Friday the 13th franchise could be heading back to court

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Things were looking so promising, we thought we were starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel for the FRIDAY THE 13TH franchise's legal issues. The screenwriter of the original film, Victor Miller, had been awarded the copyright to that movie within the United States, and it seemed Miller and the film's producer/director Sean S. Cunningham, whose company Horror Inc. holds the rights to the franchise overall, were going to come to a settlement that would allow them to put this all behind them.

Miller gave an interview in which he indicated settlement negotiations were underway. FRIDAY THE 13TH PART III cast member Larry Zerner, who is now an entertainment lawyer, predicted a settlement would be reached very soon. Lawyers representing Miller and Horror Inc. had a couple three hour conversations about settlement last month.

But now it looks like things have fallen apart, as Horror Inc. appears to be moving forward with an appeal of the court decision that handed the first movie's copyright to Miller. 

Zerner took to his Twitter account with the update that Horror Inc. has filed a stipulation regarding use of deferred appendix… and while that collection of words doesn't mean much to me, those who understand lawyer speak will know it means

they won't have to file the appendix until after they file their briefs. … The briefs are the legal papers filed in the appellate court in which each party explains to the judges why they should win the case.  The appendix is a list of the exhibits that are referred to in the briefs.

Horror Inc. moving ahead with the appeal is a doom and gloom scenario, because a return to court means the FRIDAY THE 13TH franchise will continue to be bogged down in this lawsuit for the foreseeable future. We're not going to get any new movies or games until this issue is settled, and this could go on for a few more years.

Jason isn't dead for good, I'm sure we'll see more F13 sometime down the line, but a legal dispute is certainly the most effective way to keep him buried for a substantial amount of time.