Today : Oct 22, 2025
Arts & Culture
21 October 2025

Crystal Lake Prequel Series Wraps Filming After Sixteen Years

The first Friday the 13th project since 2009 has finished production, with a star-studded cast and new storylines promising to revive the iconic horror franchise.

After years of rumors, delays, and legal wrangling, the infamous Camp Crystal Lake is finally back in the spotlight. On October 20, 2025, Brad Caleb Kane, showrunner and executive producer, announced via Instagram that filming for the highly anticipated Friday the 13th prequel series, "Crystal Lake," has officially wrapped. For die-hard horror fans and newcomers alike, this marks a major milestone: it’s the first new project in the franchise in sixteen years, since Marcus Nispel’s 2009 reboot slashed its way into theaters. The excitement, both behind the scenes and among fans, is palpable.

"Crystal Lake wrap party was epic! I’m madly in love with and totally in awe of this stellar bunch of artists and humans. A fella couldn’t ask for a more talented and wonderful group of collaborators. S1 (almost sorta not quite) done and dusted. More please and thank you," Kane wrote, sharing photos of the celebration and the team that made it all happen, according to Bloody Disgusting and Collider. The eight-episode series, a collaboration between A24 and Peacock, promises to bring a fresh yet reverent take on the iconic slasher saga that began in 1980.

Production on "Crystal Lake" began in April 2025, and after about six months of filming, the cast and crew gathered for a wrap party to commemorate their achievement. Actor Cameron Scoggins, who plays a key role in the series, also took to Instagram to share his gratitude and enthusiasm: "What a journey since June! To be a part of Crystal Lake has been the dream of a lifetime. Thank you to A24 & Peacock for the opportunity. Thank you to the INCREDIBLE crew for being the best group of people to be around everyday. And huge thanks to the true maestro Brad Caleb Kane who has taken on this legendary franchise with such respect, wit and infectious enthusiasm. Ya’ll ain’t ready for what this man is about to give you." Scoggins added, "I can’t wait for people to see this thing and for the fans of this franchise to get to spend more quality time with the beautifully colorful denizens of this infamously cursed town… and its most famous undying resident. I have no idea when that will be, but for now… it’s a wrap! And my heart is full."

The series is set to serve as an expanded prequel to the original 1980 "Friday the 13th" film. Instead of picking up where the films left off, "Crystal Lake" promises to delve deeper into the origins of the Voorhees family, focusing on the relationship between Pamela Voorhees and her young son, Jason, before his tragic drowning at the notorious camp. According to CinemaBlend and The Indian Express, Linda Cardellini stars as Pamela Voorhees, a former singer who sacrificed her career to care for her special-needs son. Callum Vinson steps into the role of young Jason Voorhees, offering a new perspective on the character whose hockey mask became an emblem of horror.

The supporting cast is a veritable who’s who of both franchise newcomers and returning character names. William Catlett, Devin Kessler, Cameron Scoggins, and Gwendolyn Sundstrom join the ensemble, while Nick Cordileone takes on the role of Crazy Ralph, Danielle Kotch plays Claudette, and Phoenix Parnevik portrays Barry—all characters who first appeared in the original movie. Nancy Nagrant is set to play Kay Christy, a relative of Steve Christy from the 1980 film, and Joy Suprano also features in the new series. The show is helmed by a trio of directors: Michael Lennox (who also serves as executive producer), Celine Held & Logan George, and Quyen Tran, bringing a diverse set of creative visions to the project.

While the cameras have stopped rolling, the journey to the screen isn’t over just yet. As CinemaBlend points out, post-production is still underway, with tasks like sound design, gore effects, and scoring left to complete before the series can debut. The exact release date remains under wraps, but all signs point to a 2026 premiere on Peacock, where horror fans will finally get to return to the haunted grounds of Crystal Lake.

"Crystal Lake" arrives at a time when the Friday the 13th franchise has been largely dormant, with no new films released since 2009. Over the past decade, fans have wondered if Jason Voorhees would ever return to the big or small screen. According to Collider, there have even been recent discussions about a new film, with former WWE wrestler Adam Scherr revealing that he’s in talks to potentially play Jason in a future cinematic outing. "There may be some talks about it with people that I know and my agency. If we could ever get everybody to get back on the same page and allow the things to work, I might be the next Voorhees," Scherr said in an interview, stoking hopes for a broader revival of the franchise.

The anticipation for "Crystal Lake" is heightened by its promise to explore new territory. The series is expected to dig into Pamela Voorhees’ backstory, shedding light on her motivations and the heartbreak that drove her to become one of horror’s most memorable villains. According to The Indian Express, the show will trace her journey from a devoted mother and former singer to a woman forever changed by loss and tragedy. This fresh angle could add emotional depth to a franchise known more for its body count than its character development.

The creative team behind "Crystal Lake" is stacked with talent, both in front of and behind the camera. The list of executive producers includes A24, Marc Toberoff, Victor Miller (who penned the original film), Robert M. Barsamian, Stuart Manashil, and Tyson Bidner, among others. Their combined experience promises a series that balances nostalgia with innovation, paying homage to the original while carving out its own identity.

For fans who have waited over a decade for new Friday the 13th content, the completion of filming is a reason to celebrate. The series not only marks a return to form for Jason and his infamous camp, but also signals a broader revitalization of the "Jason Universe"—with the potential for more projects on the horizon. As Brad Caleb Kane and his team move into post-production, the horror community is abuzz with speculation and excitement. Will "Crystal Lake" live up to the legacy of its predecessors? Only time will tell, but for now, the curse of Camp Crystal Lake lives on, and a new chapter is about to be written in blood.

With cameras packed away and the wrap party memories still fresh, all eyes are now on the editing room—and the calendar—as fans count down to the day they can once again return to the most infamous summer camp in horror history.