Just over a week ago, we caught word that SpringHill Entertainment, the production company founded by NBA superstar LeBron James, is teaming up with Vertigo Entertainment in an attempt to bring a new FRIDAY THE 13TH film to the screen. At the time, I speculated that SpringHill and Vertigo might be working with original FRIDAY THE 13TH producer/director Sean S. Cunningham's company Horror Inc., which holds the rights to the F13 franchise in general. It has since come out that it was actually original FRIDAY THE 13TH writer Victor Miller who brought this project to SpringHill and Vertigo, which makes it seem like it's going to be very tough for it to move forward. Miller was recently awarded the copyright to the first F13 within the United States – but Horror Inc. still owns the copyright outside the U.S.
How does Miller expect to be able to make a new FRIDAY THE 13TH when he only owns the rights to the first movie in the U.S.? That remains to be seen, but he's hoping LeBron James can make it happen.
James hasn't commented on his association with FRIDAY THE 13TH, but he did wear the hockey mask of iconic F13 slasher Jason Voorhees for Halloween. Pictures and video were taken of James as he arrived at last night's Lakers game sporting the hockey mask over a Jason hood mask complete with bloody axe wound, wearing gloves, and wielding a hammer… Kind of a fun way to troll those of us who are waiting to hear more information on what's going on with SpringHill and our beloved franchise.
But even if James did comment, we still have to wait and see how the legal issues will play out, as Cunningham has filed an appeal in hopes that the court will reverse the copyright decision that enabled Miller to approach SpringHill and Vertigo in the first place.