This past February, the Marcus Nispel-directed Friday the 13th reboot was released to mixed criticism and mediocre box office numbers. Though these are never good things and a sequel has not yet been approved, fans of Jason Voorhees still hope for more movies and the franchise’s producers are preparing for one. Thankfully, it can’t hurt to have one of the wealthiest directors in the world in Michael Bay as one of your producers.
While on the set of the new A Nightmare on Elm Street reboot (both Friday and Nightmare are produced by Platinum Dunes), Shock ‘Til Ya Drop spoke to producer Brad Fuller who shared where the potential sequel stands. From the sound of it, there is no script and there’s not even a guarantee that the sequel will ever happen, but they do have a solid plan that they’re working with writers Damion Shannon and Mark Swift to figure out where they want to go.
Here is what Mr. Fuller had to say about the prospective second feature in the new Friday the 13th franchise:
If we’re going to do another Friday the 13th we want to present something audiences haven’t seen before and one of the things they haven’t seen before is Jason in the snow. We just want to bring things they haven’t seen before [though] the [entire] movie will not be set in the snow.
Hmm, Jason in snow? Interesting. I guess that if they have a believable reason for Jason to be in a snowy area (does it snow at Crystal Lake?) then it could work out. I could see a figure as scary as he is being just as scary in a cold, lonely winter setting. Plus, think of all of the beautifully gruesome red on white shots that we would get!
As is known, I’m a big fan of Friday the 13th in most forms (second half of Jason X and TV series excluded), so the more movies they make, the better. Stupid. Cheesy. Pointless. I still usually find myself enjoying it. But if they really want to take a step up, it really depends on two things: story and logic. A lot of the death scenes in these movies — while fittingly violent — usually don’t make sense and come with a “Why the hell would they even do that?” question. Construct a decent (doesn’t have to be Oscar-worthy) story in that world, and have your characters make relevant decisions that lead to their survival or demise, and you will discover a better final product. Just do this without removing any of the the crucial Voorhees elements. We haven’t seen the new Nightmare movie that they’re making now, but from what we’re hearing, it sounds like they’re taking this route there, so why not with Friday the 13th.
Fuller is aware of the lacking “oomph” in their shock-moments, and is prepared to handle that as well.
If we were vulnerable in Friday the 13th, I think our vulnerability is people think our kills were not clever enough,” he said. “So whatever we need to do to make our kills feel clever in our second film is what we’re going to do. I think turning [Jason] into a space-going astronaut isn’t the direction we’re going to go in. But that’s a criticism that goes to my heart. I feel I failed the fans in that those kills were not original enough.
If Friday the 13th 2 does get greenlighted, expect it to be soon. Platinum Dunes has an August 13, 2010 date prepared for the movie’s release and if this is to be, they need to get moving. I say let’s do this thing — I want to see Arctic Jason!
Supposedly, the fiction of the series says Crystal Lake is in NJ — which of course features snow every winter.
Comment by Michael — June 16, 2009 @ 1:44 pm
Excellent. That works.
Thank you.
Comment by The Movie God — June 16, 2009 @ 3:44 pm
Would love to see a pissed off Bigfoot take the fight to Jason for hacking down one of it’s young! they’ve never done that before have they? Story rights its self, crypto reaseacher Loren Coleman and company arrive to investigate the body of a young bigfoot killed savagely be a unknown assailent and get caught in the middle of a battle royale between Bigfoot and Jason! You can come with a better more original plot then let it rip!
Comment by korollocke — June 16, 2009 @ 5:38 pm
Jason in the snow sounds great. So many great potential ways to kill victims. Plus red blood looks great on white snow.
Comment by Alex Thompson — June 21, 2009 @ 7:57 am
Jason in the snow would be killer. crystal lake is in the northeast , we get alot of snow. it only makes sense that he would kill in the winter, or does he go down south for warmer weather.
Comment by brian e — June 21, 2009 @ 9:10 pm