Crystal Lake, the upcoming Friday the 13th prequel series headed to Peacock, has named Brad Caleb Kane as its new showrunner, as announced today in Variety and other Hollywood trades.
Kane takes the place of Hannibal and Pushing Daisies creator Bryan Fuller, who was previously set to serve as showrunner. Fuller confirmed in May, however, that he was no longer attached to Crystal Lake, although Peacock and studio A24 still intended to move forward with the series. At the time, Fuller said A24 “has elected to go a different way with the material.”
Now, Kane will serve as Crystal Lake’s new steward, also set to be creator, writer, and executive producer in addition to showrunning. Interestingly enough, this isn’t the only horror prequel TV series that Kane is taking the helm of; in November 2022, it was announced that he would serve as showrunner for the upcoming HBO series It: Welcome to Derry, along with Jason Fuchs.
“From the moment I watched Jason Voorhees squeeze a guy’s eyeball out of its socket (in glorious 3D!) at the tender age of 8 years old, I knew my creative path was someday destined to converge with The Man Behind The Mask,” Kane said in a statement. “Nothing defined my childhood more than growing up in the golden age of the slasher flick, and nothing’s defined the genre more than Friday The 13th. I couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity to contribute a chapter to this iconic franchise, particularly with such fearless partners as Peacock and A24.”
Crystal Lake was first announced in 2022, with Peacock and A24 handing it a straight-to-series order. Although plot details have largely been kept under wraps, it’s expected to pick up right after the drowning of the young Jason Voorhees. In the 1980 original movie, Jason’s death prompts his mother, Pamela, to seek revenge on the negligent camp counselors who she views as responsible for the tragedy.
Crystal Lake is only the latest addition to the vast Friday the 13th IP, which includes 12 movies, as well as novels, video games, and more. It’s also not the slasher franchise’s first go on the small screen; a previous TV show, Friday the 13th: The Series, aired from 1987-1990.
Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she's not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.
