Prequel Series To Iconic 80’s Slasher Will Be Filmed In North Jersey

WARREN COUNTY, NJ — A prequel series to one of the most iconic slasher films in history is being filmed in North Jersey.

Police in Blairstown, Warren County, have announced upcoming road closures to accommodate for the filming of “Mama’s Boy,” the nickname for a prequel series to the iconic film franchise “Friday the 13th.”

The prequel is returning to its roots, as the original "Friday the 13th" movie was filmed at a Boy Scout camp called Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco in Hardwick Township, Warren County.

On Aug. 11, Main Street in Blairstown will be closed to pedestrians and traffic for filming from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Portions of Bridge Street will also be closed periodically throughout the day.

Additionally, police said that parking is prohibited on Main Street on Sunday night, Aug. 10 to 8 p.m. Aug. 11.

The prequel series is actually called “Crystal Lake,” and will feature a young Jason Voorhees, before he donned his iconic and terrifying hockey mask.

Portraying a young Voorhees is Callum Vinson, who horror fans might recognize from another slasher reimagining - “Chucky” (the 2021 series on SyFy).

Zachary Branch, a New Jersey native, will portray an adult Jason Voorhees.

Linda Cardellini (“Freaks and Geeks,” “Scooby Doo”) will be playing Jason’s murderous mother, Pamela Voorhees. Their, let’s say, “complicated” relationship is the namesake for the series’ nickname.

Other cast members include Danielle Kotch, Nancy Nagrant, and Phoenix Parnevik.

A blunt IMDb description of the show says the series “follows a doomed small town where camp counselors come to die.”

Other filming locations for the production include Hope Township in Warren County and Atlantic Highlands in Monmouth County.

The show is being produced by A24, known for films like “Hereditary,” “Everything, Everywhere, All At Once,” and “Midsommar.”

Filming is expected to wrap in October, with the series streaming on Peacock in 2026.