Jason Voorhees Returns To His Bloody Roots In New Friday the 13th
Written By: James Lincoln     Posted On: November 28, 2008

Actor Derek Mears is strapping on the hockey mask and killing teens in the next Friday the 13th!

It's All Hallows' Eve this week, and what better way to celebrate than talking to Jason Voorhees himself, Derek Mears. For the first time in his career, actor-turned-stuntman Mears is donning Jason's iconic hockey mask and taking to the woods for some trademark teen chopping antics.

Last Friday the 13th, we were invited to the set of Marcus Nispel's new Friday the 13th film, which is being produced by Brad Fuller and Andrew Form of Platinum Dunes. This is the same team that resurrected Leatherface for 2003's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and they are now looking to put just the right spin on this legendary backwoods slasher. From the look of the mask, to the machete, to the script, this is going to be one of the best Friday the 13ths ever committed to celluloid. And they have certainly picked the right performer to portray the vicious man-child that is Jason Voorhees.

At 6.5, Mears got his start as an improvisational comic. He intended to become an actor, but soon found himself falling in with the stuntmen crowd on various film sets. After whipping his body into shape, he, too, became a stuntman. He soon befriending Rick Baker, and became the effects guru's go-to creature performer. Next thing he knew, the young Mears was taking on roles that required both his physical prowess as well as his thespian abilities. Before becoming Jason Voorhees, Derek played the title werewolf in Wes Craven's Cursed, the lead Zorgon in Zathura, and Chameleon in The Hills Have Eyes 2. Now, he is set to take on the biggest challenge of his career. And in doing so, he knows he has to please all of the fans as well as the filmmakers on this particular outing.

Without that trademark hockey mask hanging from his face, Derek is one of the most cordial and engaging guys you could ever hope to meet. But when that mask comes down and that machete comes to life, look out! This is one of the scariest incarnations of Jason to ever grace the blood-splattered silver scene.