What Happened to Friday the 13th (franchise)?

The 'Friday the 13th' franchise, renowned for its iconic slasher villain Jason Voorhees, entered a period of dormancy following its 2009 reboot, primarily due to a protracted legal battle over intellectual property rights. The core of this dispute lay between Victor Miller, the screenwriter of the original 1980 film, and Sean S. Cunningham, the film's producer and director, along with his company Horror Inc.

Miller initiated legal action in 2016, invoking a provision of the 1976 U.S. Copyright Act that allows authors to reclaim rights to their work after 35 years. In 2018, a U.S. District Court judge ruled in favor of Miller, determining that his screenplay for the original 'Friday the 13th' was not a 'work made for hire' and that he was an independent contractor, thus allowing him to reclaim the copyright to the original script within the United States. This ruling, however, created a complex split in ownership: Miller gained rights to the original screenplay, including the character of young Jason Voorhees and Pamela Voorhees, while Cunningham and Horror Inc. retained rights to the adult Jason Voorhees character (who first appeared in 'Friday the 13th Part 2') and all subsequent films and derivative works.

This split effectively created a legal limbo, preventing the production of new films or games that would require a unified use of the franchise's elements. The popular 'Friday the 13th: The Game,' for instance, ceased development of new content in 2018 due to the ongoing lawsuit and was eventually pulled from digital and physical storefronts by December 31, 2023, when its license expired. Fan-made projects also faced cease and desist orders, highlighting the strict enforcement of the fragmented rights.

A significant turning point occurred in September 2021 when the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the district court's decision in favor of Miller, solidifying the split rights. Despite the initial challenges, this resolution eventually paved the way for collaboration. By 2024, a new umbrella brand, 'Jason Universe,' was announced, signaling a collaborative effort between the rights holders to move the franchise forward.

The current status, as of March 2026, is one of active revival. A major prequel television series, titled "Crystal Lake," is being produced by A24 for Peacock. Filming for the eight-episode first season wrapped in October 2025, with Linda Cardellini cast as Pamela Voorhees and Callum Vinson as a young Jason. The series is expected to premiere in 2026. Furthermore, Horror Inc. confirmed at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2025 that a new 'Friday the 13th' sequel film and a new video game are in early development, with director Mike P. Nelson having already pitched his take for a new movie. This marks the end of a long hiatus, with 2026 anticipated to be a major year for the franchise's return across multiple media.