The Jason Universe has unveiled a brand-new design for Jason Voorhees, crafted by special effects legend Greg Nicotero, ahead of upcoming Friday the 13th films, games, and merchandise. This redesign not only celebrates the franchise’s 45th anniversary but also sets the definitive look for any future appearances—including a potential entry into Dead by Daylight.
New Jason Voorhees Design
Revealed by Adweek, the Jason Universe’s official channel showcased a striking redesign of Jason Voorhees, marking a “new beginning” for the slasher icon as part of the franchise’s multi-platform expansion.
Makeup effects artist Greg Nicotero led the redesign, ensuring that Jason’s updated look remains faithful to his terrifying roots while offering a fresh visual identity.
This new appearance will likely be used across upcoming films, video games, and merchandise, setting the template for any future crossovers, including Dead by Daylight.
The 45th anniversary celebration continues with a killer new look for everyone's favorite slasher🔪 Our friend @G_Nicotero helped us create this “strong, towering and terrifying slasher with a machete, his weapon of choice.”
— Jason Universe (@JasonUniverse13) May 15, 2025
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And thanks for the shout… https://t.co/bcj62468Iv pic.twitter.com/MEoSirsOne
The Complex History of the Friday the 13th License
Bringing Jason into Dead by Daylight is no easy task. The Friday the 13th brand has been trapped in a legal limbo for years due to a lawsuit between Victor Miller, the original screenwriter of the first movie, and Sean S. Cunningham, the director. The dispute centered around who owned the rights to the story and characters. After a long legal battle, Victor Miller won the U.S. rights to the original script, but the situation remains complex internationally, where rights are still divided.
This legal turmoil even caused the death of Friday the 13th: The Game, whose servers were shut down recently because no new content could legally be developed or released.
Crystal Lake: The Upcoming TV Series
Adding to the momentum is the upcoming TV series titled Crystal Lake, currently in development. The show will be produced by A24 and distributed by Peacock, with Brad Caleb Kane (Welcome to Derry) attached as the showrunner. Recently, casting news revealed that Linda Cardellini has been chosen to portray Pamela Voorhees, Jason’s mother, hinting at an origin-focused story that will dive deeper into the dark mythology of Camp Crystal Lake.
Why Jason’s Arrival Makes Sense
In the gaming world, it’s common for major collaborations to align with big new projects. For example:
Leatherface was added to Dead by Daylight when a new Texas Chainsaw film was being released.
Five Nights at Freddy’s collaborated with DBD while a new game was approaching launch.
Stranger Things arrived just as a new season was hitting Netflix.
Given the revival of the Friday the 13th franchise, the active promotion of Jason Universe, and the upcoming Crystal Lake series, the timing would be perfect for Jason Voorhees to slash his way into Dead by Daylight.
So, let’s imagine what Jason Voorhees power could look like in Dead by Daylight. Drawing from his terrifying, unstoppable nature, we can envision a unique ability that perfectly captures his slow but inevitable approach, his brutal strength, and his supernatural connection to fear itself:
Killer: Jason Voorhees (“The Revenant”)
Power: Relentless Pursuit
Jason channels his supernatural endurance to stalk survivors without mercy.
Silent Stalk: Jason moves 10% slower than regular killers but becomes completely silent (no Terror Radius) while crouching or standing still.
Momentum Charge: While moving without interruption for 8 seconds, Jason can activate a burst of speed for 4 seconds, allowing him to catch up with survivors rapidly.
Grave Grasp: If Jason hits a survivor during his Momentum Charge, he inflicts Deep Wound and disables vaulting windows for that survivor for 10 seconds.
Jason is all about unstoppable pressure: slow and creeping, but when he strikes, there’s no escape.
Perks
1. Death Awaits
Each time a generator is completed, survivors suffer a 5% Hindered status effect (movement speed reduction) for 20 seconds.
“No matter how fast you run, death is always one step behind.”
2. Hunter’s Patience
When standing still for 6 seconds, gain Undetectable status effect until you move. After moving, gain 5% increased lunge range for the next basic attack.
“Patience makes the kill inevitable.”
3. Relentless Terror
Each time a survivor is hooked, nearby generators (within 32 meters) regress by 6% instantly and survivors working on them scream and reveal their location.
“One scream is all it takes for death to find you.”
Special Ability: Mother’s Call
Jason can hear survivors’ breathing more clearly. Activate “Mother’s Call” to detect survivors within 24 meters for 6 seconds (even if they’re hiding behind walls or objects). Cooldown: 60 seconds.
Optional Skin Ideas:
Classic Hockey Mask Jason (Part 3)
Rotting Jason (Part 7: New Blood)
Savini Jason (flaming demonic Jason, a fan favorite)
Baghead Jason (Part 2)
With Jason’s new look now official and the Friday the 13th game concluding its service, the franchise is poised for a renaissance across multiple media. Fans disappointed by years of legal wrangling can look forward to Crystal Lake, and, perhaps one day, Jason stalking the fog-shrouded realms of Dead by Daylight.
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