Interviews
Kane Hodder Reflects on ‘Jason X’ and Being Replaced for ‘Freddy vs. Jason’ [Interview]
The 2002 film Jason X marked Kane Hodder‘s fourth and final time playing Jason Voorhees, a legendary run that was originally going to extend beyond the outer space-set sequel. As most horror fans are aware by now, Hodder was set to return for Freddy vs. Jason at one point in time, but he was ultimately replaced in the mashup fight film by Ken Kirzinger instead.
But let’s backtrack a little bit. Speaking with Bloody Disgusting’s The Boo Crew Podcast this week, Hodder reflects on Jason X and the unique experience of playing Jason in space.
“It was the longest shooting schedule we ever had on one of the Friday movies. I think it might be the longest even to this day,” Hodder reflects. “We shot for twelve weeks on that film. And it was in Toronto. When I first was given the script, I thought, ‘Wow, Jason in space… what?! It’s a little bit of a stretch.’ But then I thought, well, I guess it doesn’t really matter the setting where Jason is, as long as *he* is consistent. So that’s how I approached it, thinking, ‘don’t think about the surrounding, just be Jason like you’ve always been.’ And it was such a pleasure to work with Jim Isaac – I wish we hadn’t lost him, he was amazing to work with. And the cast was great, the entire cast was Canadian, other than a couple people.”
Hodder continues, “It was incredibly satisfying to see these amazing sets, because ya know, normally we’re in the woods, at a dumpy house or by a lake. And now all of a sudden we have these massive spaceship sets. Just the whole process was a pleasure.”
Freddy vs. Jason came along just one year after Jason X, with Robert Englund reprising the role of Freddy Krueger. Alas, Kane Hodder was not asked back to play Jason Voorhees.
“Shortly after [Jason X], I was given the script for Freddy vs. Jason, and told I was doing it,” Hodder explains. “We know how that went. That’s the thing. I was told I was doing the film, and then replaced. So that’s worse. I never expected, just because I had done the previous one, that I would do the next one. I was always very happy when they said that, but I never expected it. But when you’re told you’re doing it, then you tend to expect it, and that didn’t work out.”
“I’ve known Robert [Englund] from so long ago, before either one of us were our characters. It would’ve been so much fun to do that film with him. But. Ya know. Who knows. There’s been twelve of them, I can’t imagine not doing a thirteenth,” Hodder adds.
Hodder also notes during the chat that he hasn’t heard anything about Friday the 13th‘s rights issues being cleared up, responding to recent claims from Corey Feldman to the contrary.
You can listen to The Boo Crew’s full interview with Kane Hodder below.
As the inaugural season of Apple TV+’s stellar new series “Widow’s Bay” barrels toward its finale in two weeks, the latest episode gives Kate O’Flynn the spotlight as her character revisits her trauma with the Boogeyman.
“Your Baggage“, directed by Andrew DeYoung (Friendship), sees O’Flynn’s scene-stealing Patricia once again renew her fight with the Michael Myers-like stalker that slaughtered her peers during her adolescence. Thrillingly, it makes for one extended chase sequence that sees Patricia trying to warn others, while evading the undead killer.
In short, this episode’s incredible riff on Halloween and the slasher subgenre transformed Patricia into a fierce Final Girl.
“Well, that felt like a bucket list that I didn’t know was on my bucket list until I did it, but when I did it, I just lapped up every minute,” O’Flynn tells Bloody Disgusting of her triumphant turn this episode. “It felt fantastic for her to get that moment where she is becoming a badass. That was amazing.”
The actress turned to a few notable references for her performance. “Horror-wise, I go back to my youth, which was referenced in some of the episodes: Wicker Man, Carrie, and Rosemary’s Baby, that sort of thing is my kind of vibe.”
O’Flynn also notes how the series’ unique tone allows for so much creative freedom to make bold swings. “There’s something very freeing about it. Every moment is up for grabs, so it’s like we don’t have to totally land in one direction or another. It keeps it alive.“
Patricia is the eccentric assistant to Matthew Rhys‘ Mayor Tom Loftis, who’s at the forefront of trying to solve the island’s pesky curse predicament. Rhys felt the same about “Widow’s Bay” and its rare ability to make you laugh and scream in equal measure, stemming from series creator Katie Dippold.
“The mandate was, ‘It’s a real world with real people. You play for real.’ There’s no playing for comedy or horror,” Rhys echoes O’Flynn’s sentiments on how freeing the series’ tone has been.
New episodes will release every Wednesday through June 17 only on Apple TV+.
Kate O’Flynn in “Widow’s Bay,” now streaming on Apple TV.
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