When it comes to a Friday the 13th film, no one really roots for Jason Voorhees' victims. Fans flock to a Friday flick to cheer on the killer and his workhorse like ways of slaughtering the poor, innocent young teens that eventually find their way onto the end of his machete. It's a blood and guts affair that has no room for deep character development. Platinum Dunes producers Brad Fuller and Andrew Form are attempting to rearrange that conceit with their latest retelling of the Voorhees mythos. With their updated Friday the 13th reboot, they've decided to make the prey identifiable and likable. And they've done that by not only crafting a humorous script with great dialogue and perfected soulful moments, they've also gone out of their way to cast actors that you will truly care about.
First up, they grabbed everybody's favorite Winchester brother Jared Padalecki, best known for his role on the CW's extremely popular Sci-Fi horror series Supernatural. Then they added the beautiful and talented Amanda Righetti, who stole the show as Hailey Nichol on The O.C.. And they rounded up this charming cast with the ravishing Danielle Panabaker, responsible for wowing audiences as Julie Stark on Shark. If this young trio has anything to spare, its likeability. And Director Marcus Nispel is relying on their previously established relationships with certain audience members to sell their plight as picked upon fodder for Jason Voorhees.
At one point you guys were talking about having Jason on Supernatural. Now you finally get to fight him after all.
Jared Padalecki: Now I finally get to fight him. You know what's funny? I've heard that from a few places. That they'd talked about it on the show. They had never brought it up with myself of Jensen [Ackles]. I think it was just a writer's idea or a fan's idea. It would have been a lot of fun. But, now I get to do it on the big screen. So it's even more fun.
Is everyone getting hurt in the movie, or is it just you, Danielle?
Amanda Righetti: There've been a few cuts and bruises, that's for sure.
What keeps you guys going throughout the night? What keeps your endurance up?
Amanda Righetti: The cast has been really great. I think it's a mental thing. Being able to focus yourself and keep your eye on the ball. And to focus on what it is that you're here to do. It's about just getting the job done. The cast and crew make it a little easier to get through the day. Everybody's really great, so that's been a fantastic plus.
Are you guys dreading the shoot which takes place on Friday the 13th?
There is a debate going on here. Who is the real hero? You or Jason?
Jared Padalecki: That's interesting. I'm going to go to the movie to watch Jason as I think 100% of the other audience members are. It's funny because we had to do a photo shoot for the movie last week. My singles were part of the photo shoot. No one wants to see a picture of me. The poster is going to be Jason and his mask. No one wants to see Jared! I totally go with Jason as the hero. I guess I would be the protagonist, but he's the hero in my eyes.
What is your initial reaction when you sign up for a Friday the 13th film?
Amanda Righetti: I hadn't read the script before I was offered the role. For me it was initially a leap of faith. I wanted to be a part of the Friday the 13th franchise. I think it's so popular, and it's such a cult classic that the idea of being part of a remake was really exciting. When I first read the script, there were so many twists and turns and surprises that I totally had an adrenaline rush. I was sold on the first read.
Jared, you are going to be fighting Jason on top of an old, overturned bus. Is that correct?
Did you already rehearse the fight sequence?
Jared Padalecki: We've rehearsed it. We've been on this set for a few days now because we had a big scene in the barn. So we rehearsed our fight a few times. My stunt double is here. Amanda's stunt double is here. And Derek is, obviously, his own stunt double. They make sure we are comfortable with everything and they check it out and make sure it's safe. About a half an hour ago I went and smashed my head into fake glass. Because Clay gets his head smashed into fake glass. Or into real glass, but they had to make sure I was comfortable with my head banging on a piece of break-away glass. I was basically over there impressing myself.
Can you talk about Marcus Nispel as a director?
Friday the 13th Image #7Jared Padalecki: Marcus is a very, very, very visual director. He sees it. He tells you what's going on and how the scene is going to be. Then it's like a crazy guerilla style, "Hey, the camera is here! Go! Now the Camera's here ! Go!" You hear stories about certain directors that piss off their actors when the character needs to be pissed off. It's almost been good acting by default. It's almost like, "I don't know what's going on or where I'm running!" I'm gonna watch the movie and be like, "Dude, I believe Clay didn't know where he was going!"
Friday the 13th opens February 13th, 2009.