Jason Voorhees Is Back in ‘Sweet Revenge’ — First Look Revealed at Comic-Con
Jason Voorhees is officially returning to screens, and fans got their first taste at San Diego Comic-Con. The project is called Sweet Revenge, and it’s part of the bigger Jason Universe plan to celebrate 45 years of the Friday the 13th franchise.
The first footage was revealed during the panel at SDCC, where it was announced that Sweet Revenge is a short-form vignette, which basically means a short film, and it’s being called the main event for the anniversary campaign. Jason’s been gone for years, so seeing him return in any form has already got longtime fans buzzing.
The short will premiere on August 13, 2025, which just so happens to fall on a Wednesday, not a Friday, but the date still marks a big comeback for one of horror’s most iconic killers. And this time, he’s not coming alone. Angry Orchard is sponsoring the project, which adds an unexpected twist to the whole thing.
Jason Universe teased what fans can expect by saying, “fans will drop into a chilling weekend in the woods filled with blood-soaked surprises only Jason can deliver.” It sounds like a return to classic camp horror, remote setting, isolated characters, and Jason doing what he does best.
The short is directed by Mike P. Nelson, who horror fans might know from the Wrong Turn reboot. He also just finished work on a new version of Silent Night, Deadly Night for Cineverse and Bloody Disgusting. Nelson seems genuinely thrilled to be part of the Friday the 13th world.
“I am so grateful that the team at Horror, Inc. saw something in Sweet Revenge and wanted it as a part of the Jason Voorhees story!” Nelson said in a statement. “And to think 30 years ago I was trying to secretly watch these movies on VHS when no one was looking. To have the opportunity to write and direct one of these stories is surreal, not to mention having an amazing team led by Chad Villella and Brianna Lee Johnson help me bring it to life! Not only is the vignette a new take on the beloved IP, it is a comforting, gory hug, reminding us why we fell in love with these movies. Much gruesome fun awaits you!”
Marc Toberoff, who’s part of Friday 13th LLC, also explained why the team felt now was the perfect time to try something different with the franchise. “Jason has always been a force in pop culture, and the 45th anniversary felt like the perfect moment to do something truly unexpected. Partnering with Horror, Inc. and Angry Orchard who share our passion has opened up a new way to engage fans. It’s exciting to see the franchise evolve with such creativity while staying true to what makes Jason iconic.”
Sheri Conn from Horror, Inc., who serves as the chief marketing officer, also spoke about how this project came together. She said, “We were beyond excited when Mike Nelson came on board and Angry Orchard sponsored production to help us bring this to life in a wickedly unexpected way. Even in a short vignette, Nelson will masterfully capture our shared vision–honoring the heritage of the franchise while delivering something fresh and thrilling for a new generation.”
Sweet Revenge is just one part of a much bigger plan. Jason Universe is also involved with the upcoming Peacock and A24 series Crystal Lake. That show is a prequel to the original movies and just started production this summer. It will dive into the early days of the Voorhees story and build out the mythology even more.
For now, Sweet Revenge is acting as the blood-soaked reintroduction of Jason to the world, and it’s doing it in a big way. The trailer shown at Comic-Con didn’t give away much, but it was more than enough to remind everyone why Jason still holds his place in horror history. Fans now have their eyes on August 13, when the masked slasher officially makes his return.
More details are expected in the coming months as the anniversary celebrations build up. But one thing is clear, Jason’s not done yet.
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