Paramount Pictures has officially greenlit an animated horror-comedy based on Yehudi Mercado’s popular comic book, Freddy the 13th. The project brings together an impressive creative team led by acclaimed filmmaker Dan Trachtenberg alongside original comic creator Mercado. The project was first announced in June in a social media post (below). However, we have a major update: the film now has an official 2028 premiere date.
Trachtenberg and Mercado Team Up
Dan Trachtenberg will direct the adaptation, with Yehudi Mercado joining him as co-director. Trachtenberg will also produce the film alongside his 10 Cloverfield Lane collaborator, Ben Rosenblatt.
“Ever since I was a kid, I’ve wanted to work with Dan Trachtenberg. Never mind that I’m older than him; the sentiment still stands. I’m incredibly excited to have found a team crazy enough to want to make an animated horror-comedy for the whole family. Most of all, I’m grateful I never gave up on my dreams. Thanks, Paramount Animation! Let’s get spooky!” Marcado said in his Instagram post.
This marks another significant venture into stylized genre storytelling for Trachtenberg, who recently expanded the Predator universe with the Emmy-nominated prequel Prey. He’s also behind the animated entry Predator: Killer of Killers and the upcoming theatrical feature Badlands.
Accidentally Becoming the Boogeyman
The narrative centers on Freddy VanWinkle. He’s a self-described “black sheep” in a family of high-achievers. Awkward and unathletic, Freddy’s main passion is running his blog dedicated to Halloween and classic slasher movies. However, his life takes a dramatically morbid turn during a tedious family vacation when he accidentally kills the legendary Boogeyman. As a result, he is afflicted by an ancient curse that forces him to inherit the entity’s supernatural powers and slasher duties reluctantly.
Part of a Powerhouse Slate
Adding Freddy the 13th strengthens Paramount’s robust upcoming release slate. The studio’s calendar also features a blockbuster adaptation of the Call of Duty video game franchise directed by Peter Berg and co-written by Taylor Sheridan, alongside fresh installments in both the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Sonic the Hedgehog cinematic universes.
Premiere Date
Paramount Pictures has officially locked in the release date for Freddy the 13th, scheduling the animated horror-comedy for a theatrical debut on Friday, October 13, 2028. How fitting.
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