SFX guru, producer, and director Greg Nicotero has developed the redesign for 80s horror icon Jason Voorhees. This year marks the 45th anniversary of Jason's introduction in the original film Friday the 13th (1980). The redesign will be featured in the Jason universe, which AdWeek has reported is a multi-platform expansion of the Friday the 13th franchise.
Below is the reveal of the redesign that will be featured in the A24 series, Crystal Lake, which will air on Peacock. The new series is scheduled to release on Halloween night 2025 and will be an origin story for Jason that is a prequel to the original film. The new design is reminiscent of the original before Jason made his trip to hell.
Casting announcements for Crystal Lake include Adrienne King, who portrayed Alice Hardy in the original film, in an undisclosed recurring role, and Linda Cardellini, who will portray Mrs. Voorhees in the series. Series creator Brad Caleb Kane (It: Welcome to Derry, Tokyo Vice) will also serve as showrunner, writer, and executive producer with Marc Toberoff, Victor Miller, Rob Barsamian, and Stuart Manashil.
Watch Jason Universe's logo reveal which also features Jason's new mask set to audio composed by Harry Manfredini Friday the 13th legend and composer.
Greg Nicotero
Nicotero's first significant job was in George A. Romero's Day of the Dead (1985). He worked in SFX for the film under the direction of Romero and SFX veteran Tom Savini. Years later, he began his work for AMC's The Walking Dead before the series was greenlit. Throughout the series' eleven season run, he worked in SFX, directed, and made cameo appearances. After the conclusion of the main series, he would also work on The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon spinoff and several webisodes.
In 1988, Nicotero created the SFX group KNB EFX Group with Robert Kurtzman and Howard Berger. KNB originally made its mark in the late 1980s and early 1990s with gory SFX for horror films. They broadened their work to include animatronics in comedy and drama. They earned several awards and nominations for their work on The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and The Walking Dead.
Nicotero has been announced as the director for the pilot episode of Swan Song, the series adaptation of Robert McCammon's sci-fi novel. Russell Rothberg has been announced as showrunner, writer, and executive producer.
On June 7, 2025, Nicotero's work will be seen in Tina Romero's comedy horror Queens of the Dead at its premiere at the Tribeca Festival. The movie stars Jaquel Spivey, Katy O’Brian, Margaret Cho, Jack Haven, and Cheyenne Jackson. He will also work on Twilight of the Dead, which is to serve as Romero's seventh and final installment of the Living Dead franchise.
Check out these stories and more on Undead Walking:
Follow Undead Walking on Twitter (X) and Facebook, and sign up for the once-daily Undead Walking newsletter to avoid missing out on everything in The Walking Dead universe.