Peacock Releases Trailer for Friday the 13th Prequel Series

This October brings plenty of horror television options. American Horror Story returns with a massive crossover in its thirteenth season. Mike Flanagan and Stephen King also debut a new miniseries adaptation of Carrie on Prime Video. Yet Peacock’s Friday the 13th prequel series is quickly emerging as a major release. A new trailer for Crystal Lake provides a clear look at the show and delivers classic horror elements.

The trailer centers on Pam Voorhees, played by Linda Cardellini, as she joins the Crystal Lake community at the local summer camp alongside her son, Jason. The young boy tragically drowns, plunging Pam into a deep depression. Haunted by his death, she suspects Jason may still be alive. Strange events and gruesome murders soon plague Crystal Lake, leaving the exact cause of the bloodshed mysterious.

The footage showcases classic horror gore. While a prestige miniseries set before a legendary horror film sounds unusual, A24 and Peacock embrace the franchise staples of blood and sex. The trailer establishes that the story starts in 1971, shifting Jason’s death earlier than the 1957 timeline from the original movie.

When does Crystal Lake premiere?

The series premieres on Thursday, Oct. 15 exclusively on Peacock. All eight one-hour episodes will drop at the same time. Brad Caleb Kane, known for It: Welcome to Derry, Tokyo Vice, and Warrior, acts as the creator and showrunner. Linda Cardellini stars alongside William Catlett, Devin Kessler, Cameron Scoggins, Gwendolyn Sundstrom, and other cast members.

As part of the 2026 Fall Preview, Polygon spoke with Kane about managing the pressure of a project that many previous creators attempted to make. They discussed balancing bloody horror with psychological thrills and how much viewers will see of Jason.

They’ll see more than they think they will. So no hockey mask, because we don’t go up through the events of Part Three, but that doesn’t mean we don’t go into mask territory. And that doesn’t mean we don’t see Jason, and potentially very clearly. So I’ll just leave that right there.

New Friday the 13th short Sweet Revenge is a glorious return for Jason

Source: Polygon