Peacock and A24 were set to deliver a Friday the 13th series, Crystal Lake. However, the series has taken several twists and turns in the last 24 hours.
Jeff Sneider of The InSneider reported that A24 had “pulled the plug” on the series on May 6.
“It’s unclear whether this is a permanent decision or a temporary one, as A24 had no comment. Perhaps Peacock will help the trades shed more light on this project, which was announced back in 2022,” Sneider's report read.
However, Bloody Disgusting is now reporting the opposite. A24 is reportedly not canning the series. Their report does state that there is some “retooling” happening at the moment.
To Sneider's credit, he did state it was unclear if the decision was final. Perhaps A24 had buyer's remorse after canning the Friday the 13th spin-off.
What is A24's Crystal Lake?
Crystal Lake is being billed as an “expanded prequel” to the film series. The title is derived from Camp Crystal Lake, where Jason Voorhees originates from. The series would presumably serve as a reboot of the series, retelling the origins of Jason and telling more stories from the camp.
Peacock will distribute the series. A24 will produce it. While mostly known for their award-winning films such as Everything Everywhere All at Once and Moonlight, they also produce films and TV projects.
Their resume includes Beef, Euphoria, and Ramy on the TV side.
As a distributor, A24 has released the likes of Ex Machina, Hereditary, and Lady Bird. A24 was founded 11 years ago in August 2012 by Daniel Katz, David Fenkel, and John Hodges. Since its inception, A24 has become one of Hollywood's premiere production and distribution studios.
The Friday the 13th franchise
The Friday the 13th franchise began in 1980 with the first film. Sean S. Cunningham directed the film based on a script from Victor Miller.
10 sequels were made after the initial film. These include a crossover with the Nightmare of Elm Street series, Freddy vs. Jason. Other themed installments include Jason Takes Manhattan and Jason X (a sci-fi film).
In 2009, the series was rebooted. Marcus Nispel directed a reboot film that starred Jared Padalecki, Danielle Panabaker, Amanda Righetti, and Travis Van Winkle. Mark Swift and Damian Shannon co-wrote the script for Nispel.
And it was a moderate success. Friday the 13th (2009) grossed over $90 million. However, a sequel was never made and that remains the latest film installment in the series. In the years since a video game has been made.
Like the series or not, the Friday the 13th franchise is one of the most successful horror franchises. The dozen films have grossed over $450 million cumulatively. The Nightmare on Elm Street series has made a comparable amount to date. With its nine films, the franchise has grossed over $440 million.
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