The 1980s movie icon Quentin Tarantino wanted nothing to do with: “It’s a complete lie”
In 2005, reports surfaced claiming that Quentin Tarantino would direct a new Friday the 13th film, a departure that caught many observers off guard given his long-standing commitment to original work. Tarantino's documented enthusiasm for the slasher series—including his admiration for Jason X and Part V—lent credibility to the rumour, making the prospect seem plausible to industry insiders.
Tarantino swiftly dismissed the claims as unfounded, clarifying that whilst New Line Cinema had approached him about the project, he had never agreed to direct it. He emphasised that his appreciation for Friday the 13th remains that of a viewer rather than a creator, and that his filmmaking priorities lie exclusively with original stories. He did express interest in someday directing a horror film, but made clear it would not be within an existing franchise.
In short
- Tarantino denied 2005 reports he would direct a new Friday the 13th film
- Despite genuine fandom for the slasher series, he remains committed to original filmmaking over franchises
- New Line Cinema had contacted him, but he called the reports 'a complete lie'
Explained simply
Quentin Tarantino is a celebrated American filmmaker known for creating original films with a distinctive visual style, often characterised by non-linear storytelling and genre-mixing. Throughout his career, he has consistently preferred to direct his own screenplays rather than working with established franchises or pre-existing properties.
Friday the 13th is a long-running slasher horror franchise that started in 1980 and has spawned numerous sequels and spin-offs, primarily following the masked killer Jason Voorhees. The series has become a cornerstone of popular horror culture, known for its recurring summer camp setting and graphic violence.
What made reports of Tarantino's potential involvement seem plausible was his well-documented enthusiasm for the Friday the 13th films and his openness to horror as a genre. He has publicly expressed genuine admiration for various entries in the series, including appreciation for the more experimental later instalments, suggesting he might be interested in working with horror material despite his established preference for original stories.