Dan Trachtenberg Set To Direct Animated Comedy-Horror FREDDY THE 13TH for Paramount Animation

Dan Trachtenberg is adding another intriguing project to his growing slate, and this one sounds like a wild blend of horror, comedy, and family-friendly chaos.

Paramount Animation has officially announced that Trachtenberg will direct an untitled animated feature based on Yehudi Mercado’s graphic novel Freddy The 13th.

The announcement arrives just four months after Trachtenberg signed a three-year first-look producing and directing deal with Paramount Pictures, the parent company of Paramount Animation. Along with directing, Trachtenberg will also produce the film alongside longtime collaborator Ben Rosenblatt.

For those unfamiliar with the source material, Freddy The 13th centers on Freddy Vanwinkle, a lovable screw-up who has the unfortunate distinction of being the thirteenth son of a thirteenth-born son. While the rest of his family seems to excel at everything they do, Freddy can’t seem to get anything right.

Things take a bizarre turn when Freddy is babysitting his nephew and niece, Logan and Lola. During the evening, he accidentally kills the infamous slasher known as Nighty Night and unexpectedly inherits the monster’s terrifying powers.

Suddenly thrust into a world of supernatural killers and deadly rivals, Freddy has just thirteen nights to break the curse before it's too late.

The movie adaptation’s official logline teases an even more family-oriented spin on the story: “A family vacation turns into a nightmare when fun Uncle Freddy accidentally kills the Boogeyman and takes on his powers.”

Paramount Animation is positioning the project as a PG-rated horror-comedy designed to deliver both spooky thrills and laughs for audiences of all ages. That combination makes a lot of sense considering Trachtenberg’s recent work, which has shown he knows exactly how to balance tension, action, and entertaining storytelling.

Trachtenberg has been on an impressive run lately. In 2025, he delivered the animated Hulu feature Predator: Killer of Killers and followed it up with the live-action hit Predator: Badlands, which earned $184 million worldwide at the box office. With those successes under his belt, it’s easy to see why Paramount is eager to keep building projects around his creative vision.

The announcement was made as the Annecy International Animation Film Festival kicks off in France, where Paramount Animation is showcasing several upcoming projects.

Company president Jennifer Dodge is attending the event for a special presentation focused on PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie, which is set to arrive in theaters on August 14.

Freddy The 13th joins an interesting lineup at Paramount Animation. The studio recently revealed plans for The Naughty List from Robert Rodriguez, as well as an animated feature inspired by CBS’s long-running reality competition series Survivor.

As someone who enjoys seeing horror concepts reimagined in unexpected ways, Freddy The 13th sounds like a perfect fit for animation.

The premise of a well-meaning goofball accidentally becoming the next great boogeyman is packed with comedic potential, and with Trachtenberg at the helm, this could end up being one of the more unique family horror movies currently in development.

Source: Deadline