We knew that Dan Trachtenberg’s move from 20th Century Studios to Paramount Pictures would lead to some changes, but this is unexpected. Trachtenberg, who spent years revitalizing the Predator franchise, will next direct an untitled horror-comedy for Paramount Animation that is based on Yehudi Mercado’s graphic novel Freddy the 13th.
News on the untitled film was revealed at the Annecy Animation Film Festival. Trachtenberg will direct and produce alongside his frequent collaborator, Ben Rosenblatt.
Don’t let the title fool you. Freddy the 13th isn’t some new spinoff of the Friday the 13th horror flicks with Jason Voorhees. The graphic novel is a family-friendly tale about the hapless Freddy VanWinkle, the 13th son of a 13th-born son, who is accidentally inherits a monstrous curse and has just 13 days to break it.
The logline for the movie spells it out: “a family vacation turns into a nightmare when fun Uncle Freddy accidentally kills the Boogeyman and takes on his powers.”
Paramount hopes for this to be a PG-rated horror-comedy that delivers “scares and laughs to the whole family.”
Over the years, Trachtenberg has shown that he can do just about anything. He sparked life into the Predator franchise with Prey, which he followed up with last year’s Predator: Badlands. He even has animation experience as director of Predator: Killer of Killers. Before that, he directed the blockbuster horror, 10 Cloverfield Lane. So yes, Freddy the 13th is a slight pivot, but still in Trachtenberg’s comfort zone. [Deadline]
