The chainsaws are revving up in Hollywood as some of the industry’s biggest names prepare to battle for control of one of horror’s most iconic franchises. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre rights are officially up for grabs, and the competition is as brutal as anything Leatherface himself could devise.
Starting Monday, anywhere from five to eight major studios and streamers will enter into what promises to be a fierce bidding war for the Tobe Hooper and Kim Henkel-created property. The stakes couldn’t be higher – whoever emerges victorious will control not just film rights, but television, live events, and gaming opportunities for the legendary slasher franchise.
Star-Studded Lineup of Contenders
The roster of talent circling this blood-soaked property reads like a who’s who of Hollywood’s most sought-after creators. Jordan Peele, the mastermind behind Get Out and Nope, has thrown his Monkeypaw Productions hat into the ring, bringing his signature blend of social commentary and spine-tingling terror to the table. With Monkeypaw’s existing production deal at Universal, Peele’s vision could give the franchise the prestige horror treatment it’s never quite received.
Taylor Sheridan, the powerhouse behind Yellowstone and Hell or High Water, represents another intriguing direction entirely. Known for his unflinching portrayal of American violence and decay, Sheridan’s involvement suggests a potential grounding of the franchise in the kind of raw, realistic brutality that made the original 1974 film so effective.
Perhaps most unexpectedly, Austin native Glen Powell has emerged as a key player in the proceedings. The Top Gun: Maverick and Anyone But You star won’t be wielding the chainsaw himself, but his involvement in a television pitch aligned with A24 signals the indie powerhouse’s interest in bringing their distinctive aesthetic to horror’s most uncompromising franchise.
Multiple Visions, Multiple Platforms
The competition isn’t just about who gets the rights – it’s about radically different approaches to reviving Leatherface. Osgood Perkins, fresh off his acclaimed work on The Monkey, has partnered with Bryan Bertino (The Strangers) for what’s being described as a NEON package. This collaboration promises the kind of elevated, art-house horror that could transform the franchise from slasher schlock into genuine cinematic terror.
Meanwhile, J.T. Mollner, riding high on the success of his twisted Strange Darling, has crafted a television concept that would expand the Sawyer family’s reign of terror across multiple episodes. His pitch, backed by producers Roy Lee and Glen Powell, represents A24’s television ambitions and their knack for finding fresh angles on familiar material.
Not to be outdone, Roy Lee is simultaneously developing a separate feature film package for Netflix, suggesting the streaming giant’s continued hunger for horror content that can dominate global viewing charts.
The Franchise’s Checkered Past
This feeding frenzy comes after a period of relative quiet for the franchise, which last surfaced with Netflix’s 2022 Texas Chainsaw Massacre sequel. That film’s mixed reception left many wondering if the property had finally run out of gas – or victims. The current bidding war suggests Hollywood believes there’s still plenty of blood left to spill.
The rights, administered by Verve (which has represented the franchise since 2017), encompass the full scope of the property created by the late Tobe Hooper and Kim Henkel. Exurbia Films serves as the primary production company, with Pat Cassidy, Ian Henkel, and Kim Henkel as producers, while attorney Marios Rush represents the property.
No Clear Frontrunner
Industry insiders report there are no obvious favorites in this particular beauty contest – if you can call a competition over cannibalistic killers beautiful. What’s clear is that each potential suitor brings a radically different vision for how to resurrect one of horror’s most enduring nightmares.
The question isn’t just who will win the rights, but what form Leatherface will take next. Will Peele’s social consciousness transform the Sawyer family into a metaphor for American decay? Could Sheridan’s unflinching realism ground the franchise in genuine terror? Or might A24’s indie sensibilities elevate the material beyond its exploitation roots?
As these titans of entertainment prepare to make their pitches, one thing is certain: whoever emerges victorious will inherit not just a franchise, but a responsibility to honor one of horror cinema’s most influential and terrifying legacies. The chainsaw massacre is about to begin all over again – this time in Hollywood boardrooms rather than rural Texas.
