The roar of a chainsaw. The metallic tang of blood in the air. Then, the chilling realization: Leatherface is back, and this time, he’s coming to your living room. After a year-long tug-of-war, A24 has wrestled the Texas Chainsaw Massacre rights into its capable hands.
According to Deadline, the studio behind Civil War isn’t just planning a simple revival; they’re plotting a full-blown expansion of the slasherverse, beginning with a TV series helmed by JT Mollner (The Long Walk), Glen Powell, and producer Roy Lee. For now, Powell is only producing. However, the potential for him to face off against Leatherface is a tantalizing prospect.
The producing team is also developing a new film, although Mollner is reportedly not involved. The film’s distribution is undetermined. It is unknown if it will find a home on Netflix as initially planned.
Mollner himself has stated that Texas Chainsaw Massacre is “a perfect film,” seeing the TV show as “a fresh way into this world, as well as a way to honor the existing folklore. I can’t imagine better partners for this approach than A24. This is truly an honor.”
Powell echoed this sentiment, calling the 1974 original “one of the definitive movies of my home state… With a marquee home in A24 and [with] visionary filmmaker JT Mollner, alongside our producing partners, I couldn’t have dreamed of a better team.”
The race to acquire the Texas Chainsaw Massacre rights saw interest from names like Jordan Peele, Taylor Sheridan, and Oz Perkins, each with their vision for the franchise. Since Netflix’s 2022 reboot (which many would rather forget), the franchise has been dormant. The move to television follows similar paths taken by Child’s Play, Alien, and Friday the 13th. Further details on both the Texas show and the film will emerge as development progresses.
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A New Vision for an Old Nightmare
Think of A24 as that friend who always recommends the most messed-up, thought-provoking movies. Now, they’re turning their gaze to Leatherface. When a studio known for its distinctive, often unsettling, brand of cinema picks up a horror classic, expectations run high. The original Texas Chainsaw Massacre wasn’t just a splatter-fest; it was a raw, visceral commentary on societal decay. Can A24 recapture that lightning in a bottle?
The involvement of Glen Powell, even in a producing capacity, adds an interesting layer. Powell has proven his ability to balance mainstream appeal with a certain indie sensibility, and his Texas roots could provide valuable authenticity to the project. His enthusiasm for the source material suggests a desire to honor its legacy while pushing the boundaries of what a Texas Chainsaw Massacre story can be.
Will the new Texas Chainsaw Massacre be on streaming services?
While the TV series seems destined for a streaming platform (likely not Netflix), the distribution plans for the movie remain shrouded in mystery. The streaming landscape has changed drastically in recent years, with studios becoming more discerning about which projects get the theatrical treatment and which go straight to digital. A theatrical release would signal confidence in the project. Exclusively streaming might suggest lower expectations, or a different kind of story being told.
The Small Screen Beckons
TV, with its extended format, offers unique opportunities to explore the Texas Chainsaw Massacre mythology. Rather than simply rehashing the same formula of Leatherface chasing screaming teenagers, a series could delve into the Sawyer family’s twisted history, the social and economic conditions that bred their violence, and the psychological impact of their actions on the surrounding community. Imagine a season-long arc that slowly ratchets up the tension, introducing new characters and building to a bloody crescendo.
The success of shows like Hannibal and Bates Motel demonstrates that horror can thrive on television when given the space to breathe and develop compelling characters. The key will be finding a balance between honoring the franchise’s legacy and forging its path.
What made the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre so effective?
The original film’s power lies in its gritty realism and its refusal to sanitize violence. It felt dangerous, unpredictable, and deeply disturbing. Capturing that same raw nerve will be a challenge, especially in a modern media landscape saturated with graphic content. A24’s best bet is to focus on atmosphere, suspense, and character development, rather than relying solely on gore and jump scares. This challenge is akin to trying to bottle smoke; the essence is elusive.
A Bloody Good Question
The transition from film to television is a gamble, and reboots always carry the risk of alienating fans. But with A24 at the helm, there’s reason to believe that this new Texas Chainsaw Massacre could offer something genuinely fresh and terrifying. Will A24’s treatment breathe new life into Leatherface, or will it simply be another forgotten entry in a long and uneven franchise?