“Friday the 13th” Franchise Revived: New short Film & Future Projects Announced
LOS ANGELES, CA – August 1, 2024 – After a protracted 16-year legal battle, the “Friday the 13th” franchise is experiencing a resurgence, with a new short film, “Sweet Revenge,” slated for release on August 13, 2025, and plans for a sequel film and video game in active growth. The legal dispute centered around the rights to the original 1980 screenplay, penned by Victor Miller, and the directorial contributions of Sean S. Cunningham.
the core of the conflict stemmed from miller regaining control of the original screenplay’s rights,encompassing the “friday the 13th” name and elements from the first film,but excluding the rights to the adult version of Jason Voorhees – a character who didn’t become central until the sequels. Cunningham retained rights related to the character of Jason Voorhees.
This division complicated efforts to produce new “Friday the 13th” content.however, A24 and Peacock are now collaborating on a prequel television series, “Crystal Lake,” intended to circumvent the rights issues by focusing on the events leading up to the original film. The series has faced developmental hurdles, including the departure of initial showrunner Bryan Fuller.
Jason Universe, a dedicated fan community and content creator, is also contributing to the franchise’s revival with plans for new merchandise, immersive experiences, and video games. Horror inc., the company overseeing the franchise, confirmed at the 2025 San Diego Comic-Con that a new sequel film and a new video game are their top priorities. Vice President Robbie Barsamian stated, “We’re in a position to deliver on that,” signaling a notable shift towards active development.
The short film, “Sweet Revenge,” directed by Michael Nelson (also directing the upcoming “Silent night, Deadly Night” reboot), is seen as a potential stepping stone towards a full-length sequel. Nelson’s involvement is considered advantageous given his existing horror directorial experience. An in-person premiere sponsored by Angry Orchard will be held in New York City, with tickets available through Eventbrite. The short will also be released on YouTube on August 13, 2025.
Background: The “Friday the 13th” Legacy
the original “Friday the 13th” (1980), directed by Sean S. Cunningham and written by Victor Miller,introduced Pamela voorhees as the primary antagonist,driven by revenge for the drowning of her son,Jason. Jason himself appeared only as a child in the original film. The franchise later evolved,with Jason becoming the iconic masked killer across numerous sequels,grossing over $464 million worldwide across it’s 12 films. The last theatrical release was “Friday the 13th” (2009), wich earned $91.3 million domestically.
