Horror Inc Taking Friday the 13th Into a “New Era” by Launching the Jason Universe

Fifteen years after the last Friday the 13th film hit the big screen, we finally have news of a “new era” for the franchise from Horror Inc. — The Jason Universe!

This may, at first, sound like Horror Inc’s way to expand the franchise into some sort of Marvel Cinematic Universe or DC Universe clone, but according to the breaking report from IGN that doesn’t seem to be the case.

IGN states, “New Friday the 13th activations will span a wide range of platforms from entertainment, games, immersive experiences, merchandise and more to be announced throughout 2024 via @JasonUniverse13 on social media or by visiting the official Jason Universe website.”

What the hell is an activation???

Robert Barsamian, the President of Horror Inc., says, “For decades, Jason shocked and thrilled audiences who kept coming back for more. We’re excited to work with Victor Miller and Marc Toberoff on new projects we’ll announce in the coming months.”

Robert Barsamian has been involved with Friday the 13th since the beginning, as a financier for the original 1980 film, and executive producer for the 2017 video game and the upcoming Crystal Lake series for Peacock and A24.

“We’re focused on honoring the legacy while elevating the fan experience and appealing to today’s horror audiences as we develop new ways to watch, interact and engage with the Jason Universe,” adds Robbie Barsamian, Vice-President of Horror Inc.

“With the unique ability to remain at the forefront of pop culture for 44 years, Jason continues to top charts as one of the scariest villains of all time with strong global awareness across multiple generations thanks to billions of TikTok views plus millions and millions of gamers and movie fans,” says Sheri Conn, Global GM of Horror, Inc. “We can’t wait to introduce new Jason Universe activations to these amazing fans.”

There’s that word again — activations! It seems like just a clever way to include multiple entertainment options since they mention “entertainment, games, immersive experiences, merchandise and more.” One term missing from that list is “film” or “movie,” which means fans may be waiting even longer for the franchise to return to the big screen.

Bryan Fuller, who recently parted ways with the Crystal Lake series over creative differences, explained in 2022, “The movie rights are a completely different thing. They are tied up at New Line and are super, super messy.” It appears far too many parties need to agree on the profit-sharing — including Horror Inc., Miller, Sean Cunningham, and New Line Cinema, just to name a few — for another film to be made.

One of the first “activations” to be announced may be a partnership with the popular video game, Fortnite, because it is the only X (formerly Twitter) account that the official Jason Universe social media account is currently following. Perhaps that means a Jason Voorhees playable skin gamers can use. For now, it’s just speculation.

And, yes, there are official social media accounts on Facebook, X, Instagram, and Tik Tok, as well as an official website where you can sign up for updates. Follow @JasonUniverse13 on social media.

Stay tuned for more, but expect an announcement soon, because there is a Friday the 13th in September and December this year and what better way to capitalize on the franchise.