Peacock and A24's Friday the 13th prequel series, Crystal Lake has been stuck in development hell since the studio ordered the series in 2022, but with Brad Caleb Kane (It: Welcome To Derry) now attached to the project as the new showrunner, the Friday the 13th prequel has picked up its momentum.

Now, Peacock has announced that Linda Cardellini will lead Crystal Lake as Pamela Voorhees, the mother of the indomitable killer and originally portrayed by Betsy Palmer in the 1980 film. After amassing major success with her role in Freaks and Geeks, the three-time Emmy nominee has starred in Netflix's Dead To Me and recently ed the dark comedy series No Good Deed, alongside Lisa Kudrow, Luke Wilson, and Ray Romano. Cardellini is currently filming the lead role in Max's DTF: St. Louis, opposite Jason Bateman and David Harbour.

What Cardellini's Casting Means For Crystal Lake

The Friday The 13th Prequel Show Moves Closer To Reality

With Crystal Lake casting its lead role, the Friday the 13th prequel series is now moving along after a few behind-the-scenes shake-ups. Bryan Fuller was originally tapped to lead the prequel in 2022, before he stepped down in early 2024. A few months later, Brad Caleb Kane came on as showrunner, who is currently tackling a horror prequel with Stephen King's It adaptation Welcome to Derry. Adrienne King was set to appear in the prequel TV series, but it remains unclear if the original Friday the 13th final girl will be in the current iteration.

While plot details for Crystal Lake are sparse, its story will likely involve Cardellini as a young Pamela Voorhees with Jason in tow at Camp Crystal Lake. In a style reminiscent of Bates Motel, Crystal Lake may uncover hidden details about Pamela’s life before she began her rampage in the original Friday the 13th movie. This will be Cardellini's second horror role after starring in the 2019 supernatural film The Curse of La Llorona as a mother who must face a vengeful spirit intent on taking her children away.

Our Take On Cardellini In Crystal Lake

She's The Perfect Choice To Play Pamela

Pamela Voorhees is an iconic horror figure who became a psychotic and puritanical murderer after Jason's death. Cardellini's casting as Jason's mother is nothing short of an inspired choice. The Dead To Me actor has the range to depict Pamela not just as a vengeful killer but as a complex, tragic figure. Given Crystal Lake's seemingly more psychological approach to the slasher franchise, Cardellini’s performance could redefine Pamela’s descent into madness, making her more than just the grieving mother from the original Friday the 13th.

Source: Peacock