‘Friday the 13th’ returns with original filmmaker Steve Miner back on board

Cineverse has secured North American distribution rights, with production returning to independent control

Jason Voorhees is heading back to the big screen, with a new Friday the 13th film officially in development and a familiar filmmaker returning to the horror franchise.

Steve Miner, who directed Friday the 13th Part II and Friday the 13th Part III, will direct the upcoming instalment, according to Deadline. The project is expected to reach cinemas in 2027, marking the franchise's first theatrical film since the 2009 remake.

The new production will be financed and produced by the Barsamian family through Horror, Inc., which controls the franchise. Screenwriter David Fliegel has been hired to write the screenplay, although plot details and casting announcements have not yet been revealed.

Miner's return is particularly significant for longtime fans. His 1981 and 1982 films helped establish Jason as one of horror cinema's most recognisable villains. The third instalment also introduced the hockey mask that became the character's defining visual feature.

Robbie Barsamian, executive vice president of Horror, Inc., welcomed the filmmaker's involvement, explaining that Jason's identity remains closely connected to the creative decisions Miner made during his earlier films.

Miner also expressed enthusiasm about returning to the franchise, recalling how the hockey mask became an iconic horror image after its introduction in Friday the 13th Part III.

The project will follow an independent production model, giving Horror, Inc. greater creative control over the new film. CatchLight Studios has been named as its production partner, while Cineverse has acquired North American distribution rights, including theatrical distribution.

The announcement arrives as the franchise expands its presence on television through Crystal Lake, a prequel series starring Linda Cardellini as Pamela Voorhees, Jason's mother.

Although the new film's storyline remains under wraps, Miner's return offers a connection to the franchise's earlier theatrical success. Fans will have to wait for further announcements to discover who will portray Jason and the next group of unfortunate Camp Crystal Lake visitors.