Crystal Lake Creator Says Premiere Snake Honors Friday the 13th
Brad Caleb Kane says a snake freed by Pamela Voorhees in Crystal Lake's first episode nods to a reptile killed during the original Friday the 13th shoot.
Crystal Lake creator Brad Caleb Kane said a snake freed by Pamela Voorhees in the series' first episode is a direct nod to a snake killed during filming of the original Friday the 13th, according to Deadline. The series premieres Friday on Peacock.
Kane said no animals were harmed in the making of Crystal Lake, which stars Linda Cardellini as Pam Voorhees.
The original 1980 slasher Friday the 13th shot a scene in which Alice finds a snake in her cabin and calls for the other counselors; Bill runs in with a machete and kills it. Cast and crew have since said the sequence was real, that the snake was a domesticated bull snake, and that its handler did not know the film's intentions and was inconsolable afterward.
PETA had launched two months before Friday the 13th's premiere in 1980, and there were no animal protection laws in place at the time of filming under director Sean S. Cunningham.
Quick answers
When does Crystal Lake premiere?
Crystal Lake premieres Friday, October 16, 2026, on Peacock.
Who plays Pamela Voorhees in Crystal Lake?
Linda Cardellini stars as Pam Voorhees.
Were any animals harmed during the making of Crystal Lake?
Creator Brad Caleb Kane said no animals were harmed in the making of the series.