Horror fans might soon see Linda Cardellini take on one of the most legendary roles in slasher history. The Scooby-Doo and Dead to Me star is in talks to play Pamela Voorhees in Crystal Lake, a prequel series to the Friday the 13th saga. If the very role goes to Linda Cardellini, that actress will have big shoes to fill — but fans are confident she can bring a depth and intensity to the character.
Developed by A24 and streaming on Peacock, the series will explore the origins of the franchise’s Jason Voorhees and his murderous mother, re-envisioning the powerful horror legend. The series promises to explore more of Pamela’s backstory, to show what sent her down the dark road of vengeance.
Horror fans have already ginned up significant buzz about Crystal Lake, which was developed by Bryan Fuller (Hannibal, American Gods). As an A24-backed project, there’s lots of hope for a gruesome and thrilling spin on the Friday the 13th mythology.
Speculation about Linda Cardellini possibly portraying Pamela Voorhees in Crystal Lake began courtesy of industry insider Jeff Sneider, who broke the news via his outlet, The InSneider. His report quickly went viral amongst the entertainment press, covered by outlets such as CBR, and Yahoo Entertainment.
While this has sent shockwaves through the horror community, neither Cardellini nor the show itself has formally confirmed the rumor.
Linda Cardellini has shown her versatility across genres, from her fan-favorite part as Velma in Scooby-Doo to her Emmy-nominated turn in Dead to Me. She has always outshone the complex and emotional characters and fans think she could be a great Pamela Voorhees. If the rumors are correct, Cardellini could inject some fresh life into this classic horror of a villain, making Crystal Lake a required watch for fans both old and new.
The Friday the 13th prequel series Crystal Lake was first announced in 2022, with Bryan Fuller attached to serve as showrunner. However, the project has since been slightly tweaked, with Brad Caleb Kane—who wrote for the forthcoming It prequel Welcome to Derry—now set to showrun the series.
Brad Caleb Kane has been a horror fan since childhood, with Friday the 13th holding a special place in his heart. He vividly remembers watching Friday the 13th Part 3 as a kid and being both terrified and mesmerized by the scene where Jason Voorhees crushes a victim’s eyeball. Growing up during the golden age of slasher films, he sees Friday the 13th as one of the most iconic franchises in the genre. Now, he’s beyond excited to be part of its legacy, working with Peacock and A24 to bring Crystal Lake to life for a new generation of fans.
