We don’t know precisely when, but a new Friday the 13th movie is coming. After a 17-year drought, the franchise has come back to life, most recently with the release of Crystal Lake on Peacock, a show that leaves much to discuss. Crucially, it’s a prequel series that mostly focuses on Pamela Voorhees and a much younger Jason Voorhees. When we do get a new movie, it’ll undoubtedly be the machete-wielding maniac slasher fans love. And that movie has the chance to fix an infamous mistake from the franchise’s past.
See also: FRIDAY THE 13TH Co-Creator Teases There’s More To Come
Several actors have played Jason Voorhees over the years, with Steve Dash bringing the first adult version to life in 1981’s Friday the 13th Part 2. But of all the actors who have ever worn the hockey mask, arguably no one has brought more to the role than Kane Hodder. Taking over as Jason for the first time in 1998 with Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood, he brought sheer size, ruthlessness, and presence to the role.
Hodder reprised the role several times in Jason Takes Manhattan, Jason Goes to Hell and Jason X. Even though Hodder wasn’t in, shall we say, the most beloved Friday the 13th movies, he became a beloved Jason, and for good reason. That’s why it always seemed like he should square off against Freddy Krueger in Freddy vs. Jason. Unfortunately, Hodder was inexplicably passed over for the crossover, with Ken Kirzinger suiting up instead. That was, and remains, a major injustice for many horror fans, myself included.
Whatever form the next entry in this franchise takes, bringing back Hodder for one last ride as Jason Voorhees would seem like the perfect way to make good. It would generate a lot of positive buzz amongst die-hards. Plus, we’d get to see Hodder don the mask one last time. It’s a win-win.
I have no illusions. Hodder is 71-years-old. He probably can’t physically do what the role demands for an entire Friday the 13th movie. But like Nick Castle was brought back in a supporting role in 2018’s Halloween as the man who made Michael Myers who he is today, Hodder could come in to do what he can while passing the torch to a younger actor for some of the more physical, potentially dangerous stuff.
The folks behind Jason Universe have confirmed that a new Friday the 13th movie is in the works. This isn’t just idle speculation anymore. So we’re not just talking about something that is theoretically going to happen at some point. Now that the rights issues that long plagued the franchise have seemingly been settled (or at least settled enough to get stuff made), it’s going to happen.
Just as Robert Englund is always going to be Freddy and Nick Castle is always going to be Michael Myers, Kane Hodder is Jason Voorhees. He's not the only Jason, but he’s earned his place as an important part of the character’s on-screen evolution. Hodder deserves one last ride. This isn’t nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake; it’s justice for a horror legend who was done dirty a long time ago.
Your move, Hollywood.
The new Friday the 13th movie doesn’t have a release date but stay tuned.
