The Texas Chainsaw Massacre finally has more gas in the tank, as A24 has started working on a TV series and movie based on the iconic horror franchise.
The company behind Marty Supreme and Euphoria is said to have kick-started a fresh run of projects set in one of horror’s most brutal universes after acquiring the rights through a tense bidding war (via The Hollywood Reporter). Expect to see the TV series take form first, though plot details, release dates, and casting information for both projects remain under wraps for now.
Although much of its creative team is still coming together, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre show has found help in Top Gun: Maverick’s Glen Powell and The Long Walk writer JT Mollner. The former is definitely best known for his work as an actor but will only serve as an executive producer on the series via his Barnstorm banner, with Mollner attached as a director.
“The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is one of my favorite films,” Powell said in a statement. “It defined a generation of horror films and over half a century after its release, it remains one of the definitive movies of my home state. I’m honored to have Barnstorm help bring in a new chapter for such an iconic title and franchise. With a marquee home in A24 and visionary filmmaker with JT Mollner, alongside our top shelf producing partners, I couldn’t have dreamed of a better team for such a dream property.”
Powell and Mollner will be joined by executive producers Roy Lee and Steven Schneider for Spooky Pictures, Stuart Manashil, Ben Ross, and Barnstorm’s Dan Cohen. Exurbia Films’ Ian Henkel and Pat Cassidy are involved as producers, with original Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie co-writer Kim Henkel also on board as an executive producer.
“I’ve said publicly that I’m not interested in remaking perfect films, and the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a perfect film,” Mollner added. “[Director and co-writer] Tobe Hooper and Kim Henkel created something bold, transgressive, and truly seminal that holds up even today as the gold standard for horror. When the opportunity for a long form exploration into this world arose, I saw it as a fresh way in, 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.”
Most of the same crew is in the beginning stages of revving up the latest Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie installment with A24. Mollner is sticking to the series, though, and will not be involved in whatever the new film ends up being.
Leatherface and the rest of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre family have been quiet in recent years. The original film made headlines upon its release in 1974 due to its relentless and brutal horror, quickly establishing it as one of the more unique entries in the genre ever. What followed were decades of sequels, reboots, and spinoffs, with the most recent being Netflix’s Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie in 2022.
Although the franchise’s chainsaw-wielding behemoth has come to video games in the past, the series has never made a proper jump to television. While we wait to see what an episodic Leatherface story looks like, you can check out our 5/10 review of the 2022 reboot.
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
