Just as new Friday the 13th content looms, and fans thought the legal issues surrounding the series were over, a fresh lawsuit has come to light.
At the very top, we want to clarify that this new legal battle will NOT derail Crystal Lake or any future film or television content. The rights and copyright disputes have been rectified in a court of law, and that won’t change.
So, what’s this new lawsuit concerning?
Well, something we thought was over and done with due to the first legal fight; Friday the 13th: The Game.
Although the first lawsuit saw the game cease new content, and eventually go offline, now Horror Inc. and Sean S. Cunningham are suing developers IllFonic and Gun Interactive in fresh action.
In newly released filings, it appears Cunningham and Horror Inc. served the developers in August 2026. It is Horror Inc.’s claim that Gun Interactive hid over $4 million in royalties and profits. The claim continues that Gun then destroyed accounting records in order to hide what they owed following the cancellation of the game.
In response, IllFonic and Gun Interactive recently released a statement. According to the developers, they paid over $18 million to Horror Inc. over the game’s 7-year run. Furthermore, they insist that Horror Inc. oversaw their accounting records every step of the way, calling no attention to shady practices.
Now, just as Gun Interactive were about to bring Friday the 13th: The Game back to life, this litigation emerges.
The developers further argue that Horror Inc.’s current legal practices are nothing more than “disputed accounting methodologies.” It is their claim that Cunningham and his lawyers are trying to “strongarm” the company into paying millions they don’t owe. Why would they do this? According to Gun Interactive, it’s a further attempt to wring money from the Friday brand, after Horror Inc. sensationally lost their years-long lawsuit against Victor Miller.
Gun had been in negotiations with Miller’s Jason Universe to reissue the game, and they concede it is little surprise that Horror Inc. is trying to stop them.
The developers conclude by affirming they intend to fight all the way, despite Horror Inc. not yet issuing a response to their recent statement.
All of this has only recently come to light, and is beginning to spread rapidly through the fandom. Thankfully, this won’t affect any new film or television content, but throws a significant hurdle in the way of resurrecting the beloved game.
We’ll keep a close eye on this legal case and report any further developments. However, we will say, it really doesn’t show Horror Inc. or Sean S. Cunningham in the best light.
