Last week, we caught word that the latest entry in the FRIDAY THE 13TH franchise is, after several years in development hell, finally gearing up to film in the Conyers, Georgia area starting in March and wrapping up in May. Thanks to a casting call posted on ProjectCasting.com, we now know the specific dates of the production schedule: the project that is referred to as FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 13 on the casting call will be filming from March 19th through May 4th.
As you can see on the casting call, the producers at Platinum Dunes and director Breck Eisner are searching for someone to fill the role of a very familiar character:
Ultimate Model Management, Inc is currently submitting Caucasian male actors who are identical twins and age 12, for the role of Young Jason for feature film “Friday the 13th, Part 13”. Shooting will take place in Atlanta from March to May 2017.
SYNOPSIS: The 13th installment in the iconic franchise. Although the specific logline is being kept under wraps, this version is a unique retelling of the origin story.
UNION: SAG-AFTRA
PAY RATE: TBD
LOCATION: Atlanta
SHOOT DATE(S): March 19th – May 4th, 2017
REQUIREMENTS/ROLE(S)
[YOUNG JASON] – Male, Caucasian, 12 years old ONLY SEEKING IDENTICAL TWINS W/ TV AND FILM CREDITS. MUST BE UNDER 5 FOOT. NO EXCEPTIONS. Lengthy and awkward. A dark, ominous child, who has severe psychological issues. Must have a very electric and expressive face (you will be painting the scene with your facial expressions), as this role does not speak. YOUNG JASON will grow into the psycho-killer JASON. SUPPORTING ROLE. MUST BE ATLANTA BASED.
It is believed that the production is looking for twins due to child labor laws and long production hours.
The "unique retelling of the origin story" line confirms a previous quote that this would be an "origin-ish" film. It's a risky move to take 13 movies into a franchise, as many fans have already crafted their own ideas of what Jason's childhood with his mother Pamela was like, they all have their own ideas on how a young Jason acted and behaved. It would be very easy for an origin-ish film to take a turn that could upset fans. When Rob Zombie decided to devote part of his HALLOWEEN remake to examining the childhood of Michael Myers, it wasn't exactly received with overwhelming positivity. I'm sure FRIDAY fans have already taken note of the fact that the casting call says Jason is 12, even though it has already been established in the series that he drowned when he was 11.
I don't really care to see much about Jason's childhood, but there is a silver lining for fans who don't want to see an origin story. The whole movie isn't about Young Jason; the story – which was scripted by PRISONERS writer Aaron Guzikowski – does eventually jump forward in time to focus on an adult Jason knocking off camp counselors. That's what I'll really be watching FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 13 (if that is the official title) to see.