Greg Nicotero Discussed His New Jason Voorhees Design For The FRIDAY THE 13TH Reboot
Jason Voorhees is making a comeback in the upcoming Jason Universe reboot of the Friday the 13th franchise, legendary horror effects artist Greg Nicotero has given the iconic monster a whole new makeover, and in a recent chat with CB during San Diego Comic-Con, Nicotero opened up about what it’s been like revisiting Jason, and how this new version is a full-on resurrection.
“They said, ‘We want to reimagine him,’” Nicotero shared. “And so we did this new mask, then we did a new Jason.”
If there’s anyone equipped for the job, it’s Nicotero. As co-founder of KNB EFX Group, he’s had a hand in sculpting nearly every horror icon imaginable, Halloween’s Michael Myers, A Nightmare on Elm Street’s Freddy Krueger, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’s Leatherface, Scream’s Ghostface. But Jason is a particularly special case, especially for Nicotero, who previously worked on Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday back in 1993.
This time around, Nicotero’s take on Jason finds a balance between two eras of the character. He explained:
“They’re like, ‘He’s not a zombie, so he’s not going to be rotted.’ So we landed somewhere between Part 2 and Part 3.”
That’s in reference to the days when Jason still wore a burlap sack on his head before finding that iconic hockey mask, speaking of which, this new one features 13 holes which is a deliberate and symbolic design choice.
The redesigned Jason was first revealed in May by Horror, Inc., and he’s every bit the towering, machete-wielding force you’d expect, just updated for a new generation of fans. Nicotero said:
“It was a lot of fun. It’s fun for me to revisit those. We did Nightmare on Elm Street, we did Halloween, we did three Scream movies, we did Leatherface. We’re the only company that’s really touched all of those big franchises, except for Hellraiser.”
This new Jason will make his official debut in Crystal Lake, the upcoming Friday the 13th prequel series being produced by A24 and streaming on Peacock. The series stars Linda Cardellini as Pamela Voorhees and Callum Vinson as a young Jason, laying the groundwork for the legend that will grow into the relentless killer we know.
Rob Barsamian, president of Horror, Inc., emphasized the importance of getting the balance right:
“We strive to maintain Jason’s original essence, while continuing to move toward the future with a defined look and feel that takes Jason into his next chapter. We gave Greg our new 13-hole mask and worked together on this full body look that embodies classic Jason. He’s a strong, towering and terrifying slasher with a machete, his weapon of choice.”
Marc Toberoff of Friday the 13th LLC, who is overseeing the Jason Universe alongside franchise creator Victor Miller and Horror Inc.’s Barsamian team, hinted that this is just the beginning, including a long-awaited return to the big screen.
“It’s incredibly exciting to bring Jason Voorhees back into the lives of fans in such a bold and fresh way. We’re thrilled to be working alongside Horror, Inc. on this next chapter of the franchise and Jason’s legacy, and we share their passion. Together, we’re making sure this return delivers everything longtime fans have been craving — while opening the door for an entirely new generation.”
This is a full relaunch of the entire Friday the 13th mythology, spearheaded by horror’s most trusted names. With Nicotero behind the mask, Crystal Lake on the horizon, and a cinematic return in the works, the slasher legend is slicing his way back into the spotlight in a big way.
And from the sound of it… this Jason doesn’t miss.