$14.3 million
1993
$15.9 million
16%
2002
$13.1 million
20%
2003
$82.6 million
42%
2009
$65 million
25%
Leone would need to avoid the pitfall of simply remaking theTerrifierfranchise but swapping in Jason for Art the Clown. Part of the appeal of having Leone at the helm would be the creativity and brutality he could bring to a new Jason Voorhees killing spree. However, what truly makes him the best choice for theFriday the 13thfranchise would be his ability to make the character and franchise scary again, combining blood and terror to create a fresh horror experience for modern horror fans.
