Tarantino says no to 'Friday the 13th'

LOS ANGELES, March 16 (UPI) -- Hollywood director Quentin Tarantino denies he will write and direct a new installment in the "Friday the 13th" series, Entertainment Weekly said Wednesday.

The Hollywood Reporter recently said Tarantino was in talks with New Line Cinema to make another in the series featuring "Jason Voorhees," the killer in a hockey mask who first showed up on theater screens in 1980.

EW reported Tarantino -- in London during the weekend to accept an Icon of the Decade award from the British movie magazine Empire -- told the magazine he had spoken with New Line, but had not agreed to do the picture.

"What's happening with 'Friday the 13th?' Nothing at all," said Tarantino. "It's a complete lie. I like Jason and everything, but I've no intention of directing a movie."

Tarantino, 41, said he'd like to make films for 15 more years.

"I'm not going to be this old guy that keeps cranking them out," he said. "My plan is to have a theater by that time in some small town and I will be the manager -- this crazy old movie guy. I've made enough money that nobody even needs to show up at the theater. It's just having something to do."