2025 marks the forty fifth anniversary of the discharge of one of the widespread horror films ever made, Friday the thirteenth. Final yr, the Friday the thirteenth franchise rights holders at Horror Inc. introduced that they had been launching the Jason Universe, which might embody “new Friday the 13th activations that will span a wide range of platforms from entertainment, games, immersive experiences, merchandise and more to be announced @JasonUniverse13 on social media or by visiting the official Jason Universe website.” As a part of the celebration, Horror Inc. teamed up with Offended Orchard Laborious Cider to supply a 13 minute brief movie known as Candy Revenge – and whereas making ready to convey Jason Voorhees again to the display screen, in addition they introduced in legendary particular results artist Greg Nicotero to present the character a little bit of a redesign. Throughout a brand new interview, Nicotero confirmed that Jason Universe had already redesigned the hockey masks earlier than they contacted him – and he was shocked that loads of followers have reacted negatively to Jason’s new look.
Talking with YouTuber Born2BeRad, Nicotero defined how he obtained concerned with this undertaking: “A pal of mine owns an organization, he did a bunch of merchandising for Creepshow and Strolling Useless and I’ve recognized the man for a very long time and he goes, ‘Hey, these people are looking for somebody to make a mask.’ So when (Jason Universe) got here to us, they got here to me with a design already they usually’re like, ‘This is what we want it to look like,’ and I used to be like, ‘Okay, it’s form of attention-grabbing, the form of the eyes and this and that.’ So we did a bodily model of it and it took months to play with the form, ‘Maybe we should try this and maybe we should change this, maybe we should change that, change this and change this.’ We truly sculpted a Jason bust that no person’s seen as a result of they needed us to create a glance, which I believe is basically nice. By way of the masks, I’m slightly shocked that individuals are so polarized by it as a result of I don’t suppose there’s something improper with the design. I believe it’s form of attention-grabbing and it nonetheless feels a part of the DNA however it’s slightly stylized when it comes to the form of the eyes and the form of the face. However what? You’re by no means going to win with the followers of any style as a result of the minute that you simply change it just a bit bit, individuals will react.“
Nicotero mentioned that Jason Universe needed him to make the masks look precisely just like the picture they supplied for him, and had been proof against any alterations. However for the remainder of the design, they had been open to something. “The character that we designed, I love it, it’s really neat, because they gave me free range to design what I wanted to.” He beforehand advised ComicBook.com that their solely specification is that this Jason wouldn’t be a rotting zombie, so he went for one thing alongside the strains of the Jason we noticed in components 2 and three. Though the masks was designed earlier than he obtained concerned, “I don’t suppose it’s a nasty masks, I believe it’s form of cool, truly. It’s totally different, and nowadays, I like totally different.“
As for why Jason Universe felt the necessity to redesign the hockey masks in any respect, changing the 31-hole unique with a 13-hole masks, “It’s very doable that they made adjustments on the masks in order that they may copyright it, in order that they may personal it, as a result of it’s not only a typical hockey masks. I wouldn’t doubt that.“
The total interview may be considered proper right here:
Nicotero gave Jason Universe the brand new Jason design with their redesigned hockey masks on it, made them twenty bodily copies of the masks, and that was the tip of their collaboration for now. He didn’t even have any involvement with Candy Revenge, which introduced his Jason design to the display screen. Through the interview, he mentions that he thinks one other brief movie might be going into manufacturing quickly, however that’s all he mentioned about it and that hasn’t been formally introduced.
When Nicotero’s design was unveiled, Horror Inc. president Robert Barsamian mentioned, “We attempt to take care of Jason’s unique essence, whereas persevering with to maneuver towards the long run with an outlined appear and feel that takes Jason into his subsequent chapter. We’re additionally working with each acquainted and recent franchise voices to strike that steadiness. We gave Greg our new 13-hole masks and labored collectively on this full-body look that embodies basic Jason. He’s a robust, towering and terrifying slasher with a machete, his weapon of selection.“
Though I’ll by no means prefer it as a lot because the 31-hole hockey masks I’ve recognized and beloved for many years, I believe the 13-hole model of the masks might work, if that’s what we’re caught with for now… however I haven’t seen a model of it that I’ve favored but, not even in Candy Revenge, the place it seemed unusual and large. There’s nonetheless some superb tuning left to do on this factor.
What do you consider Jason Universe’s hockey masks redesign, and their collaboration with Greg Nicotero? Tell us by leaving a remark beneath.
