The six insane versions of Jason we almost saw in Freddy vs Jason

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Photo credit: Saffels Photography, Model: Abby Dark Star

A few days ago we shared with you guys the news of a new book SLASH OF THE TITANS coming our way soon that covers the making of the long-gestating FREDDY VS JASON flick. The book’s author Dustin McNeill recently contacted Fridaythe13thfranchise.com to promote and talked about some of the crazy directions New Line was willing to take the Jason character in.

Six Alternate Jason’s We Almost Saw in FvsJ 

Phantom of the Opera Jason (From Freddy vs Jason ‘98) 

In this draft, the teenagers are running around Camp Crystal Lake high on a powerful dream drug. One boy encounters Jason, whom he dismisses as a hallucination. He taunts the hulking slasher, even pulling back his mask to reveal the grisly visage beneath. This is enough to scare the kid into thinking he may not be dreaming. The script reads: “Todd is finally taken over the edge. He’s not sure whether this is a dream or not. All he knows is it scares the living shit out of him! He lets go of the hockey mask. It rockets back toward Jason’s face, propelled by its elastic band, and — CRACK! Pieces of the old mask shatter away on impact, leaving Jason’s most grotesque features exposed.” 

Human Jason (From Freddy vs Jason ‘94)

This draft takes the Wes Craven’s New Nightmare approach by unfolding in our reality where the Friday the 13th movies actually exist as movies. The story then focuses upon the REAL Jason Voorhees, whom we’ve never actually seen before. The differences are immediately noticeable. For one, his mother died of ovarian cancer in 1969 having never killed any counselors. This means the earliest murders at Camp Crystal Lake were strictly Jason’s. This slasher is also quite human. As the script notes, “This is not the hideously deformed mutant seen in the other Jason movies, but a real man. He’s no less frightening, however, and he bears the scars of countless fights and wounds.” 

Jason X’s Uber-Jason (From Freddy vs Jason ‘94) 

The finale for this draft takes place inside the Elm Street Shopping Mall where Freddy is causing “waking nightmares.” As Human Jason passes by the mall’s cineplex, he notices a standee advertising a fictitious Friday the 13th sequel called JASON 2010. This display, which depicts a futuristic robo-Jason with glowing red eyes, suddenly comes to life and attacks the real slasher. This results in a bloody Jason vs Uber-Jason showdown. Noel Cunningham later revealed in Peter M. Bracke’s Crystal Lake Memories that the concept of a futuristic Jason originated with this unused crossover script. 

Hellscape Jason (From Freddy vs Jason ‘95) 

This story sees a satanic cult resurrecting Jason Voorhees from hell. Emerging from a swirling red-and-green vortex, he appears different than we last saw in Jason Goes to Hell. He still sports a hockey mask, though it is “dark chrome with angular facets,” not unlike that sequel’s teaser poster. The script charges that he is “still terrifying – a regular slasher Darth Vader.” Although his mask was upgraded in hell, his body was seemingly not and is far more rotted looking. A character later manages to nick Jason with a chainsaw. Maggots and green bile pour from his wound. 

Franken-Jason (From Freddy vs Jason ‘93) 

The very first Freddy vs Jason script picked up straight from Jason Goes to Hell. Recall that Jason’s original body was blown apart by a SWAT team in that film’s opening. This crossover’s protagonists recover his remains and crudely reassemble them using barbed wire and fishing line. They reinforce the slasher’s arms and legs with steel braces. They even repair his hockey mask using baling wire. Of his sewn-back together appearance, the script notes, “Jason looks nineties… and butch.” Putting Jason back together again was the easy part. The teenagers must next find a new heart for transplantation and electrocute him back to life. 

Nightmare Rage Jason (From Freddy vs Jason ‘98) 

Near draft’s end, things are looking badly for Jason and the heroine. They are both trapped in the dreamscape and seemingly helpless against Freddy. This is where the heroine decides that she should be able to exert some control over her own dream. “This is my nightmare. And in my nightmare, Freddy does feel pain. In my nightmare, Freddy bleeds! And in my nightmare, JASON WINS! This is where my nightmare ends and yours begins!” 

With this, Jason resurrects from near death. His body begins to tremble and shake, letting off plumes of steam. He roars. As the script notes, “Every fiber, vein, and muscle in his body explodes horrifically. He transforms into a hulking, seething, mutated abomination. Jason has become the embodiment of Lizzie’s pure and utter rage — a living nightmare!” 

Personally, I’d be down to see any of these versions up on the screen. Maybe not up on the screen… maybe the best place for these would be comic book form. Either way, I hope to see some artists take a swing at this designs in the near-future.

Get on it, guys!

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