Linda Cardellini Teases Pamela Voorhees’ Dark Backstory in ‘Crystal Lake’

Horror fans have been waiting a long time for a proper return to the world of Friday the 13th. While Jason Voorhees has remained one of the genre’s most recognizable icons, the character hasn’t headlined a new film since the 2009 remake, leaving the franchise sidelined for years amid a lengthy and highly publicized legal battle over the property’s rights.

Now, after years of uncertainty, the franchise is finally making its way back to screens through Peacock and A24‘s upcoming prequel series Crystal Lake. Rather than serving as a continuation of the long-running film series, the show is taking audiences back to the beginning, focusing on Pamela Voorhees, the original killer introduced in 1980’s Friday the 13th.

As longtime fans know, Jason wasn’t the franchise’s first slasher. In the original film, it was Pamela who carried out the murders at Camp Crystal Lake, seeking revenge against those she blamed for the drowning death of her son. Despite her pivotal role in launching one of horror’s most successful franchises, the character appeared only briefly before leaving a lasting impact that would shape every sequel that followed.

That’s part of what attracted Linda Cardellini to the role in Crystal Lake. The actress recently explained that the opportunity to explore Pamela’s largely untold backstory – and to step into the shoes of a rare female slasher – made the project impossible to pass up.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Cardellini said the series’ focus on Pamela immediately stood out to her.

“With Crystal Lake, A24, Peacock and [creator] Brad Caleb Kane all came together and they just had this concept for making this story about Pam Voorhees,” Cardellini said. “If you watch the original movie, it really operates like a whodunit. Spoiler: at the end, you find out that it was Pam Voorhees.”

The actress also noted that while Pamela’s appearance in the original film was relatively brief, the character’s influence on the franchise has endured for decades.