Kane Hodder Was Originally Meant To Star In Freddy vs. Jason But Was Replaced

[Animous]

Kane Hodder said that he was supposed to play Jason Voorhees in Freddy vs. Jason, but was replaced. The stuntman and actor has played the famous slasher four separate times across the motion picture franchise. In addition to playing Jason in Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood, Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan, Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday, and Jason X, he also played him in the video game titled Friday the 13th: The Game.

Freddy vs. Jason is the 2003 cross-over film between the Friday the 13th series and the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise. It's set after Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare and Jason Goes to Hell: Final Friday, which were released in 1991 and 1993, respectively. The story is set when Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund) seeks to bring Jason Voorhees (Ken Kirzinger) back to life to inspire his own return to hunt the children of Elm Street. However, they ultimately end up being matched against each other as they pursue slaughtering the helpless teenagers. The film is directed by Ronny Yu (Bride of Chucky) and written by Damian Shannon and Mark Swift, who also wrote the 2009 Friday the 13th reboot together.

RELATED: Why Freddy Vs Jason Succeeded Where Alien Vs Predator Flopped

In an interview with The Boo Crew podcast (via Bloody Disgusting), Hodder talked about his experiences playing the classic slasher over the years. He explained how he was originally set to continue playing Jason in Freddy vs. Jason. However, he was replaced by Canadian stuntman Kirzinger instead. Hodder noted that he didn't necessarily expect to be asked back after Jason X, although it was upsetting to be asked back, only to be replaced. See below for his full statement:

“Shortly after [Jason X], I was given the script for Freddy vs. Jason, and told I was doing it. 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.”

Jason X is the last time that Hodder has played Jason in a live-action film, although it isn't the last time that he would play a slasher character. He went on to play the hatchet-wielding Victory Crowley in the Hatchet series, which was started by Adam Green in 2006. Meanwhile, his stunt work is also notable, including 1990's Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III and Freddy's glove at the end of Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday. Hodder remains to be a highly in-demand actor, especially within the horror genre.

Yu stated that it was New Line Cinema's idea to recast the character, although Hodder is understandably still a bit frustrating with how things were handled. The casting of Jason resulted in some backlash from fans, as audiences enjoyed Hodder playing the mute slasher. Given that he was sent the script for Freddy vs. Jason and was told that he would be returning, it makes sense that he would be upset after the role was recast. Hodder was an excellent Jason, so it was exciting to see him return to the character for Friday the 13th: The Game.

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