New FRIDAY THE 13TH Vignette SWEET REVENGE Is Bringing Jason Back in a Bloody New Way
Jason Voorhees is slicing his way back into the spotlight, this time with a short-form bloodbath titled Sweet Revenge, helmed by Wrong Turn and Silent Night, Deadly Night reboot director Mike P. Nelson.
Produced by Horror, Inc., the company behind the Friday the 13th franchise, the vignette serves as the brutal centerpiece of Jason’s 45th anniversary celebration.
Sweet Revenge drops fans into “a chilling weekend in the woods filled with blood-soaked surprises only Jason can deliver.” Nelson is writing, directing, and producing under his Rockford Road Pictures banner, and filming has already kicked off.
This project is a key part of a wider push to resurrect and redefine the Friday the 13th brand. The vignette will premiere on the official Jason Universe YouTube channel and is being co-hosted by Angry Orchard Hard Cider, who joined the mayhem as a sponsor.
Nelson couldn’t be more thrilled, sharing: “I am so grateful that the team at Horror, Inc. saw something in Sweet Revenge and wanted it as a part of the Jason Voorhees story!
“And to think 30 years ago I was trying to secretly watch these movies on VHS when no one was looking. To have the opportunity to write and direct one of these stories is surreal – not to mention having an amazing team led by Chad Villella and Brianna Lee Johnson help me bring it to life!
“Not only is the vignette a new take on the beloved IP, it is a comforting, gory hug, reminding us why we fell in love with these movies. Much gruesome fun awaits you!”
Marc Toberoff of Friday the 13th LLC added: “Jason has always been a force in pop culture, and the 45th anniversary felt like the perfect moment to do something truly unexpected.
“Partnering with Horror, Inc. and Angry Orchard who share our passion has opened up a new way to engage fans. It’s exciting to see the franchise evolve with such creativity while staying true to what makes Jason iconic.”
And as Horror, Inc.'s chief marketing officer Sheri Conn put it: “We were beyond excited when Mike Nelson came on board and Angry Orchard sponsored production to help us bring this to life in a wickedly unexpected way.
“Even in a short vignette, Nelson will masterfully capture our shared vision–honoring the heritage of the franchise while delivering something fresh and thrilling for a new generation.”
The new vignette also ties into other big franchise developments: Greg Nicotero unveiled a brand-new Jason Voorhees design, Jason is returning to Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights for the first time in nearly a decade, and A24 is still deep into developing the highly-anticipated Crystal Lake series.
Jason is sharpening the machete for a full-on legacy revival. And Sweet Revenge looks like the first bloody step forward.