Filming is underway on showrunner Brad Caleb Kane’s “Crystal Lake,” the upcoming Friday the 13th television series from Peacock and A24 that will serve as an expanded prequel to the legendary slasher franchise. And the new Jason Voorhees has boarded the project.
“Chucky” actor Callum Vinson has joined the series as young Jason Voorhees, Deadline reports today.
Vinson, who recently starred as Henry Collins in “Chucky” season three, is billed as a recurring guest star, as this new project focuses on Jason’s mother, Pamela Voorhees. The series’ version of Pamela Voorhees is “believed to be a mother who had given up a singing career to raise a special needs child and takes a dark turn when she loses her son.”
Linda Cardellini stars in “Crystal Lake” as Mrs. Voorhees, who was of course the killer in the original Friday the 13th (1980). She’s joined by William Catlett (Abigail), Cameron Scoggins (“Nashville”), Devin Kessler (“Godfather of Harlem”), and Gwendolyn Sundstrom. Scoggins will play Dorf, the police officer portrayed by Ron Millkie in the original classic!
Nick Cordileone (Warrior), Joy Suprano (Fleishman is in Trouble, Best Foot Forward), Danielle Kotch (Director’s Cut), and Phoenix Parnevik (Bel-Air, Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitter Is Dead) have also joined the cast.
Cordileone will play “Crazy” Ralph, Joy Suprano as Rita, Kotch as Claudette, and Parnevik as Barry.
Fans of the original will recognize those names. The character Barry Jackson (Willie Adams) appeared in the original Friday the 13th film as a camp counselor and, famously, Pamela’s first victim. His girlfriend, Claudette Hayes (Debra S. Hayes), also a camp counselor, was Pamela’s second victim.
The eight-episode series is set to be directed by Michael Lennox (“Derry Girls”), Celine Held & Logan George (Caddo Lake), and Quyen Tran (“The Pitt”).
The series will notably bring the Friday the 13th franchise back to life after 16 years of Jason Voorhees lying dormant at the bottom of the lake due to messy legal issues over the rights.
Jason Voorhees, created by Victor Miller, has been played by multiple actors, including Ari Lehman, who brought the character to life in the original film. Additional actors include Warrington Gillette, Steve Dash, Richard Brooker, Ted White, Tom Morga, C.J. Graham, Kane Hodder, Ken Kirzinger and Derek Mears.
Vinson marks the newest, and one of the youngest, to play the horror icon. Stay tuned.
Callum Vinson as Henry Collins in “Chucky” season 3