The “Friday the 13th” prequel series in the works at Peacock from A24 is in search of a new showrunner.
Bryan Fuller — who was announced as the show’s writer, executive producer, and showrunner when it was first ordered to series in 2022 — took to Twitter to announce that he has been fired from the show due to creative differences.
“For reasons beyond our control, A24 has elected to go a different way with the material,” he said. “We hope the final product will be something ‘Friday the 13th’ fans all over the world will enjoy.”
Trouble on the series was first reported earlier in the week by the InSneider newsletter. However, according to an individual with knowledge of the project, the series order remains in place with hopes to line up a new showrunner as soon as possible. Production had not begun on the series, nor had any casting taken place.
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Victor Miller, who penned the original film in the franchise, remains onboard as an executive produce along with Marc Toberoff and Rob Barsamian. Miller and Toberoff, his attorney, were previously involved in a lengthy court case in an attempt to obtain the rights to the original film’s screenplay for Miller. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Miller’s favor in 2021, giving him the U.S. rights to the screenplay. Miller and Toberoff have non-exclusive foreign rights as well and by bringing in Barsamian, the project has access to all of the other elements from the films.
Variety previously reported that Fuller was accused of sexual harassment on the set of an AMC docuseries about queer horror in a lawsuit filed in October 2023. In the suit, it is alleged that he made constant references to masturbation, engaged in casual bullying, and created a hostile work environment. Fuller is known for creating or co-creating shows like “Hannibal” at NBC, “Pushing Daisies” at ABC, “Dead Like Me” at Showtime, “American Gods” at Starz, and “Star Trek: Discovery” at Paramount+. He is also known for his work on “Star Trek: Voyager” as well as “Heroes.”
The original “Friday the 13th” was released in 1980. In that film, Jason is a child who drowns at Camp Crystal Lake. His death leads his mother Pamela to seek revenge against the counselors she blamed for her son’s death. It grossed nearly $60 million against a reported budget of $550,000.
Since then, there have been eleven further films in the franchise, including “Jason X,” “Freddy vs. Jason,” and the 2009 reboot. Jason became the main antagonist beginning with the second film.