Composer Harry Manfredini, known for the Friday the 13th films, is contributing to the upcoming Crystal Lake TV series on Peacock. The series reimagines the horror franchise with a new showrunner and a cast featuring legacy characters. Production wrapped recently in New Jersey.
Harry Manfredini, the composer behind the scores for most Friday the 13th movies, including the iconic “Ki ki ki ma ma ma” sound effect, is now involved with the Crystal Lake TV series. He created music for films such as Friday the 13th (1980), Part 2 (1981), Part III (1982), The Final Chapter (1984), A New Beginning (1985), Jason Lives: Part VI (1986), Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993), and Jason X (2001). Manfredini also scored the 2017 video game and the 2013 documentary Crystal Lake Memories, though he did not work on Freddy vs. Jason (2003) or the 2009 Friday the 13th remake.
The project was announced on Halloween 2022, involving original screenwriter Victor Miller, lawyer Marc Toberoff, rights holder Rob Barsamian, A24, Peacock, and initial showrunner Bryan Fuller. Filming was slated for July 2024 but faced delays after Fuller and collaborator Jim Danger Gray were let go in late April 2024. In late August 2024, Brad Caleb Kane was hired as showrunner, creator, writer, and executive producer. Kane, whose credits include It: Welcome to Derry, Fringe, and Warrior, shared on social media that he and Manfredini are “cookin’ up some fresh nightmare fuel.” Kane stated: “From the moment I watched Jason Voorhees squeeze a guy’s eyeball out of its socket (in glorious 3D!) at the tender age of 8 years old, I knew my creative path was someday destined to converge with The Man Behind The Mask.”
Crystal Lake explores a version of Pamela Voorhees, played by Linda Cardellini, as a mother who abandoned her singing career for a special needs child and takes a dark path after his loss. The cast includes Nick Cordileone as Crazy Ralph, William Catlett as Levon Brooks, and legacy figures like Dorf (Cameron Scoggins), Barry (Phoenix Parnevik), and Claudette (Danielle Kotch). Callum Vinson portrays young Jason Voorhees, with Zachary Branch appearing as adult Jason in one episode.
Directors are Michael Lennox for episodes 1-3, Celine Held and Logan George for 4-6, and Quyen Tran for 7-8. Executive producers include A24, Kane, Toberoff, Miller, and the Barsamians. Production began in June 2024 in New Jersey, wrapping in October under the codename Mama’s Boy. Locations included West Milford for camp scenes, Ringwood for lake shots, Blairstown as downtown Crystal Lake, and South Orange Village. The series will stream on Peacock in the US and Sky/Now in the UK and Ireland, premiering in 2026.