What attracted Linda Cardellini to 'Crystal Lake', the prequel series to 'Friday the 13th'?

Finally, horror fans and especially Friday the 13thwill have the long-awaited return of the franchise, which we last saw in the 2009 reboot.

After years of a highly publicized legal battle over the rights to the IP, and uncertainty regarding its future, the franchise returns to the screen with Crystal Lakea classic prequel series Friday the 13thof Peacock y A24con Brad Caleb Kane (IT: Welcome to Derry) is the showrunner, creator, screenwriter and executive producer.

The horror series is described as an “expanded prequel” to the original classicwhich will transport the audience to the beginning of it allexploring the origins of Camp Crystal Lake and Pamela Voorheesbut Sra. VoorheesJason's mother and the original killer in Friday the 13ththe movie that started it all in 1980.

Linda Cardellini (Dead to Me, The Curse of La Llorona) plays the lead role as Mrs. Voorhees, detailed as “a mother who gave up her singing career to raise a child with special needs and who suffers a dark turn when she loses her little one.”

In the original 1980 film, it was Pamela Voorhees who carried out the murders at Camp Crystal Lake, seeking revenge against those she blamed for the drowning death of her son, Jason Voorhees. The character appeared only briefly before leaving a mark on horror film history.

And this was part of what attracted Cardellini to the role in the series Crystal Lakeexplaining to THR, what to have the opportunity to explore Pamela's storymade it a project impossible to ignore.

This is what the actress told the media:

“Crystal Lake, A24, Peacock y [el creador] Brad Caleb Kane came together and had the idea to tell the story of Pam Voorhees. If you watch the original movie, it works as a mystery, a whodunit. Spoiler: At the end, you find out it was Pam Voorhees.”

“Although he only appears in the last part of the film, leaves an indelible mark on the entire franchise. There are so many later movies that you would think Jason has always worn that mask and done what he does. But it wasn't like that. I don't think he wears the mask until several movies later.”

For Cardellini, it was important to know who Pamela was before the events of the original film, and what led her to take such a violent path:

“I haven't seen many serial killers like her. I thought about delving deeper into who he could have been, it's something I've never done.. When I look for new projects, I ask myself what is something I haven't done yet. And that was one of them.”

Regarding Pamela's motivations, Cardellini argued with the interviewer, after he expressed that it was about “an angry mother looking for revenge”:

“Yes, because they let their son drown!” exclaimed the actress. “There’s a lot of material for a backstory!”

In addition to Cardellini, the cast includes Callum Vinson (God of War, Chucky, Long Bright River) as little Jason Vorhees in a recurring guest role, William Catlett (Abigail), Devin Kessler (Godfather of Harlem), Cameron Scoggins (Nashville), Gwendolyn Sundstromcon Nick Cordileone (Warrior) como Crazy Ralph, Danielle Kotch (Director’s Cut) as Claudette and Phoenix Parnevik (Bel Air) like Barry, characters from the original film, Nancy Nagrant as Kay Christy, a relative of Steve Christy from the original installment, and Joy Suprano (Fleishman is in Trouble) as Rita.

Crazy Ralph appeared in the first two films. He is a long-time Crystal Lake resident who drunkenly rambles about the curse of Camp Crystal Lake; We met Barry in the 1980 film as a camp counselor at Crystal Lake and the first victim of Pamela (Betsy Palmer in the film). He was characterized by Willie Adams. His girlfriend, Claudette, also a camp counselor, was Pamela's second victim.

The series was announced in November 2022. Peacock ordered a full season for the series, with an option for a second season.

The first season, 8 episodesis directed by Michael Lennox (Derry Girls), Celine Held & Logan George (Caddo Lake) y Quyen Tran (The Pitt). Lennox directs the first episode with Maceo Bishop (The Watcher) as director of photography.

Victor Miller –writer of the original film– is another of the executive producers along with Kane, Marc Toberoff, Robert M. Barsamian, Robert P. Barsamian, Stuart Manashil and A24.

Crystal Lake will be broadcast on Peacock in the United States, with a premiere date scheduled for October 15, 2026. At the moment it has not been confirmed which platform will be in charge of its distribution in Mexico and the rest of Latin America.