LeBron James linked with ‘Friday the 13th’ remake

Image: AFP Relaxnews

After “Halloween” monstered its opening weekend with record box office revenue, horror franchise “Friday the 13th” is getting the reboot treatment ten years after its last release, with a production company owned by star basketballer LeBron James said to be circling the project.

Cult horror movie franchise “Halloween” has scared up a phenomenal $77.5 million over its opening weekend. Can “Friday the 13th” hope to follow in its footsteps?

Nearly a decade after the franchise’s last entry in 2009, Vertigo Entertainment and SpringHill Entertainment, the latter set up by LeBron James, are in discussions over an acquisition of the “Friday the 13th” saga, according to a report from Bloody Disgusting.

The franchise can trace its history back to the original 1980 “Friday the 13th” movie about summer camp counselors being tracked by a serial killer.

It was not until the third of 12 existing franchise entries, “Friday the 13th Part III”, that the iconic hockey mask motif was added; “Friday the 13th” was released in 2009 but despite an enviable first-weekend performance did not generate any sequels of its own.

Original screenwriter Victor Miller obtained the rights to the franchise in September after a successful lawsuit. Since 2008, LeBron James has racked up producers’ credits on over 20 TV series and documentaries. “Friday the 13th” would be his second feature film credit as a producer, following sci-fi sports comedy adventure “Space Jam 2” in which he has a co-starring role.

The basketball star and philanthropist is known as a fan of the “Friday the 13th” franchise. JB

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