Having managed to untangle the complex rights situation regarding Friday the 13th franchise, Jason Voorhees is finally set to make his long awaited return as part of Horror Inc.’s Jason Universe – a new venture promising “entertainment, games, experiences, and merchandise” based around the iconic masked killer.
Having officially introduced its official Jason Universe redesign back in May, Horror Inc. has now confirmed that Jason is now set to make his grand return to the screen – albeit in short form – in Sweet Revenge, described as a “bloody short-form vignette and the centerpiece of the franchise’s bold 45th anniversary campaign.”
Currently in production and set to debut on the Jason Universe YouTube channel, the short is being written and directed by rising horror filmmaker Mike P. Nelson, whose credits include 2018’s The Domestics, 2021’s Wrong Turn reboot, and the upcoming remake of Silent Night, Deadly Night. It is also being sponsored by Angry Orchard Hard Cider, as part of a wider Jason Universe collaboration set to roll out through the summer.
“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,” said Nelson. “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!”
“Fans have been hungry for more Jason stories, and as we celebrate 45 years of this icon, we wanted to deliver a taste of what’s to come,” said Robbie Barsamian, Executive Vice President of Horror, Inc. “Sweet Revenge brings Jason back to his brutal roots, where he belongs, with Mike’s delivery of expertly crafted thrills and kills.”
Along with Sweet Revenge, Jason Universe has recently announced a new integration at Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights and is also involved with development on the A24 prequel series Crystal Lake, which will star Linda Cardellini as Pamela Voorhees. Assuming these prove successful, then surely it’s only a matter of time before we see Jason’s big screen return…
