Crystal Lake: Confirmation, Cast & Everything We Know About The Friday The 13th Show

Summary Bryan Fuller has departed Crystal Lake, creating uncertainty for the upcoming horror TV series.

Peacock commissioned the Crystal Lake series in 2022, confirming its continuation.

Crystal Lake was planned as a prequel to the original 1980 film, focusing on Pamela Voorhees's early life.

Though the project has struggled to get off the ground the Friday the 13th prequel series, Crystal Lake, is still in the works. Beginning with the release of the mystery slasher film Friday the 13th in 1980, the legendary horror franchise helped to kick off the explosion of slasher films in the 1980s and is still one of the defining movies of the genre. With its simple premise, the series typically follows various teens and camp counselors as they are stalked and killed by the hockey mask-wearing murderer Jason Voorhees.

Like most horror movies, a slew of Friday the 13th sequels diluted the product, but fans continued to run screaming into theaters to get yet another jolt from the machete-wielding madman. Jason faded away around the turn of the new millennium and after fighting off Freddy Krueger in 2003's Freddy vs Jason, the franchise went dormant save for a failed 2009 reboot. Now, a Friday the 13th TV series is in the works that hopes to explore the story before the first movie, but updates on Crystal Lake have been few and far between.

Related Wild Friday The 13th Theory Puts A Tragic Twist On Jason Voorhees' Slasher Legacy A Friday the 13th theory explains why Jason Voorhees kills while also adding a tragic twist that makes his story and legacy even more tragic.

Crystal Lake Latest News

Bryan Fuller Backs Out

Despite all the hassles, the popularity of the Friday the 13th franchise makes Crystal Lake worth the wait.

In a devastating update for the upcoming horror TV series, the latest news confirms that showrunner Bryan Fuller has departed Crystal Lake. The TV maven behind shows like Hannibal and Pushing Daisies has opted to step away from the long-gestating project, citing creative differences. Fuller worked alongside frequent showrunning partner Jim Danger Grey on the project and it's unclear if Grey has also stepped aside. Fuller shared the news in a post on his official Instagram page and congratulated the creative team on the work they accomplished.

Despite Fuller's departure, A24 still has plans to pursue the series order given to Crystal Lake by Peacock back in 2022. However, with Fuller leaving, the series will need to enlist an entirely knew showrunner and will likely have to start from scratch on the creative end. Despite all the hassles, the popularity of the Friday the 13th franchise makes Crystal Lake worth the wait.

Crystal Lake Is Confirmed

Peacock Gave The Show A Series Order In 2022

After a protracted legal battle over Friday the 13th, the rights were finally in place to make a show like Crystal Lake possible in 2022. Expressing overwhelming confidence in the franchise, Peacock gave the show a direct-to-series order that same year, and Bryan Fuller was tapped to run the show. Though few details have emerged since, and Bryan Fuller has departed, plans are still in place to make Crystal Lake a reality.

Scream writer Kevin Williamson was also attached to pen episodes of Crystal Lake, but his participation is no longer clear.

The Friday the 13th franchise includes:

Movie Release Year Where To Watch Friday the 13th 1980 Stream on Max Friday the 13th Part 2 1981 Stream on Max Friday the 13th Part 3 1982 Stream on Max Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter 1984 Stream on Max Friday the 13th: A New Beginning 1985 Stream on Max Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives 1986 Stream on Max Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood 1988 Stream on Max Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan 1989 Stream on Max Jason Goes To Hell: The Final Friday 1993 Stream on Showtime Jason X 2001 Stream on Showtime Freddy vs Jason 2003 Buy or rent on Amazon Prime, Google Play, YouTube, or Apple TV Friday the 13th 2009 Stream on Max

Crystal Lake Cast

An Original Star Was Cast

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With the shakeup behind the scenes, it's impossible to know what aspects of Crystal Lake's development are still in place. However, the cast has only added one name since the show was announced in 2022, and it's a familiar one to long-time fans of the franchise. Adrienne King played final girl Alice Hardy in 1980's Friday the 13th, and she was tapped to play an undisclosed role in the prequel TV series. It's unclear if King will still be a part of the beleaguered horror show, but it's expected that Crystal Lake will pay some fan service by casting original stars in different roles.

Crystal Lake Story Details

An "Expanded Prequel"

Custom image Simone Ashmoore.

Before the massive shakeup announced in May 2024, Crystal Lake was pitched as a prequel to the 1980 original film. Though details were never fleshed out, it isn't known if those plans are still in place since the production has undergone a pause to re-tool. However, the most likely story will involve a young Pamela Voorhees as she works at Camp Crystal Lake while trying to raise her son, Jason. Similar to shows like Bates Motel, Crystal Lake will likely reveal that there was more to Pamela's life before she went on her murderous spree in the first movie.