When the news that there would be another FRIDAY THE 13TH reboot coming in 2015, we heard rumors of a found footage approach to the classic slasher franchise that centered on the unkillable Jason Voorhees as he avenges his death at the hands of the horny teenagers at Camp Crystal Lake. Now comes the prospect that the reboot may not include Jason at all.
In an interview with Crave Online, producer Brad Fuller was asked if Derek Mears, Jason in the 2009 version of FRIDAY THE 13TH would be returning to the familiar hockey mask.
Again, I don’t know because I don’t know if we’re going to have Jason, I don’t know which Jason we’re going to have. I can tell you this: I love Derek Mears, I love working with him and he’s a dream so we’d be lucky to have him.
Now, you could interpret that as they aren’t sure what version of Jason they will use, but in his very next comment, Fuller was asked if Kane Hodder could return to which he said “if” they go with Jason, he would be played by Derek Mears. This is interesting because FRIDAY THE 13TH is a concept that could have numerous horror connotations but has become so intertwined with Jason that there has been no opportunity to try something different. Now, a full reboot only 5 years after the last one, could be the perfect time to change the game.
Fuller also addressed the found footage rumor for the next film. While he didn’t eliminate the idea, he also said they are still deciding what they are going to do. I hope that they finally let the Jason franchise die and give us something completely new using the idea of the unlucky day.
The new FRIDAY THE 13TH hits theaters in 2015.