After 17 Years, Friday the 13th Is Officially Back With First Prequel Images
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Image via Paramount Pictures
Published Mar 13, 2026, 4:17 PM EDT
Back in 2021, Hannah’s love of all things nerdy collided with her passion for writing — and she hasn’t stopped since. She covers pop culture news, writes reviews, and conducts interviews on just about every kind of media imaginable. If she’s not talking about something spooky, she’s talking about gaming, and her favorite moments in anything she’s read, watched, or played are always the scariest ones. For Hannah, nothing beats the thrill of discovering what’s lurking in the shadows or waiting around the corner for its chance to go bump in the night. Once described as “strictly for the sickos,” she considers it the highest of compliments.
It’s Friday the 13th, and Peacock is marking the occasion with the first official images from Crystal Lake, the upcoming Friday the 13th prequel series produced by A24. The newly revealed photos offer an atmospheric early look at the series ahead of its expected premiere later this year.
Created by IT: Welcome to Derry showrunner Brad Caleb Kane, Crystal Lake will explore the origins of one of horror’s most enduring franchises by focusing on Pamela Voorhees and the tragedy that ultimately shaped the legend of Jason Voorhees. Linda Cardellini leads the series as Pamela, Jason’s mother, whose life takes a devastating turn following the loss of her son.
The First ‘Crystal Lake’ Images Are All About the Atmosphere
The first batch of images focuses more on tone than specifics, emphasizing the atmosphere that has defined the Friday the 13th franchise since its 1980 debut. One image showcases Crystal Lake itself, with a quiet lakeside cabin and dock surrounded by heavy fog. Another photo highlights a blood-stained knife held in a hand, suggesting the violence that will eventually become synonymous with the franchise. A third image shows a group of teens lying on the floor of what appears to be a boathouse. While the images don’t reveal Cardellini in character, they reinforce that the series will lean into the franchise’s classic summer camp horror aesthetic.
Cardellini leads a large ensemble cast that includes William Catlett, Cameron Scoggins, Devin Kessler, and Gwendolyn Sundstrom. Callum Vinson will portray a young Jason Voorhees. Additional cast members include Nick Cordileone, Joy Suprano, Danielle Kotch, Christopher Denham, Nancy Nagrant, and Phoenix Parnevik. The eight-episode series will feature episodes directed by Michael Lennox, Celine Held and Logan George, and Quyen Tran.
Because today is Friday the 13th, let's march our way through the iconic slasher franchise. Ch-ch-ch-ch. Ha-ha-ha-ha.
‘Crystal Lake’ Has Had a Long Road to the Screen
Image via Warner Bros
The series was first announced in 2022 but has undergone significant creative changes during development. Hannibal creator Bryan Fuller was originally attached as showrunner before departing the project in 2024, with Kane later stepping in to lead the series. Despite those behind-the-scenes changes, the project has continued moving forward as part of what has been described as an expanded “Jason Universe,” which aims to bring new film and television projects connected to the iconic horror character to audiences.
With no new Friday the 13th film currently announced, Crystal Lake represents the first major on-screen expansion of the franchise since the Michael Bay-produced 2009 Friday the 13th. Peacock has not yet announced an exact release date for Crystal Lake, but the series is currently expected to debut sometime later in 2026. For now, the newly released images offer the clearest look yet at the series as anticipation continues to build among horror fans eager to return to one of the genre’s most recognizable locations.
Image via Paramount Pictures
Image via Warner Bros
English (US) ·