Alexandre Aja wanted to direct the new Friday the 13th

Last Updated on July 31, 2021

While interviewing with Bloody Disgusting about his upcoming film THE 9TH LIFE OF LOUIS DRAX, director Alexandre Aja dropped a Jason Voorhees-shaped bombshell. Not only has he read Aaron Guzikowski's script for the upcoming FRIDAY THE 13TH movie, he actually wanted to direct the film:

It’s very different, I mean the Friday the 13th script was a very very smart and a great opportunity to do something that was in the same time eerie, in the same time reinventing, and renouncing the wall. I think Friday the 13th was such a cool world because Jason became an icon and became such a cultural legend that it took like almost four movies to create the character the way people see him, and it would be really interesting to go back and say, you know, what would be a movie that people can bring back all together. Friday the 13th has an amazing character and I think there is room and they have a script now that’s really really amazing, to do something that’s absolutely scary and the same time a way to re-establish the character for a new generation. I’m not the one doing it, but I will definitely go see it.

…It’s hard because I’m not, you know I can’t talk about this project because I’m not the one directing it, but I think, you know, I would have tried to do something that would please me as an audience member, and I think we all as a fan of you know Jason and as a fan of the genre I think there is some respect to show to the energy, to the spirit, and you need to do something that’s absolutely stunning, shocking and absolutely never goofy to make the right Friday the 13th.

The film is currently being helmed by Breck Eisner of THE LAST WITCH HUNTER, but it would have been a real treat to see Aja's take on the franchise. The man certainly has directed his fair share of remakes, with PIRANHA 3D and THE HILLS HAVE EYES. And he's certainly proven himself as a genre auteur. It's disappointing that we're left with a much less interesting filmmaker, but at least we have Aja's approval on the script itself, which is reassuring to hear.

THE 9TH LIFE OF LOUIS DRAX, which is based on the novel of the same name by Liz Jensen, was adapted by Max Minghella.

The 9th Life of Louis Drax begins on Louis Drax's (Aiden Longworth) 9th birthday, when he miraculously survives a near fatal fall. His doctor Allan Pascal (Jamie Dornan) finds himself tangled between his professional responsibility and his growing affections for the boy’s mother (Sarah Gadon), a fragile young beauty. When Louis’ father (Aaron Paul) comes under suspicion, Pascal realizes other mysterious forces may be at work.

The cast also includes Oliver Platt, Molly Parker and Barbara Hershey.