Now that the role of Pamela Voorhees has been cast, I’m back to being genuinely excited about the Crystal Lake, was first announced way back in 2022. At the time, original franchise creator Victor Miller was confirmed to be involved and Hannibal’s Bryan Fuller was on board as a writer and executive producer, so there were a few reasons to be hopeful about the show.
Then, in May 2024, Fuller was fired from the series due to creative differences, which seemed to spell trouble. However, the latest announcement from the show’s development has reinstated my optimism. The great Linda Cardellini has been cast to play Jason’s mother in the show. Pamela was the main villain of the original Friday the 13th movie, and is arguably a more interesting villain than Jason himself. This piece of casting news has restored my faith in the Crystal Lake series.
Linda Cardellini's Casting As Jason's Mom Is Great News For The Friday The 13th Prequel Show
Cardellini Has Been An Icon Since Freaks & Geeks
Cardellini’s casting is a promising sign for the Friday the 13th TV show, because she’s a really great actor with a lot of range. She got her big break with the lead role of Lindsay Weir in the cult classic teen dramedy series Freaks and Geeks. She’s since played comedic roles in shows like Dead to Me (for which she was Emmy-nominated) and No Good Deed and dramatic roles in shows like Mad Men and Bloodline.
The Friday the 13th TV show is being developed for Peacock.
Cardellini hasn’t done a ton of work in the horror genre. She gave a great turn as Velma in the live-action Scooby-Doo movies in the early 2000s and she starred in the supernatural chiller The Curse of La Llorona in 2019. But regardless of her inexperience in horror, we know what Cardellini is capable of. She can be funny, she can be heartbreaking, she can be likable, she can be unlikable, she can be vulnerable, and she can be threatening. She’s a great choice to play young Pamela in a Friday the 13th prequel.
My Expectations Are Now Even Higher For The Crystal Lake Show
It Could Be A Real Horror Drama, Not Just A Fan-Service Slasher
Since the Friday the 13th series has been stuck in development hell for years, there have been plenty of bumps in the road. But casting such a notable name — and such a versatile actor — means that this can be a full-blown horror drama, examining the emotional side of Jason’s origins. It’s not just a fan-service cash-in tangentially connected to a recognizable franchise; this could actually be a story worth telling, anchored by a gripping lead performance.
Crystal Lake
- Network
- Peacock
- Showrunner
- Brad Caleb Kane
- Writers
- Brad Caleb Kane
Cast
Linda CardelliniPamela Voorhees
Frank Volpe-
Emily Meissner
-
Jackie Watkins
