As every slasher fan knows, the killer in Friday the 13th isnt Jason Voorheesthat unkillable hockey-masked maniac would come later. In the 1980 original film, the camp-counselor body count is all due to his mother, Pamela, seeking vengeance against those she blames for her sons drowning death. Weve long suspected shell be the central figure in Peacock and A24s prequel series Crystal Lake, and now its confirmed who will play her: Linda Cardellini (Dead to Me, No Good Deed, Freaks and Geeks). This news was widely confirmed in the trades today, though reporter Jeff Sneider said Cardellini was in talks for the role over a month ago. In Deadlines announcement it noted the premise of Crystal Lake is being kept under wraps, but that Cardellinis Pamela is believed to be a mother who had given up a singing career to raise a special needs child and takes a dark turn when she loses her son. The future of Crystal Lake was in turmoil after its original shepherd Bryan Fuller was fired last yearbut the ship seemingly righted itself when Brad Caleb Kane (Black Sails, Tokyo Vice, the upcoming It: Welcome to Derry) came aboard as creator, writer, showrunner, and executive producer. As a side note, Kane has his own background in music (he was the singing voice for Aladdin in the 1992 Disney film, among other credits), so while that singing career premise is only rumored, it seems like a thematic fit. Casting the versatile Cardellini, who seems more than capable of doing Betsy Palmer, the original Pamela Voorhees, proud feels like an energetic burst in the right direction for Crystal Lake. What do you make of this casting, and does it make you even more excited to spend some time at a cursed summer camp? Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.