Will There Really Be a Freddy vs Jason 2?
The writers of ‘Freddy VS Jason’ and the ‘Friday The 13th’ remake from 2009, Damien Shannon and Mark Swift, have gone on record to say they would love to see a ‘Freddy VS Jason II’ hit the screen sometime soon. However, they want fresh blood to be behind the sequel and not themselves. Both writers stated:
‘We still want to get it made! We would always love to do another one. But it’s always good to get fresh eyes on the material, no? We’ve had our day.’
I would LOVE to see a second round between the two horror icons on the big screen. A decent R Rated sequel featuring two out of three of my favorite horror characters would be completely amazing. But, it would have to be brought to the screen with both Robert Englund and Kane Hodder in the respective roles and sadly, I think it’s not to be.
- Shannon and Swift discussed the aborted sequel they had planned for the 2009 reboot, which was to be set in the snow featuring extended flashbacks focusing on Pamela Voorhees. This would have shown that Jason was a chip off his mother’s block and that Pamela was the scariest Voorhees of them all. Sadly, the film was abandoned due mainly to the rights dispute that is still running through the courts today.
- With the statements from Shannon, Swift, and Hodder, plus the prospect of one final big payday for both Englund and Hodder, there is a glimmer of hope that the film will hit the multiplexes someday soon. Fans should hold onto the idea of finally getting what they should have had back in 2003.
- However, the second part of the crossover between the Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th franchises will likely never happen as both sagas were restarted. Friday the 13th was rebooted in 2009 with Paramount and Warner Bros. Though it was a box office success, it received negative reviews, canceling a new Friday the 13th saga.
- No current plans exist for a Jason film as the rights to the franchise are currently being fought over in court. Even if the eventual ruling allows for more films to be made, it’s highly unlikely that a new movie will proceed.
- Now, over 20 years have ed since the fateful fight, with not even the slightest rumor of a sequel in the works. Bruce has retired as Ash in live action, and Robert has retired, expressing a desire for Kevin Bacon to take over the role of Freddy.
Challenges Facing Freddy vs Jason 2: Legal Issues and Aging Stars
Freddy vs. Jason 2 faces significant challenges, particularly relating to legal issues and the aging cast.
Firstly, the development has encountered numerous legal hurdles. Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash will most likely never happen due to complicated legal issues that have mired the properties in copyright limbo.
Moreover, there have been attempts to create a compelling story. More than 15 screenwriters tried to crack the story — costing the studio a reported $6 million — but none of them could satisfy all the parties necessary to secure a greenlight. Most of the proposed takes read like overly complicated fan fiction, including retconning backstories with Freddy having an affair with Mrs. Voorhees and/or being a camp counselor who let Jason drown.
In addition to legal challenges, the issue of aging stars affects casting decisions. Having recently revitalized another slasher favorite for modern audiences with Bride of Chucky, Ronny Yu was hired to direct. The incomparable Robert Englund would, of course, play Freddy Krueger for the eighth (and as yet final) time; however, in a 2023 interview with Variety, Englund noted that he was too old and ‘too thick’ to play Freddy anymore. Englund is 76, while Campbell is 65.
Once the legal red tape is out of the way, there remains the not insignificant issue of coming up with a narrative that brings these iconic characters together effectively.
Additionally, the story of Freddy vs. Jason continued in the Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash comic book limited series as a satisfactory consolation. While opinions may vary, it is notable that the film falls toward the bottom of fans’ franchise rankings.
What We Know About the Potential Freddy vs Jason 2 Trailer
Jenna Ortega s the cast as one of Hoffman’s latest victims. Furthermore, the trailer indicates she’s in for a truly terrifying experience.
Additionally, the film marks Robert Englund’s final portrayal as Freddy Krueger. Although a sequel and crossover with the Evil Dead franchise was planned, it was ultimately canceled.
Where to Watch Freddy vs Jason: Streaming Options Explored
Streaming Options for Freddy vs. Jason:
- Freddy vs. Jason is available to stream on:
- HBO Max
- Amazon Prime Video
- Netflix
- You can also rent or purchase it on:
- Apple TV
- Google Play Movies
- Fandango At Home
- Microsoft Store
Additional Notes:
- You are able to stream Freddy vs. Jason by renting or purchasing on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home.
- You can buy ‘Freddy vs. Jason’ on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Microsoft Store, and Fandango At Home, or rent it on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home, and Microsoft Store online.
Fan Theories and Expectations for Freddy vs Jason 2
Ronny Yu’s 2003 horror/action flick ‘Freddy vs. Jason’ gave audiences pretty much everything they might want in a sensationalized cross-over between ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ and ‘Friday the 13th.’ In addition to the requisite cast of pretty young people getting chopped into pieces by one of the film’s two title villains, it featured every iteration of fight between Freddy and Jason. There was a fight in the dream world (where Freddy had the upper hand) and a fight at a real-world campground (where Jason did). There was a lot of growling, cutting, slashing, etc. Whichever villain was your favorite, you saw what you wanted to see.
At the end, the actual victor was left a little ambiguous. It seemed for a moment that Jason (Ken Kirzinger) was the winner, as he emerged from Crystal Lake, post-conflagration, holding the severed head of Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund). Freddy, however, still possessed of his supernatural powers, wasn’t quite dead. The last shot of the movie was Freddy’s severed head winking at the camera. That’s a satisfying victory for both ‘Friday’ heads and ‘Elm Street’ fanatics.
There were once real plans in place to make a ‘Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash’ movie. Internal memos from New Line at the time revealed that Freddy would finally, finally, finally die at the end. Ash (Bruce Campbell), the blustering a-hole from the ‘Evil Dead’ movies, would remain alive by the end, but because he is generally a bumbling and unlucky character, would be sucked into an alternate dimension. Unfortunately, that movie was never made, which is a disappointment for fans.
Creatively, there may be several ways into a sequel, and many creative people seem equal to the challenge. However, legal troubles and aging actors will likely stymie efforts indefinitely. Therefore, horror fans may have to face the fact that their favorite monsters may finally need to be put to rest.
Some fan theories and expectations for a potential sequel include:
- Freddy Is Defeated The Same Way In Every Entry: In each Nightmare installment, Freddy is foiled a different way at the end. u/C_Me thinks he actually loses the same way every time, by someone believing a reality in their dream powerfully enough to slay him with it.
- Freddy Got Some Of His Powers From His Victims: Despite Freddy deriving his powers from the ‘dream demons,’ u/softhandsam points out he may have absorbed dream powers from his victims, as indicated by abilities displayed by teens he attacked.
- Freddy’s Dead Takes Place After ‘Freddy vs Jason’: Despite being released first, u/DeluxeTraffic theorizes that ‘Freddy’s Dead’ takes place after the events of ‘Freddy vs. Jason,’ suggesting a timeline connection.
- Women Are Freddy’s Weakness: u/softhandsam theorizes that Freddy has a vulnerability toward women, highlighting that a female character dispatches him in each entry.
- Potential Crossovers: In early drafts of the ‘FvJ’ script, Freddy and Jason were to be dragged into Hell to face Pinhead from ‘Hellraiser,’ and treatments for ‘Freddy vs. Jason 2’ included Ash from the ‘Evil Dead’ movies.
Of course, ‘Freddy vs. Jason’ itself is now 20 years old. Talk of a sequel in 2023 is nostalgia for nostalgia. However, Warner Bros. scuttlebutt around the internet has led to floated theories as to how a ‘Freddy vs. Jason’ sequel could be made at this late date.
Is Freddy vs Jason 2 Worth the Wait? Viewer Perspectives
Since its release, fans have wondered if ‘Freddy vs. Jason’ would ever get a sequel. There have long been rumors of a follow-up, which has continued to fuel debate and discussion about a second installment. However, over the years, gossip has spun so fast that the cast and crew have had to respond. Several very real attempts to make a sequel have been made, but nothing has come to fruition, leaving fans still questioning whether a sequel will ever happen.
Attempts to get a ‘Freddy vs. Jason’ sequel have been stalled for years. This situation was exacerbated by both franchises opting to reboot their respective series, with a new ‘Friday the 13th’ arriving in 2009, and a remake of ‘Nightmare on Elm Street’ a year later. Unfortunately, neither of these were successful enough to warrant follow-ups, effectively burying the idea of another crossover.
The fans are dying for a Freddy vs. Jason sequel. Given that ‘Freddy vs. Jason’ brought together two iconic horror franchises, it amassed a larger audience than either had achieved alone. This ionate fanbase has been begging for a sequel ever since. However, they are consistently disappointed as each new year es without one. Even after 20 years of frustration, these fans continue to hope that they will finally get to see Freddy and Jason together on the big screen.
Ultimately, the concept of ‘Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash’ would have depicted the two villains as reluctant allies, with Bruce Campbell’s Ash stepping in to stop them both.
Ronny Yu’s 2003 horror/action flick “Freddy vs. Jason” gave audiences everything they might want in a sensationalized crossover between “A Nightmare on Elm Street” and “Friday the 13th.” This included a requisite cast of pretty young people getting chopped into pieces by one of the film’s two title villains, along with various encounters between Freddy and Jason.
Specifically, there was a fight in the dream world, where Freddy had the upper hand, and a real-world campground battle, where Jason excelled. The movie featured a lot of growling, cutting, and slashing. Regardless of which villain was favored, fans saw what they wanted.
At the end, the true victor was left somewhat ambiguous. It appeared for a moment that Jason (Ken Kirzinger) was the winner, as he emerged from Crystal Lake, post-conflagration, holding the severed head of Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund). Yet, Freddy, still possessing his supernatural powers, remained a looming threat.
However, there’s a slim chance Freddy vs. Jason 2 could still happen, due to renewed interest in horror icons following the success of “Halloween” (2018) and “IT”. Englund has indicated that he might be open to one final ‘Nightmare’ movie, and a sequel reuniting the two killers would excite fans.
The delays for the sequel were initially attributed to various issues, including the muted critical reception of ‘Freddy vs. Jason’ and the complications arising from Robert Englund no longer playing Freddy Krueger. This was all compounded by the legal quagmire that embroiled the ‘Friday the 13th’ series.
Despite the success of the original film, there have been no rumors of a sequel. ‘Freddy vs. Jason’, the 2003 slasher showdown, was a gory and brutal battle that fans loved, becoming the highest-grossing horror film for both franchises. Ultimately, it may be the only slasher showdown in horror history, primarily because there are no other franchise stars as famous and directly comparable as Freddy and Jason.
