Inside the Drowning of ‘Crystal Lake’: How Unpaid Writers, Inexperienced Execs and Questionable Bookkeeping Undid the ‘Friday the 13th’ Series

Available to WrapPRO members

TheWrap spoke to more than a half-dozen insiders intimately involved in the planned $85 million Peacock series, A24’s first major foray into IP


It was late April and “Crystal Lake” was starting to attract A-list talent.

Charlize Theron was eyed to play Pam Voorhees in the A24 show based on the beloved “Friday the 13th” horror franchise, set in the immediate aftermath of the drowning of a young Jason Voorhees. 

A $300,000 deposit on soundstages in Canada had already been placed. Directors like Vincenzo Natali and Kimberly Peirce were earmarked to direct episodes. Kevin Williamson, who wrote Wes Craven’s “Scream,” was set to write what was described as the show’s “Red Wedding” – referring to the infamous “Game of Thrones” episode – set entirely on a frozen Crystal Lake, with the summer camp’s cabins trapped under snow drifts.

Comments