Jason Lives Filmmaker Tom McLoughlin Wants Another Stab at Jason Voorhees

The writer/director has already written a script for a new film, but all of the expected hurdles for making it are still firmly in place.

By L.B. Lubomski
July 10 2019, 7:15 PM EDT

Tom McLoughlin, writer and director of Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives, was a special guest on a recent episode of The Pod and the Pendulum. During the appearance, he discussed all things Friday the 13th,from his vision for how he wanted Jason to move and act, based on his personal experience as a performer and mime, to his reasoning for incorporating some of the slapstick humor the later films would become known for.

He also describes in detail his feud with the Motion Picture Association of America after his attempt to avoid the dreaded “X” rating and how the scene they had the most issue with was the “backbreaker” kill of Sheriff Garris, which ironically was a bloodless death! It apparently took nine cuts before the film secured its R rating.

During the podcast, McLaughlin also revealed he has actually written a script for a new Friday the 13th film that he would like to direct, although this remains impossible at the moment due to the ongoing lawsuit over the franchise rights between Sean S. Cunningham and Victor Miller.

The one thing I can share with you [that] I have been asked so many times about [is], will I do another [Friday the 13th film]? And I keep saying, for years, if I can come up with another idea that’s fresh, if I can bring something else to it, I’ll do it. Lo and behold, I finally came up with the formula for what I wanted to do and, about six months ago, wrote the screenplay. And, of course, now I’m stopped dead in my tracks… I can’t even show it to the studios or anything.

It’s no secret that Jason Lives is my personal favorite out of Jason Voorhees’ blood-splattered adventures. As such, the news that that film’s writer and director, Tom McLoughlin, has written a new script has me both excited and sad, since he may not get the chance to make it for a long time, if ever. Here’s to hoping the legal battle over Friday the 13th ends sooner rather than later.

About the Author

L.B. Lubomski

Lawrence "L.B." Lubomski is an avid horror movie fan, gamer, musician, historian, and aspiring author. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, L.B. was exposed to the works of local filmmaker and godfather of zombie cinema George A. Romero early on. He has since developed a particular fondness for Italian zombie/cannibal and slasher films. This passion for horror extends into other media, from survival horror video games such as Resident Evil to horror-inspired musical artists. In his spare time, L.B. pursues many interests including building his collection of vinyl records, action figures, and vintage video games as well as drumming in various local bands.