‘Friday the 13th’ Franchise Returning with a New Film

Here is the press release:

Jason Voorhees is returning to the big screen. Horror, Inc., under the leadership of the Barsamian family, today announced a new feature film slated for a global theatrical release in 2027. Returning to the franchise’s independent roots, the film is financed and produced by the Barsamians. CatchLight Studios is named as the production partner, with Cineverse (NASDAQ: CNVS) securing North America distribution rights, including theatrical.

Arriving as the 13th feature film centered on the hockey-masked killer, this fresh entry welcomes a new generation of horror fans into the Jason Universe while delivering the practical kills and terror longtime Friday the 13th fans crave. To bring this long-awaited release to the big screen, the producers tapped legacy franchise director Steve Miner–who first put the machete in Jason’s hands in Friday the 13th Part II and introduced the legendary hockey mask in Friday the 13th Part III–to direct the 2027 film from a script penned by emerging screenwriter David Fliegel.

“For generations of fans, Jason’s identity is inseparable from the creative choices Steve Miner brought to the screen,” said Robbie Barsamian, Executive Vice President of Horror, Inc. “Reuniting with Steve under a fully independent model allows us the creative control to honor what makes Jason the greatest slasher of all time and deliver the definitive theatrical event that today’s audiences expect.”

“When I put the hockey mask on Jason for Friday the 13th Part III, I knew it would create a truly scary image that would work for that movie,” said Miner. “I had no idea that it would live on as one of the most iconic symbols in horror films. I’m thrilled to come back and continue the legacy.”

“Jason is one of the most recognizable figures in cinema history,” said Chris McGurk, Chairman and CEO of Cineverse. “We have a proven track record of empowering uncompromising genre filmmaking and connecting it directly with passionate audiences, and are honored to be a part of bringing Jason back to theaters where he belongs.”

“Bringing an icon like Jason back to the screen requires dedication to craft and a deep respect for the fandom,” said Jeanette Volturno, Co-Founder of Catchlight Studios. “We’re excited to collaborate with Steve and Robbie to create a practically-shot film that is relentless, cinematic and terrifying.”

For more than 45 years, the billion-dollar Friday the 13th franchise has remained a defining force in global pop culture and genre filmmaking, known for its classic scares, iconic kills, and multi-generational fan base that sets the standard for horror. The 13th film anchors the expanding Jason Universe that includes television (Crystal Lake), AAA gaming integrations (Call of Duty, Fortnite, Dead by Daylight, Friday the 13th: The Game), immersive experiences (Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights, Six Flags, Thirteenth Floor), and a robust merchandise portfolio.

Miner is represented by David Gersh of The Gersh Agency. Fliegel is represented by Sukee Chew at Hopscotch Pictures and Ethan Neale at Paradigm.