Texas Chainsaw Massacre Sparks Studio Frenzy

The chainsaw may have gathered dust, but Leatherface is far from done. Verve, the agency representing the rights to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise since 2017, is reportedly at the centre of a bidding frenzy as Hollywood circles one of horror’s most enduring properties.

Now over 50 years since Tobe Hooper and Kim Henkel unleashed their low-budget terror classic onto unsuspecting audiences, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is once again primed for a return to the screen. This time, however, it’s not just another sequel on the cards, but a potential franchise overhaul—and all eyes are on the players vying to take the reins.

One such contender is Strange Darling director JT Mollner, fresh off the success of his critically acclaimed cat-and-mouse thriller, which has quietly grossed $3 million and earned a rare 96% on Rotten Tomatoes. Mollner is reportedly interested in tackling a new Chainsaw instalment, with buzz growing around a potential collaboration with Glen Powell, though no formal deals have been signed. Producer Roy Lee is also said to be circling the project, and studios like Lionsgate, A24 and Neon are rumoured to be sniffing around the potential pitch.

Despite Verve stating that no formal packages have yet been submitted to producers or buyers, the agency confirms it is actively working to develop a multimedia strategy for the IP. “Because this is such a hot and iconic horror property, packages are pre-emptively being brought to Verve,” said a representative.

For decades, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre has stood as the textbook definition of horror filmmaking on a shoestring budget. Hooper’s original 1974 film was shot in blistering Texas heat with little more than $140,000, yet it went on to gross over $31 million worldwide. The production itself became infamous for its chaos: sweat-drenched days, cast injuries, and a profit share arrangement that ultimately left much of the team with little to show for its success – aside from a court battle and a legendary status in genre history.

Since then, the chainsaw has roared through sequels, remakes and reboots, with varying degrees of success. The 2003 Platinum Dunes remake remains the franchise’s highest-grossing entry at $107 million worldwide, launching a trend of gritty, hyper-stylised horror reimaginings that would define the decade. The franchise also famously introduced the world to Matthew McConaughey and Renée Zellweger in 1994’s The Next Generation – a film the actors have rarely acknowledged since.

The most recent entry, released directly on Netflix in 2022, drew mixed reviews but proved the property still had cultural currency. Now, with genre on the rise and horror franchises continuing to draw crowds post-pandemic, the chainsaw’s growl may once again echo across cinema screens.

The legacy of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre has always been rooted in transgression – art house terror disguised as grindhouse mayhem. If a new vision does emerge from this current frenzy of interest, it will have to reconcile that anarchic spirit with modern expectations. Whether JT Mollner is the filmmaker to do that remains to be seen. But if the whispers are anything to go by, Verve won’t be short of proposals.

Whatever happens next, one thing’s certain: the dinner table is being set, and someone’s about to fire up the saw.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre trailer