Freddy vs. Jason#Possible sequel

Since Freddy Krueger's last defeat, he has been in Hell, unable to invade children's dreams as the adults of Springwood have gone to extremes to ensure their children forget him. All mention of him has been removed from public records, and any children who dream of him are forcibly institutionalized at Westin Hills Psychiatric Hospital and given the dream suppressant drug Hypnocil. Using the last of his power, Freddy resurrects Jason Voorhees after his last defeat and appears as Jason's mother, Pamela Voorhees, to manipulate Jason into thinking his mother wants him to go to Elm Street and kill. This will create fear in the townsfolk that Freddy has returned, allowing Freddy to regain his power.

Lori Campbell lives with her widowed father. During a sleepover with her friends Kia, Gibb, Gibb's emotionally abusive boyfriend Trey, and his friend Blake, Jason murders Trey and then kills Blake and his father. The police label it a murder–suicide, hoping to conceal Freddy's return from the town.

Lori's ex-boyfriend, Will Rollins, and his friend Mark Davis, who are involuntary psychiatric patients at Westin Hills due to their previous contact with Freddy, see a news report about the killings and decide to escape to warn Lori. That night, Lori and her friends attend a rave in a cornfield. Freddy tries to kill Gibb in a nightmare, but Jason kills her first in the real world and goes on a murder rampage at the rave, angering Freddy, who realizes that Jason's killing spree will deny him victims.

The friends escape the rave with school nerd Charlie and stoner Bill. Will reveals to Lori that he witnessed her dad killing her mom and he had him put in Westin to keep him from revealing the truth and they soon witness Mark getting killed by Freddy. Deputy Scott Stubbs helps the teens. Learning about Hypnocil, they try to steal it from Westin Hills to suppress their dreams; however, Freddy uses Bill to dispose of the medicine. Jason kills Stubbs. Freddy uses the possessed Bill to tranquilize Jason, causing him to fall asleep after slashing Bill in half.

The teens devise a plan to pull Freddy from the dream world into reality and force him to fight Jason, bringing the unconscious Jason back to Camp Crystal Lake in New Jersey. Freddy fights Jason in the dream world, where he discovers that Jason has a fear of drowning. He uses this to his advantage, causing Jason to revert to his younger self. Lori goes to sleep to pull Freddy out and save Jason. Freddy tortures Lori in her dream, revealing that he murdered her mother. Jason awakens at the real Camp Crystal Lake and pursues the teens, around the same time Lori wakes up and pulls Freddy into the physical world, where Jason confronts him, during this conflict Charlie fights off Jason in an attempt to save Kia and is thrown into a wall and impaled on a shelf bracket. Kia and Charlie get to safety with Kia promising to come back with help for Charlie but he bleeds out against a tree and dies as she runs for help.

As Freddy and Jason fight throughout the campgrounds, Kia sacrifices herself by distracting and taunting Freddy, allowing Lori and Will to escape and is killed by Jason. As Freddy gains the upper hand, Lori distracts him, allowing Jason to punch through his torso. Freddy plunges Jason's machete into his side, and Jason rips off Freddy's gloved arm. Lori and Will set the dock on fire, causing an explosion that throws Freddy and Jason into the lake. Freddy climbs out and is about to kill the pair but is impaled by Jason with his gloved arm, allowing Lori to behead Freddy with Jason's machete. Jason, Freddy's head, and his body sink into the lake, seemingly dead.

The next morning, Jason emerges from the lake, holding his machete and Freddy's head. Freddy winks at the camera, leaving the winner ambiguous.

{{main|List of A Nightmare on Elm Street characters|List of Friday the 13th characters}}

{{castlist|

• Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger
• Ken Kirzinger as Jason Voorhees
• Spencer Stump as young Jason Voorhees
• Monica Keena as Lori Campbell
• Kelly Rowland as Kia Waterson
• Jason Ritter as Will Rollins
• Chris Marquette as Charlie Linderman
• Lochlyn Munro as Deputy Scott Stubbs
• Katharine Isabelle as Gibb Smith
• Brendan Fletcher as Mark Davis
• Zack Ward as Bobby Davis, Mark's older brother{{Cite web|url=http://fridaythe13thfilms.com/exclusive-interview-zack-ward/|title=Exclusive Interview: Zack Ward {{!}} Friday the 13th: The Website|website=fridaythe13thfilms.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-02-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614152024/http://fridaythe13thfilms.com/exclusive-interview-zack-ward/|archive-date=2018-06-14|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.tribute.ca/people/zack-ward/12048/|title=Zack Ward biography and filmography {{!}} Zack Ward movies|website=Tribute.ca|language=en|access-date=2017-02-08|archive-date=February 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170210074149/http://www.tribute.ca/people/zack-ward/12048/|url-status=live}}
• Kyle Labine as Bill Freeburg
• Chris Gauthier as Shack
• David Kopp as Blake
• Jesse Hutch as Trey Cooper
• Tom Butler as Dr. Campbell
• Garry Chalk as Sheriff Williams
• Paula Shaw as Pamela Voorhees

}}

Additionally, Evangeline Lilly had a walk-on role as a high-school student.{{Cite news|url=http://horror.about.com/od/horroractorsandactresses/ig/Before-They-Were-Stars/EvangelineLillyFvJ.htm|title=Before They Were Stars: Evangeline Lilly|newspaper=About.com Entertainment|access-date=2017-02-08|archive-date=November 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124072048/http://horror.about.com/od/horroractorsandactresses/ig/Before-They-Were-Stars/EvangelineLillyFvJ.htm|url-status=dead}}{{Cite news|url=http://the-back-row.com/blog/2012/04/11/before-they-were-stars-evangeline-lilly-as-an-extra-in-freddy-vs-jason/|title=Before They Were Stars: Evangeline Lilly as an Extra in "Freddy vs. Jason"|date=2012-04-11|newspaper=The Back Row|access-date=2017-02-08|language=en-US|archive-date=June 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614171512/http://the-back-row.com/blog/2012/04/11/before-they-were-stars-evangeline-lilly-as-an-extra-in-freddy-vs-jason/|url-status=live}} New Line Cinema studio chief Robert Shaye,{{Cite web|url=https://weminoredinfilm.com/2014/05/30/13-things-you-may-not-know-about-freddy-vs-jason/|title=13 Things You May Not Know About Freddy Vs. Jason|last=Konda|first=Kelly|date=2014-05-30|website=We Minored in Film|access-date=2017-02-08|archive-date=June 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614171447/https://weminoredinfilm.com/2014/05/30/13-things-you-may-not-know-about-freddy-vs-jason/|url-status=live}} who produced every preceding Nightmare on Elm Street film, played the school principal (credited as L.E. Moko).{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}

Influenced by fan desire for a crossover film with a fight between Freddy and Jason, New Line Cinema and Paramount Pictures tried to make a Freddy vs. Jason movie in 1987. Frank Mancuso Jr. enlisted Tom McLoughlin to unite the studios, but no agreement could be made.{{cite web|last=Anderson|first=Derek|url=https://dailydead.com/resurrecting-monster-tom-mcloughlin-bringing-jason-back-life-friday-13th-part-vi/|title=Resurrecting a Monster: Tom McLoughlin on Bringing Jason Back to Life for Friday the 13th Part VI|date=January 13, 2017|website=Daily Dead|access-date=June 28, 2022|archive-date=March 31, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331094635/https://dailydead.com/resurrecting-monster-tom-mcloughlin-bringing-jason-back-life-friday-13th-part-vi/|url-status=live}} When Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan failed at the box office, Sean S. Cunningham wanted to reacquire the rights to Friday the 13th and begin working with New Line Cinema on Freddy vs. Jason. Paramount and New Line wanted the license to the other's character so they could control a crossover film. Negotiations on the project collapsed, and Paramount made Jason Takes Manhattan. After Jason Takes Manhattan was released in 1989, the rights reverted to Scuderi, Minasian, and Barsamianto (who sold them to New Line). Two years after initial talks fell apart, director Joseph Zito attempted to revive the project, but neither Mancuso nor Robert Shaye were interested in pursuing the project.{{cite book|last=McNeill|first=Dustin|title=Slash of the Titans: The Road to Freddy vs. Jason|date=2017|publisher=Harker Press|page=14|isbn=9780692033494}} Before Cunningham could begin to work on Freddy vs. Jason, Wes Craven returned to New Line to make New Nightmare. This put Freddy vs. Jason on hold, but allowed Cunningham to bring Jason back with Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday.Bracke, Peter, pp.218–219 The ninth installment "turned a healthy profit".Bracke, Peter, pg. 238 In a 1995 interview with Fangoria, Craven was dismissive of the idea of Freddy vs. Jason, saying it was taking "something that had a lot of impact and dignity and dragging it down to another level."{{cite web|last=Cotter|first=Padraig|url=https://screenrant.com/freddy-jason-movie-wes-craven-declined-reason/|title=Why Wes Craven Passed On Freddy Vs Jason|date=May 2, 2021|website=ScreenRant|access-date=June 28, 2022|archive-date=June 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628193600/https://screenrant.com/freddy-jason-movie-wes-craven-declined-reason/|url-status=live}} Cunningham's "frustration" with the delayed development of Freddy vs. Jason led him to create Jason X to keep the series alive. Based on Jason Takes Manhattan{{'}}s concept of taking Jason away from Crystal Lake, the tenth film put the titular character in space.Bracke, Peter, pp.242–243 The film lost its biggest supporter with the resignation of president of production Michael De Luca. Lack of support let the finished film sit for two years before it was released on April 26, 2002. It was the series' lowest-grossing film at the domestic box office, and had the largest budget of any of the films to date.Bracke, Peter, pp.263–264 Jason Goes to Hell duo Adam Marcus and Dean Lorey were courted early on, but no official deal was finalized.{{cite web|last=Dick|first=Jeremy|url=https://1428elm.com/2017/12/23/jason-goes-to-hell-directors-original-freddy-vs-jason-pitch-sounds-insane/|title=Jason Goes to Hell Director's Original Freddy vs Jason Pitch Sounds Insane|date=December 23, 2017|website=1428Elm|access-date=June 28, 2022|archive-date=November 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201105051356/https://1428elm.com/2017/12/23/jason-goes-to-hell-directors-original-freddy-vs-jason-pitch-sounds-insane/|url-status=live}}{{cite book|last=McNeill|first=Dustin|title=Slash of the Titans: The Road to Freddy vs. Jason|date=2017|publisher=Harker Press|page=29|isbn=9780692033494}}

New Line spent a reported $6 million on script development alone from several different writers.{{cite web|last=Konda|first=Kelly|url=https://weminoredinfilm.com/2014/05/30/13-things-you-may-not-know-about-freddy-vs-jason/|title=13 Things You May Not Know About Freddy Vs. Jason|date=May 30, 2014|website=WeMinoredinFilm|access-date=June 13, 2020|archive-date=June 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614171447/https://weminoredinfilm.com/2014/05/30/13-things-you-may-not-know-about-freddy-vs-jason/|url-status=live}} Lewis Abernathy, writer of Deepstar Six and House IV, was the first screenwriter attached to the film. Abernathy sought to direct his script, entitled Nightmare 13: Freddy Meets Jason, but his limited directing experience prohibited him from doing so.{{cite book|last=McNeill|first=Dustin|title=Slash of the Titans: The Road to Freddy vs. Jason|date=2017|publisher=Harker Press|pages=31–32|isbn=9780692033494}} David J. Schow was given an offer to write the script because he just happened to walk by De Luca's office one day. Schow revised Abernathy's script, expanding upon a cult that worships Freddy Krueger.{{cite web|last=Mancuso|first=Vince|url=https://collider.com/freddy-vs-jason-ideas-that-never-happened/|title=6 Insane Freddy vs. Jason Ideas That Never Happened|date=August 15, 2018|website=Collider|access-date=June 28, 2022|archive-date=November 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107120925/https://collider.com/freddy-vs-jason-ideas-that-never-happened/|url-status=live}} In 1994, De Luca passed on the draft and turned to Brannon Braga and Ronald D. Moore, who wrote Jason vs. Freddy, which had a more "adult tone" than previous entries.{{cite book|last=McNeill|first=Dustin|title=Slash of the Titans: The Road to Freddy vs. Jason|date=2017|publisher=Harker Press|pages=52|isbn=9780692033494}} The writing duo would depart the film and would be replaced by Peter Briggs, who impressed the studio with his previous crossover attempt, Alien vs. Predator. Briggs' draft saw numerous returning characters across several films.{{cite web|last=Ferrante|first=Anthony|url=http://nightmareonelmstreetfilms.com/site/freddy-jason-go-to-development-hell-part-one/|title=Freddy & Jason Go to Development Hell: Part One|date=September 1, 2003|website=Nightmare on Elm Street Films|access-date=June 28, 2022|archive-date=May 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517102933/http://nightmareonelmstreetfilms.com/site/freddy-jason-go-to-development-hell-part-one/|url-status=live}} By 1996, Demon Knight scribes Cyrus Voris and Ethan Reiff were commissioned by Cunningham to write a new script, under the title Freddy vs. Jason: Millennium Massacre, with Rob Bottin, known for his make-up work on The Thing and Total Recall, directing.{{cite web|last=Martin|first=Ben|url=https://www.comicon.com/2021/04/03/franchise-expansion-or-implosion-freddy-vs-jason/|title=Franchise Expansion (Or Implosion): Freddy Vs. Jason|date=April 3, 2021|website=Comicon|access-date=June 28, 2022|archive-date=May 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516154559/https://comicon.com/2021/04/03/franchise-expansion-or-implosion-freddy-vs-jason/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Petrikin|first=Chris|url=https://variety.com/1997/film/news/new-line-taps-bottin-for-freddy-vs-jason-1116678253/|title=New Line taps Bottin for Freddy vs. Jason|date=August 18, 1997|website=Variety|access-date=June 13, 2020|archive-date=August 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806014255/http://variety.com/1997/film/news/new-line-taps-bottin-for-freddy-vs-jason-1116678253/|url-status=live}} New Line previously offered the spot to Guillermo del Toro and Peter Jackson to no avail.{{cite book|last=McNeill|first=Dustin|title=Slash of the Titans: The Road to Freddy vs. Jason|date=2017|publisher=Harker Press|page=104|isbn=9780692033494}}{{cite web|last=Gunning|first=Cathal|url=https://screenrant.com/freddy-jason-original-plans-script-canceled-changes-peter-jackson-pinhead/|title=Every Way Freddy Vs Jason's Original Plan Changed|date=February 6, 2022|website=ScreenRant|access-date=June 28, 2022|archive-date=June 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628193559/https://screenrant.com/freddy-jason-original-plans-script-canceled-changes-peter-jackson-pinhead/|url-status=live}} Bottin opted to drop the current draft of the script and penned his own treatment. David S. Goyer and his writing partner James Dale Robinson were subsequently hired to flesh out Bottin's treatment into a screenplay. No parties involved were happy with the script, leading to Goyer and Robinson exiting the film.{{cite book|last=McNeill|first=Dustin|title=Slash of the Titans: The Road to Freddy vs. Jason|date=2017|publisher=Harker Press|pages=104–107|isbn=9780692033494}} Bottin and his treatment were retained despite clashing with the studio over the film's budget. Screenwriting duo Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger, known for their work on King of the Hill, were selected by the director to write a new script. The draft was widely disliked at Cunningham Productions.{{cite book|last=McNeill|first=Dustin|title=Slash of the Titans: The Road to Freddy vs. Jason|date=2017|publisher=Harker Press|page=121|isbn=9780692033494}} Bottin initially considered revising the script himself, but ultimately left the film altogether.{{cite book|last=McNeill|first=Dustin|title=Slash of the Titans: The Road to Freddy vs. Jason|date=2017|publisher=Harker Press|page=128|isbn=9780692033494}}

In 1999, Mark Verheiden entered the project and proposed releasing the film with two different endings; one with Freddy winning and one with Jason winning.{{cite web|last=Squires|first=John|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3425524/5-insane-freddy-vs-jason-ideas-never-came/|title=The 5 Most Insane Freddy vs. Jason Ideas That Never Came To Be|date=February 21, 2017|website=Bloody Disgusting|access-date=June 13, 2020|archive-date=September 3, 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180903201312/https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3425524/5-insane-freddy-vs-jason-ideas-never-came/|url-status=live}} The next year, De Luca hired Mark Protosevich to write an entirely new script.{{cite book|last=McNeill|first=Dustin|title=Slash of the Titans: The Road to Freddy vs. Jason|date=2017|publisher=Harker Press|page=155|isbn=9780692033494}} Jason X writer Todd Farmer wrote for the film as well.{{cite web|url=http://screen-space.squarespace.com/horror/2013/2/19/blood-type-the-todd-farmer-interview.html|title=Blood Type: The Todd Farmer Interview|date=February 19, 2013|website=Screen-Space|access-date=July 6, 2020|archive-date=July 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200706191321/http://screen-space.squarespace.com/horror/2013/2/19/blood-type-the-todd-farmer-interview.html|url-status=live}} Newcomers Mark Swift & Damian Shannon were hired after delivering a pitch that De Luca was happy with in March 2002.{{cite book|last=McNeill|first=Dustin|title=Slash of the Titans: The Road to Freddy vs. Jason|date=2017|publisher=Harker Press|page=192|isbn=9780692033494}} Goyer returned to the project once again in an effort to trim "every ounce of fat" from Swift and Shannon's 120-page script.{{cite web|last=Thurman|first=Trace|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/editorials/3390499/real-story-behind-freddy-vs-jason/|title=Hockey Masks, Machetes and Razor Fingers: The Writers Behind Freddy Vs. Jason Tell All!|date=May 13, 2016|website=Bloody Disgusting|access-date=June 13, 2020|archive-date=August 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819195218/https://bloody-disgusting.com/editorials/3390499/real-story-behind-freddy-vs-jason/|url-status=live}} Wes Craven, Guillermo del Toro, and Ronny Yu all declined the opportunity to direct the film.{{cite book|last=McNeill|first=Dustin|title=Slash of the Titans: The Road to Freddy vs. Jason|date=2017|publisher=Harker Press|page=207|isbn=9780692033494}} Rob Zombie turned the film down in favor to helm House of 1000 Corpses.{{cite web|last=Sprague|first=Mike|url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/316296/rob-zombie-almost-directed-freddy-vs-jason/|title=Rob Zombie Almost Directed Freddy vs. Jason|date=January 7, 2020|website=Dread Central|access-date=June 28, 2022|archive-date=April 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414190046/https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/316296/rob-zombie-almost-directed-freddy-vs-jason/|url-status=live}} Then up-and-coming filmmaker Jaume Balagueró campaigned to direct the film. Yu would ultimately sign on to direct the film in May 2002 after being given an "enormous" amount of creative freedom. According to Swift and Shannon, several endings were considered for the film; one involved a surprise appearance from Pinhead of the Hellraiser franchise, but New Line did not want to secure the rights for the character.{{cite news |last=Thurman |first=Trace |date=13 May 2016 |title=Hockey Masks, Machetes and Razor Fingers: The Writers Behind 'Freddy Vs. Jason' Tell All! |url=http://bloody-disgusting.com/editorials/3390499/real-story-behind-freddy-vs-jason/ |publisher=Bloody Disgusting |access-date=4 November 2016 |archive-date=October 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009051212/http://bloody-disgusting.com/editorials/3390499/real-story-behind-freddy-vs-jason/ |url-status=live }}

In 1999, Robert Englund officially signed onto the film, marking his eighth appearance as the character of Freddy Krueger. In August 2002, Entertainment Weekly revealed Kelly Rowland and Brad Renfro were cast in the film, while Kane Hodder would reprise his role as Jason Voorhees.{{cite magazine|last=Susman|first=Gary|url=https://ew.com/article/2002/08/01/kelly-rowland-joins-freddy-vs-jason-cast/|title=Kelly Rowland Joins Freddy Vs. Jason cast|date=August 1, 2002|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=June 28, 2022|archive-date=June 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628193559/https://ew.com/article/2002/08/01/kelly-rowland-joins-freddy-vs-jason-cast/|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|last=Susman|first=Gary|url=https://ew.com/article/2002/08/05/brad-renfro-will-star-freddy-vs-jason/|title=Brad Renfro Will Star in Freddy vs. Jason|date=August 5, 2002|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=June 28, 2022|archive-date=June 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628193559/https://ew.com/article/2002/08/05/brad-renfro-will-star-freddy-vs-jason/|url-status=live}} However, conflicting reports emerged with IGN stating that the film was looking to reinvent the character, thus ditching Hodder.{{cite web|last=Linder|first=Brian|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/08/23/rowland-joins-freddy-vs-jason|title=Rowland Joins Freddy vs. Jason|date=August 23, 2002|website=IGN|access-date=June 28, 2022|archive-date=June 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628193559/https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/08/23/rowland-joins-freddy-vs-jason|url-status=live}} Monica Keena was selected to portray the film's lead after an "extensive search", while the supporting cast were made up of Canadian actors, including Katharine Isabelle, Lochlyn Munro, Brendan Fletcher, Tom Butler, David Kopp, Jesse Hutch, Kyle Labine and Zack Ward.{{cite book|last=McNeill|first=Dustin|title=Slash of the Titans: The Road to Freddy vs. Jason|date=2017|publisher=Harker Press|page=208|isbn=9780692033494}} Betsy Palmer was courted to reprise her role as Pamela Voorhees from Friday the 13th, but declined due to salary disputes.{{cite web|last=Dick|first=Jeremy|url=https://1428elm.com/2016/09/17/freddy-vs-jason-10-things-you-didnt-know/4/|title=Freddy vs. Jason: 10 Things You Didn't Know|date=September 17, 2016|website=1428Elm|access-date=June 28, 2022|archive-date=June 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628193601/https://1428elm.com/2016/09/17/freddy-vs-jason-10-things-you-didnt-know/4/|url-status=live}} Actress Paula Shaw would assume the role from Palmer.{{cite web|last=Palmer|first=Jason|url=http://www.fridaythe13thfranchise.com/2011/06/rtccl-chat-with-paula-shaw-mrs-voorhees.html|title=Chat With Paula Shaw (Mrs. Voorhees, Freddy vs Jason)|date=June 7, 2011|website=Fridaythe13thFranchise|access-date=June 28, 2022|archive-date=May 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523234154/http://www.fridaythe13thfranchise.com/2011/06/rtccl-chat-with-paula-shaw-mrs-voorhees.html|url-status=live}} Just one week before production commenced, Jason Ritter was cast in place of Renfro.{{cite web|last=Linder|first=Brian|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/09/10/freddy-vs-jason-renfro-gets-the-axe|title=Freddy vs. Jason: Renfro Gets the Axe|date=September 10, 2002|website=IGN|access-date=June 28, 2022|archive-date=June 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628193600/https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/09/10/freddy-vs-jason-renfro-gets-the-axe|url-status=live}}

New Line, thinking that Freddy vs. Jason needed a fresh start, chose a different actor to play Jason. Cunningham disagreed with their decision, believing that Kane Hodder, who had played Jason in the previous four films, was the best choice for the role.Bracke, Peter, pp. 280–286 Although Hodder received a script for Freddy vs. Jason and met with director Ronny Yu and New Line executives, Yu and Matthew Barry felt that the role should be recast to fit Yu's image of Jason. Hodder said that New Line did not give him a reason for the recasting; according to Yu, however, he wanted a taller, slower and more-deliberate Jason.Grove, David, p. 217 The role went to Ken Kirzinger, a Canadian stuntman who worked on Jason Takes Manhattan. Yu said that Kirzinger was hired because he was taller than Robert Englund, who played Freddy Krueger. Kirzinger is {{convert|6|ft|5|in|cm}} tall, compared to the {{convert|6|ft|3|in|cm|adj=on}} Hodder, and Yu wanted a much taller actor than the {{convert|5|ft|9|in|cm|adj=on}} Englund. Kirzinger believed that his experience on Part VIII (doubling for Hodder in two scenes) and his height helped him land the part. New Line did not cast Kirzinger until they saw him on film, and his first scene was Jason walking down Elm Street. Douglas Tait played Jason in a re-shot ending:

{{blockquote|Unfortunately for me, it was the only scene I was hired to do. The test audiences were confused about the original ending, they thought Jason Ritter's character was becoming {{sic|Jason}}. You can see it in the deleted scenes, that is why they decided to re-shoot the ending. Originally I was being considered for playing the role of Jason in the entire film. It was actually between me and Ken. When they took the film to Canada, I was out of luck. There was no way they were going to pay for my flight and hotel stay when Ken was a local. Also, Ken is older than me and he was a lot more established in the business than I was at the time ... I was on the film for a couple days. The water sequence took a lot of preparation. They realized that when I got wet, I looked too skinny in the clothes, so they had to bulk me up with pads and extra clothing so it would look like I was still big. Being with all this extra weight, one eye covered, a machete in one hand, Freddy's head in another hand, and being totally submerged in water, made that scene very difficult. Also, Ronny Yu wanted me to walk like I was walking on land. He wanted it to look like I could walk through the water without it making me rise to the surface. To do this effect, they had a rope tied under water that I held onto with my left hand (with Freddy's severed head in it also), and I held myself down on the ground so I could pull myself and walk forward.[http://fridaythe13thfilms.com/blog/interview-douglas-tait-jason-voorhees-freddy-vs-jason/ Interview: Douglas Tait (Jason Voorhees, ‘Freddy vs Jason’)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101016100323/http://fridaythe13thfilms.com/blog/interview-douglas-tait-jason-voorhees-freddy-vs-jason/ |date=2010-10-16 }} fridaythe13thfilms.com October 14, 2010. Retrieved April 5, 2011.}}

Filming for Freddy vs. Jason began on September 9, 2002 in Vancouver and ended on December 10, 2002.{{cite web|url=http://nightmareonelmstreetfilms.com/site/the-making-of-freddy-vs-jason/|title=The Making of Freddy vs. Jason|date=August 1, 2003|accessdate=August 27, 2021|archive-date=August 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804064243/http://nightmareonelmstreetfilms.com/site/the-making-of-freddy-vs-jason/|url-status=live}}{{cite book|last=McNeill|first=Dustin|title=Slash of the Titans: The Road to Freddy vs. Jason|date=2017|publisher=Harker Press|page=210|isbn=9780692033494}}

Freddy vs. Jason: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack was released on August 12, 2003, by Roadrunner Records. Freddy vs. Jason: Original Motion Picture Score was released on August 19, 2003, on Varèse Sarabande.

The film was released on VHS and DVD as part of New Line's Platinum Series on January 13, 2004. The DVD release contained a second disc of bonus content with audio commentary by Ronny Yu, Ken Kirzinger and Robert Englund, and deleted and alternate scenes with commentary. Ill Niño's music video for "How Can I Live"; trailers and TV ads, soundtrack promotion and behind-the-scenes featurettes.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}} The film was released on October 4, 2005 on Universal Media Disc and September 8, 2009 on Blu-ray. The Blu-ray release had the same content as the Platinum Series DVD.{{cite web|last=Calonge|first=Juan|title=Warner Announces Ten Catalog Titles for September|url=http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=2696|publisher=Blu-ray.com|access-date=10 December 2012|date=13 May 2009|archive-date=January 18, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130118075334/http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=2696|url-status=live}} The film grossed $683,294 in home sales.{{Cite web |title=Friday the 13th Franchise Box Office History |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/franchise/Friday-the-13th |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=The Numbers |archive-date=August 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240830045524/https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/franchise/Friday-the-13th#tab=summary |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Freddy vs. Jason (2003) - Financial Information |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Freddy-vs-Jason |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=The Numbers |archive-date=January 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124054433/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Freddy-vs-Jason |url-status=live }}

Freddy vs. Jason has grossed $82.6 million in the United States and Canada and $34 million in other territories for a total of $116.6 million, against a production budget of $30 million.

The film earned $36.4 million in its opening weekend at 3,014 theaters in North America, topping the box office.{{cite web|last=Davidson|first=Paul|title=Weekend Box Office: Horror Duo Dominate|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/08/18/weekend-box-office-horror-duo-dominate|publisher=IGN|access-date=November 6, 2024|date=August 18, 2003|archive-date=February 22, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250222180642/https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/08/18/weekend-box-office-horror-duo-dominate|url-status=live}} It remained number one in its second weekend grossing $13.4 million, and dropped to sixth place in its third weekend with $7.1 million.

{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|score=41|count=165|consensus=Fans of the two horror franchises will enjoy this showdown. But for everyone else, it's the same old slice and dice.|ref=|access-date={{RT data|access date}}}}{{cite web |url= http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/freddy_vs_jason/ |title= Freddy vs. Jason Movie Reviews |work= Rotten Tomatoes |publisher= Fandango Media |access-date= March 13, 2020 |archive-date= November 11, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201111200358/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/freddy_vs_jason |url-status= live }} {{Metacritic film prose|37|29|access-date=6 June 2025}}{{cite web |url= https://www.metacritic.com/movie/freddy-vs-jason |title= Freddy vs. Jason: Reviews |work= Metacritic |access-date= September 30, 2019 |archive-date= May 18, 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190518044459/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/freddy-vs-jason |url-status= live }} Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave it an average grade of "B+" on an A+-to-F scale.{{cite web |url= https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |title= Cinemascore |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181220122629/https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |archive-date= 2018-12-20 }}

Kim Newman of Empire gave the film three stars out of five, writing: "FVJ ignores any attempts at cleverness and picks up storylines dropped in Freddy's Dead and Jason Goes to Hell".{{Cite web|last=Newman|first=Kim|title=Freddy vs Jason|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/freddy-vs-jason-review/|access-date=2021-10-31|website=Empire|date=January 2000 |archive-date=October 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211031045959/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/freddy-vs-jason-review/|url-status=live}} Sacha Molitorisz of The Sydney Morning Herald wrote: "this is a solid effort, with enough frights, humour, blood, surprises and killer dialogue to entertain consistently."{{Cite web|last=Molitorisz|first=Sacha|date=2003-10-23|title=Freddy vs Jason|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/freddy-vs-jason-20031023-gdhn1f.html|access-date=2021-10-31|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|archive-date=October 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211031045956/https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/freddy-vs-jason-20031023-gdhn1f.html|url-status=live}} Robert K. Elder of the Chicago Tribune gave the film two and a half stars out of four, saying that it "succeeds as a guilty pleasure, a monster mash that clobbers the recent lackluster sequels plaguing both legacies."{{Cite web|last=Elder|first=Robert K.|title=Movie review: 'Freddy vs. Jason'|url=http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/movies/mmx-030813movies-review-rke-freddyjason,0,3468028.story?coll=mmx-movies_top_heds|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030825021351/http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/movies/mmx-030813movies-review-rke-freddyjason,0,3468028.story?coll=mmx-movies_top_heds|archive-date=August 25, 2003|access-date=October 31, 2021|website=Chicago Tribune}}

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly published in 2023, Robert Englund said he was proud of Freddy vs. Jason: "It took the genius of Ronny Yu. I'm really proud of that film. It's really fun to see on a nice big flat screen with the sound turned up and some cold pizza."{{cite magazine | url=https://ew.com/movies/robert-englund-roles-freddy-krueger-stranger-things-hollywood-dreams-and-nightmares/ | title=Freddy or not: 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' star looks back on his career | magazine=Entertainment Weekly | access-date=November 16, 2023 | archive-date=August 30, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240830045650/https://ew.com/movies/robert-englund-roles-freddy-krueger-stranger-things-hollywood-dreams-and-nightmares/ | url-status=live }}

Doug Chapman and Glenn Ennis were nominated for the Best Fire Stunt award at the Taurus World Stunt Awards 2004 for the double full-body burn and wire stunt. Chapman doubled for Robert Englund as Freddy and Ennis doubled for Ken Kirzinger as Jason in the stunt.[http://www.taurusworldstuntawards.com/index.php?cmd=cmdPastNominees&year=2004 Taurus Award Archive] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411024823/http://www.taurusworldstuntawards.com/index.php?cmd=cmdPastNominees&year=2004 |date=2008-04-11 }} The film was also nominated for Best Horror Film at the Saturn Awards.{{cite web|url = http://www.saturnawards.org/san30.html|title = The 30th Annual Saturn Awards Nominations|publisher = Saturn Awards|access-date = 2010-04-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041009185400/http://www.saturnawards.org/san30.html |archive-date=2004-10-09}}

Black Flame published a novelization of the film on July 29, 2003.{{cite book|title= Freddy vs. Jason novelization|isbn= 1844160599|last1= Hand|first1= Stephen|last2= Shannon|first2= Damian|last3= Swift|first3= Mark J.|year= 2003|publisher= Black Flame}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{citation|last=Bracke|first=Peter|title=Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday The 13th|year=2006|publisher=Titan Books|isbn=9781845763435}}
• {{citation|last=Grove|first=David|title=Making Friday the 13th: The Legend of Camp Blood|year=2005|publisher=FAB Press|isbn=9781903254318}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20200516055054/http://www.campcrystallake.com/thefilms/part11.htm Film page at the Camp Crystal Lake web site] (archive link)
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20190417080146/http://fridaythe13thfilms.com/films/fvsj.html Film page at Fridaythe13thfilms.com] (archive link)
• [http://nightmareonelmstreetfilms.com/site/films/freddy-vs-jason/ Freddy vs. Jason] at Nightmare on Elm Street Companion
• {{IMDb title|0329101}}
• {{Mojo title|freddyvsjason}}
• {{Rotten Tomatoes|freddy_vs_jason}}

{{A Nightmare on Elm Street}}

{{Friday the 13th}}

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