Connect with us

News

Sean Cunningham Talks ‘Friday the 13th’ series, Despite CW Giving it the Axe

Published

on

Horror on television has been really hot lately.  Scream the television series, Scream Queens despite it just getting the axe, and of course American Horror Story which is soon to be airing its seventh season.  Why not a Friday the 13th television series?  Well that’s exactly what was beginning to take form over at the CW Network in 2014.


Originally the series was to have Sean S. Cunningham as executive produce, the director and co-writer of the first movie that started the franchise itself!  The story was to be set in the town of Crystal Lake and be about how the ensemble of characters deal with Jason’s (inevitable) return.

We at iHorror followed the development of the show.  How were the creators going to take a machete wielding maniac chasing big breasted actresses every week and turn it into something more appealing for the returning audience?  You can read their original concept here.  It sounded well-crafted and even kind of deep, a concept that held water and could have worked.

Fast forward two years later and rumor was spreading that this project was no longer going to happen.  Having our horror dreams realized then taken away is sadly something we are used to as horror fans.  Strangeland 2, anyone?  But the CW tried to keep the fans interested with claiming the television show will come up again for debate in April 2017.  It wasn’t dead in the water… yet.

Jason Parker reported: “At that point [April 2017] it will be determined by CW if they can find a story to warrant a series order.  If they opt to not go with Friday the 13th at all then the show is open for a different avenue of release.  Netflix has long been requested by fans as a destination that would hopefully limit the amount of studio interference”

Well kids, it’s June 2017, and I hate to be the bearer of bad news but it looks like the series has officially received the machete from the CW network.  CW president Mark Pedowitz explained to the Television Critics Association press;

“We had better pilots.  The bottom line is we felt we had stronger things to go with, and we didn’t go forward with it.  It was well-written, it was darker than we wanted it to be, and we didn’t believe it had sustainability… We didn’t believe that it was a sustainable script, a sustainable series.  It was a very good pilot, but not a sustainable series.”

This left many of us wanting to know what exactly was being talked about behind closed doors.  What direction was it going to go in?  And as for it being “darker than we wanted to make it” well yeah, it’s a Friday the 13th!  What did they expect?!  What made it so dark that the CW cringed away from it?  Well, this past week the podcast Shockwaves sat down with the man who started it all, Sean S. Cunningham, and picked his brain about the process he was part of to get Friday the 13th greenlit for television.  You can listen to the podcast from Shockwaves here.

Initially Cunningham reports the CW was really excited about the potential project, and offered ideas to help mold it more effectively for television.  You need to make the story interesting and compelling enough to make the viewers come back week after week, but you also need to service the fans who know who Jason is, and who know what he would and wouldn’t do.  Cunningham explained;
“The assumption is this.  Crystal Lake is a town that really exists, and a long time ago they had a serial killer named Jason Voorhees, and then some Hollywood creep comes out and makes this exploitation horror movie called Friday the 13th.  And then they make another one, and another one, and it just crushes the town.  The town becomes the place that “Jason built”  And the stuff that happens, they know what really happened.  The rest is Hollywood lore.  There are people there that lived through it, and they will tell you what really happened.  And so, what you can do is set up Crystal Lake as, more or less, like the town in JAWS, Amity Island.  You have the town with all its prime movers in the town, but the town is located in an area that would allow Jason to exist in whatever form.  But other things as well.  I would describe it as a place where if The X Files Mulder and Scully wandering into this county, they never would of left!  There’s so much weird shit going on!”

Where does this leave us?  Another network?  Perhaps Netflix?  All we can do is wait and hope for the best, something us horror fans have become quite good at.  Maybe one day we will see our favorite hockey masked killer terrorize townies on the small screen.

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

News

‘Strange Darling’ Featuring Kyle Gallner and Willa Fitzgerald Lands Nationwide Release [Watch Clip]

Published

on

Strange Darling Kyle Gallner

‘Strange Darling,’ a standout film featuring Kyle Gallner, who is nominated for an iHorror award for his performance in ‘The Passenger,’ and Willa Fitzgerald, has been acquired for a wide theatrical release in the United States by Magenta Light Studios, a new enterprise from veteran producer Bob Yari. This announcement, brought to us by Variety, follows the film’s successful premiere at Fantastic Fest in 2023, where it was universally praised for its creative storytelling and compelling performances, achieving a perfect score of 100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes from 14 reviews.

Strange Darling – Movie Clip

Directed by JT Mollner, ‘Strange Darling‘ is a thrilling narrative of a spontaneous hookup that takes an unexpected and terrifying turn. The film is notable for its innovative narrative structure and the exceptional acting of its leads. Mollner, known for his 2016 Sundance entry “Outlaws and Angels,” has once again employed 35mm for this project, cementing his reputation as a filmmaker with a distinct visual and narrative style. He is currently involved in adapting Stephen King’s novel “The Long Walk” in collaboration with director Francis Lawrence.

Bob Yari expressed his enthusiasm for the film’s upcoming release, scheduled for August 23rd, highlighting the unique qualities that make ‘Strange Darling’ a significant addition to the horror genre. “We are thrilled to be bringing nationwide theatrical audiences this unique and exceptional film with terrific performances by Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner. This second feature from talented writer-director JT Mollner is destined to become a cult classic that defies conventional storytelling,” Yari told Variety.

Variety’s review of the film from Fantastic Fest lauds Mollner’s approach, saying, “Mollner shows himself to be more forward-thinking than most of his genre peers. He’s clearly a student of the game, one who studied his forebears’ lessons with adroitness to better prepare himself to put his own mark on them.” This praise underlines Mollner’s deliberate and thoughtful engagement with the genre, promising audiences a film that is both reflective and innovative.

Strange Darling

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Continue Reading

News

Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Barbarella’ Revival Forges Ahead

Published

on

Sydney Sweeney Barbarella

Sydney Sweeney has confirmed the ongoing progress of the much-anticipated reboot of Barbarella. The project, which sees Sweeney not only starring but also executive producing, aims to breathe new life into the iconic character that first captured audiences’ imaginations in the 1960s. However, amid speculation, Sweeney remains tight-lipped about the possible involvement of celebrated director Edgar Wright in the project.

During her appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Sweeney shared her enthusiasm for the project and the character of Barbarella, stating, “It is. I mean, Barbarella is just such a fun character to explore. She really just embraces her femininity and her sexuality, and I love that. She uses sex as a weapon and I think it’s such an interesting way into a sci-fi world. I’ve always wanted to do sci-fi. So we’ll see what happens.“

Sydney Sweeney confirms her Barbarella reboot is still in the works

Barbarella, originally a creation of Jean-Claude Forest for V Magazine in 1962, was transformed into a cinematic icon by Jane Fonda under the direction of Roger Vardim in 1968. Despite a sequel, Barbarella Goes Down, never seeing the light of day, the character has remained a symbol of sci-fi allure and adventurous spirit.

Over the decades, several high-profile names including Rose McGowan, Halle Berry, and Kate Beckinsale were floated as potential leads for a reboot, with directors Robert Rodriguez and Robert Luketic, and writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade previously attached to revive the franchise. Unfortunately, none of these iterations made it past the conceptual stage.

Barbarella

The film’s progress took a promising turn approximately eighteen months ago when Sony Pictures announced its decision to cast Sydney Sweeney in the titular role, a move that Sweeney herself has suggested was facilitated by her involvement in Madame Web, also under Sony’s banner. This strategic decision was aimed at fostering a beneficial relationship with the studio, specifically with the Barbarella reboot in mind.

When probed about Edgar Wright’s potential directorial role, Sweeney adeptly sidestepped, merely noting that Wright has become an acquaintance. This has left fans and industry watchers speculating about the extent of his involvement, if any, in the project.

Barbarella is known for its adventurous tales of a young woman traversing the galaxy, engaging in escapades that often incorporate elements of sexuality—a theme Sweeney seems eager to explore. Her commitment to reimagining Barbarella for a new generation, while staying true to the character’s original essence, sounds like the making of a great reboot.

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Continue Reading

News

‘The First Omen’ Almost Received an NC-17 Rating

Published

on

the first omen trailer

Set for an April 5 theater release, ‘The First Omen’ carries an R-rating, a classification that was almost not achieved. Arkasha Stevenson, in her inaugural feature film directorial role, faced a formidable challenge in securing this rating for the prequel to the esteemed franchise. It seems the filmmakers had to contend with the ratings board to prevent the film from being saddled with an NC-17 rating. In a revealing conversation with Fangoria, Stevenson described the ordeal as ‘a long battle’, one not waged over traditional concerns such as gore. Instead, the crux of the controversy centered around the depiction of the female anatomy.

Stevenson’s vision for “The First Omen” delves deep into the theme of dehumanization, particularly through the lens of forced birthing. “The horror in that situation is how dehumanized that woman is”, Stevenson explains, emphasizing the significance of presenting the female body in a non-sexualized light to address themes of forced reproduction authentically. This commitment to realism nearly landed the film an NC-17 rating, sparking a prolonged negotiation with the MPA. “This has been my life for a year and a half, fighting for the shot. It’s the theme of our film. It’s the female body being violated from the inside outwards”, she states, highlighting the importance of the scene to the film’s core message.

The First Omen Movie Poster – by Creepy Duck Design

Producers David Goyer and Keith Levine supported Stevenson’s battle, encountering what they perceived as a double standard in the ratings process. Levine reveals, “We had to go back and forth with the ratings board five times. Weirdly, avoiding the NC-17 made it more intense”, pointing out how the struggle with the ratings board inadvertently intensified the final product. Goyer adds, “There is more permissiveness when dealing with male protagonists, particularly in body horror”, suggesting a gender bias in how body horror is evaluated.

The film’s bold approach to challenging viewers’ perceptions extends beyond the ratings controversy. Co-writer Tim Smith notes the intention to subvert expectations traditionally associated with The Omen franchise, aiming to surprise audiences with a fresh narrative focus. “One of the big things we were excited to do was to kind of pull the rug out from under people’s expectations”, Smith says, underscoring the creative team’s desire to explore new thematic ground.

Nell Tiger Free, known for her role in “Servant”, leads the cast of “The First Omen”, set for release by 20th Century Studios on April 5. The movie follows a young American woman dispatched to Rome for church service, where she stumbles upon a sinister force that shakes her faith to its core and reveals a chilling plot aimed at summoning evil incarnate.

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Continue Reading

Embed Gif with Clickable Title