Horror Inc. Sets Independent 'Friday the 13th' Film for 2027 With Steve Miner Directing, Cineverse Distributing

Horror, Inc. will independently finance and produce a new Friday the 13th film for a 2027 global theatrical release, with Steve Miner directing, CatchLight Studios producing and Cineverse holding North American distribution rights, the company announced Nov. 13.

Nov 14, 2026 - 13:17

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Horror, Inc., the Barsamian family company that controls the Friday the 13th franchise, announced on Nov. 13 that it will finance and produce a new Friday the 13th feature film for a global theatrical release in 2027, with Steve Miner returning to direct. Cineverse has secured North American distribution rights, including the theatrical release, and CatchLight Studios has been named production partner, according to a company announcement distributed through PR Newswire.

The film will be the 13th feature centered on Jason Voorhees and the first new Friday the 13th film since the 2009 reboot, according to Deadline, which first reported the project. The screenplay is by David Fliegel, whom the announcement describes as an emerging screenwriter. Total Cinema reported that no cast has been announced and that plot details have not been released.

An Independent Financing Model

The announcement says the project is "returning to the franchise's independent roots," with the film financed and produced by the Barsamian family rather than by a major studio. Total Cinema described the arrangement plainly: "The new film is not a studio production."

Robbie Barsamian, executive vice president of Horror, Inc., tied the structure to creative control. "Reuniting with Steve under a fully independent model allows us the creative control to honor what makes Jason the greatest slasher of all time and deliver the definitive theatrical event that today's audiences expect," Barsamian said in the statement. Total Cinema reported that Barsamian has also described the new feature as the first of many films to come.

Deadline reported that the original 1980 film was made independently for roughly $550,000 and was acquired by Paramount in a bidding war. Polygon put the original budget at roughly $500,000 and reported that the film grossed close to $60 million. Deadline reported that past films in the series have collectively grossed nearly $450 million worldwide, while the Horror, Inc. announcement calls Friday the 13th a "billion-dollar" franchise.

Cineverse Takes North American Rights

For Cineverse, which trades on Nasdaq under the ticker CNVS, the deal adds the Jason film to its theatrical slate of genre releases. Deadline noted that Cineverse has had major recent success with the Terrifier horror sequels, and Total Cinema described Cineverse as the distributor that turned the low-budget Terrifier films into breakout box-office stories.

"Jason is one of the most recognizable figures in cinema history," said Chris McGurk, chairman and CEO of Cineverse. "We have a proven track record of empowering uncompromising genre filmmaking and connecting it directly with passionate audiences, and are honored to be a part of bringing Jason back to theaters where he belongs."

According to the company's description in the announcement, Cineverse's recent theatrical releases include the franchise returns of The Toxic Avenger, Silent Night, Deadly Night and Return to Silent Hill. Its upcoming slate also includes a third Wolf Creek installment and Air Bud Returns.

CatchLight Studios as Production Partner

CatchLight Studios is an independent film and television company founded by Jeanette Volturno, Marcei Brown, Jason Clark and Jessica Malanaphy, according to the announcement, which says the partners have produced more than 175 films across four decades. Its listed recent credits include Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie for Universal and DreamWorks, Heretic for A24 and The Blackening for Lionsgate and MRC.

The announcement says Volturno and Malanaphy were the first hires at Blumhouse, where they worked on the low-cost, high-output model behind franchises including Insidious, The Purge and Paranormal Activity.

"Bringing an icon like Jason back to the screen requires dedication to craft and a deep respect for the fandom," Volturno said. "We're excited to collaborate with Steve and Robbie to create a practically-shot film that is relentless, cinematic and terrifying."

A Director From the Original Run

Miner directed Friday the 13th Part 2 in 1981 and Part III the following year, according to Total Cinema. The announcement credits him with first putting the machete in Jason's hands in Part 2 and introducing the hockey mask in Part III.

"When I put the hockey mask on Jason for Friday the 13th Part III, I knew it would create a truly scary image that would work for that movie," Miner said in the statement. "I had no idea that it would live on as one of the most iconic symbols in horror films. I'm thrilled to come back and continue the legacy."

The original 1980 film was directed by Sean S. Cunningham, the Los Angeles Times reported, and Polygon noted that it was written by Victor Miller.

Part of a Wider Jason Universe Push

The feature follows Crystal Lake, the Peacock and A24 prequel series starring Linda Cardellini as Pamela Voorhees and Callum Vinson as a young Jason. Deadline reported that all eight episodes premiered Oct. 15 and that the show generated 1.3 billion minutes viewed in its first 11 days, according to Nielsen, giving Peacock its fourth-best scripted-original debut.

Horror, Inc. launched its Jason Universe brand in 2024 to expand the franchise, according to the announcement, which lists television, video game appearances in titles such as Call of Duty, Fortnite and Dead by Daylight, theme park and immersive events, and merchandise among its extensions.

The theatrical series had been dormant for years. Total Cinema reported that legal disputes over the rights to the original film kept new projects in limbo after the 2009 Platinum Dunes reboot, which it said was released by Warner Bros. and Paramount. Deadline described that reboot as a Warner Bros. film. A specific release date and casting have not been announced.