Show creator Brad Kane, fresh off his success with It: Welcome to Derry, wasted no time in jumping into another horror series, this time taking on Friday the 13th in the eight-part TV series Crystal Lake. While the show’s focus is on Pamela Voorhees and her journey through grief, pain and anger, there can be no denying it’s a Friday the 13th show, something that was important to everyone involved.
During a roundtable at TIFF 2026, Brad Kane was joined by actors Cameron Scoggins (Dorf) and Devin Kessler (Brianna Brooks). They discussed the importance of including specific elements in the show, what surprised them, and what it was like being part of the Friday the 13th world.
Crystal Lake Was Filmed at the Original Friday the 13th Location
For Brad Kane, certain things were a must for the show to succeed, not the least of which were the film locations. “We had to shoot in as many original locations as possible, so we had to shoot in New Jersey. I wanted to create as many scenes exactly as they happened in the original movie.”
He continued, “We also had to approach the characters with respect and love, and maybe a little more character development. I just wanted to respect the franchise and do something I love.”
RELATED: Crystal Lake’s Linda Cardellini Explains How She Made Pamela Voorhees Her Own
Kane touched on the moment in the trailer, with the long hallway and strange, secret door, assuring fans there was a purpose and story behind it. “For me, if you want to tell the story of Pamela Voorhees, you have to talk about one of the main themes of the ’60s and ’70s, and that was mistrust of government institutions, especially a woman in that time period. That was something I wanted to explore.”
He added, “We don’t go into truly bizarre sci-fi stuff, but what’s behind the door will give some context to the characters, some explanations, but will be grounded in reality.”
The Crystal Lake Cast Discuss Being in the Friday the 13th Universe
Both Cameron Scoggins and Devin Kessler were pleasantly surprised by what awaited them regarding their characters. Scoggins explained, “It was quite a surprise to get this flavor to the Dorf story; it’s something Brad and William (Catlett) and I talked about. The fact that this is taking place in the ’70s, in a small town with a Black sheriff, and to find out later about my family history, was such a surprising storyline to me, and to get the whole other vulnerable side of Dorf built in there.”
Kessler was also surprised at the depths in her character. “I don’t know if Brianna’s tenderness surprised me; she shows up for her brother quite often, but I think it’s how she extends her grace towards other people that surprised me. She’s very motivated, knows what she wants, so that surprised me.
For Scoggins and Kessler, it didn’t take long to realize they were in the Friday the 13th universe. “My first day, Linda was in the blue sweater standing on the dock, and I was like, holy crap. We’re really on the lake; we’re really here. Here’s my jacket, here’s my police car; it was just a dream,” Scoggins said.
Kessler added, “My character’s scenes were on the outside for a little bit, so it took a minute, but because we shot out of order, my first day was definitely in the world of Jason. So it was like, yep, I’m in Friday the 13th.”
For creator Brad Kane, the iconic sweater and Pamela was a moment he won’t forget, either. “Oh my god, it was thrilling, but it was all thrilling. Being in the town in New Jersey where they shot the first film, it was all full circle for me.”
He continued, “I was that eight-year-old kid who sat in the theater and saw Friday the 13th Part 3, way too young, in this giant theater with a full audience, and at that moment I knew this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. Being in Blairstown, New Jersey, recreating scenes from the movie, talking to Linda and the cast about their characters, it’s a dream come true. Truly, it’s not a line.”
The first two episodes of Crystal Lake premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. The series premieres on Peacock on October 15th.
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