Friday the 13th Nearly Went Meta Before Wes Craven’s New Nightmare

Jason Voorhees, the iconic figure from the *Friday the 13th* franchise, has ventured through various settings over 12 films, including New York and outer space. However, an interesting concept for a nearly meta sequel surfaced after *Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan*, starring Jensen Daggett as Rennie, the film’s final girl.

Unmade Sequel Concept

In a recent interview with Happy Horror Time on YouTube, Jensen Daggett revealed that there were discussions for a follow-up film after the release of *Jason Takes Manhattan*. This proposed sequel would have depicted Daggett as herself, being stalked by Jason in real life along with her family.

• Daggett described the script as exceptional, stating, “Somebody wrote this script where Jensen Daggett, me, the real Jensen Daggett, is suddenly being stalked by Jason.”
• She expressed her enthusiasm for the project, mentioning she still has a copy of the original script in a leather binder.

Comparison to Wes Craven’s New Nightmare

The concept for Daggett’s sequel bears a resemblance to Wes Craven’s *New Nightmare*, which features Heather Langenkamp confronting Freddy Krueger in a real-world scenario. Released in 1994, five years after *Jason Takes Manhattan*, Daggett’s concept could have been a groundbreaking meta-horror film ahead of its time.

Future of the Franchise

Despite the lack of greenlighting for her project, Daggett remains hopeful for a future appearance in the *Friday the 13th* series. She suggested a film where all final girls and boys could be united, acknowledging that she wouldn’t mind being killed off in such a scenario.

• Daggett emphasized the fun in potentially being part of a larger narrative within the horror universe.

Currently, fans of the franchise have something to look forward to. Reports indicate that a new *Friday the 13th* film is in development under the “Jason Universe” initiative. This project aims to reboot Jason Voorhees and expand his story across different media.

Additionally, a prequel miniseries titled *Crystal Lake* is in the works with Linda Cardellini portraying Pamela Voorhees. However, the release date for this series has yet to be announced.

To catch more insights from Jensen Daggett regarding her experiences and thoughts on the *Friday the 13th* franchise, viewers can check out her full interview available online.