Jason Voorhees’ next story is set to be told by “Silent Night, Deadly Night” reboot filmmaker Mike P. Nelson.
Produced by “Friday the 13th” franchise owner Horror, Inc., the new Jason Universe project is a bloody short-form vignette titled “Sweet Revenge” and it’s set as “the centerpiece of the franchise’s bold 45th anniversary campaign.”
Per the description for “Sweet Revenge,” “fans will drop into a chilling weekend in the woods filled with blood-soaked surprises only Jason can deliver.” Nelson is writing, directing and producing through his Rockford Road Pictures banner.
Production on “Sweet Revenge” began earlier this month and the project is set to debut on both the Jason Universe YouTube channel and through a site hosted by Angry Orchard Hard Cider, which is sponsoring the vignette as part of a larger collaboration with the franchise.
Horror, Inc.’s “Friday the 13th” franchise as a whole is aiming to make a big resurgence tied to the original film’s 45th anniversary. Recently, the franchise debuted an all-new Jason Voorhees design by artist Greg Nicotero (featured in the image above), announced Jason’s integration at Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights for the first time in almost a decade, and continued development of A24’s highly-anticipated “Crystal Lake” TV series.
Nelson is best known for directing the 2021 “Wrong Turn” reboot and his debut feature, 2018’s “The Domestics.” His latest feature film, the upcoming “Silent Night, Deadly Night” reboot, will be released in theaters via Cineverse on Dec. 12.
“I am so grateful that the team at Horror, Inc. saw something in ‘Sweet Revenge’ and wanted it as a part of the Jason Voorhees story!” Nelson said. “And to think 30 years ago I was trying to secretly watch these movies on VHS when no one was looking. To have the opportunity to write and direct one of these stories is surreal – not to mention having an amazing team led by Chad Villella and Brianna Lee Johnson help me bring it to life! Not only is the vignette a new take on the beloved IP, it is a comforting, gory hug, reminding us why we fell in love with these movies. Much gruesome fun awaits you!”
Friday 13th LLC’s Marc Toberoff added: “Jason has always been a force in pop culture, and the 45th anniversary felt like the perfect moment to do something truly unexpected. Partnering with Horror, Inc. and Angry Orchard who share our passion has opened up a new way to engage fans. It’s exciting to see the franchise evolve with such creativity while staying true to what makes Jason iconic.”
“We were beyond excited when Mike Nelson came on board and Angry Orchard sponsored production to help us bring this to life in a wickedly unexpected way,” Horror, Inc. chief marketing officer Sheri Conn said. “Even in a short vignette, Nelson will masterfully capture our shared vision–honoring the heritage of the franchise while delivering something fresh and thrilling for a new generation.”
