EXCLUSIVE: Talks for who’ll wind up with the much-prized Texas Chainsaw Massacre IP are beginning Monday as anywhere from five to eight studios and/or streamers are vying for rights of the Tobe Hooper- and Kim Henkel-created property that encompasses film, TV, live events and games.
tWe first told you about this beauty contest, administered by Verve, the agency having repped rights to the slasher franchise since 2017. Exurbia Films is the primary production company behind Texas Chainsaw Massacre, with Pat Cassidy, Ian Henkel and Kim Henkel as producers. The property is repped by attorney Marios Rush.
There are no clear frontrunners in the bidding, however, new creative parties have emerged with a passion for the project. Myriad notable creative entities have teamed with studios to pitch Verve and the Texas Chainsaw Massacre rightsholders on their vision for notorious killer Leatherface, who uses his chainsaw to go on a cannibalistic killing spree.
Since we first told you about the project, Taylor Sheridan’s name has gained steam as having interest in the property. At this point in time, Sheridan would only serve as a producer on a future Texas Chainsaw Massacre project. No surprise that he’s interested, as Sheridan was raised in Texas.
In regards to the Oz Perkins’ version of Texas Chainsaw Massacre, we understand the Longlegs filmmaker would only produce and co-write with Bryan Bertino. Bertino, who directed the original 2008 The Strangers, would helm this particular version of Leatherface, should Neon win rights.
We first reported that Strange Darling‘s J.T. Mollner and A Minecraft Movie and Weapons producer Roy Lee were kicking the tires. We understand that’s a TV a pitch aligned with A24, and will have Austin native Glen Powell involved but not starring.
Separately, Lee has a feature film pitch for Texas Chainsaw Massacre that would be set up at Netflix.
Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw is another new party to emerge with an eye on Texas Chainsaw Massacre, also in a producing capacity. Monkeypaw has a production deal at Universal.
The original 1974 movie was made for $140,000 and distributed by Bryanston Distributing Company, famed for its theatrical release of the 1972 X-rated title Deep Throat. Texas Chainsaw Massacre would go on to make $31M, with the filmmakers getting stiffed on profits. In 1983, New Line Cinema acquired distribution rights with the entire franchise via nine movies grossing north of $252M worldwide. There also are comics, a novel and two video game adaptations.
New Line launched a prolific 2003 remake directed by German filmmaker Marcus Nispel, with Michael Bay producing and pre-Quiet Place Andrew Form and Brad Fuller executive producing. Starring Jessica Biel just as she was segueing from 7th Heaven to feature films, that title remains the highest-grossing in the 51-year-old franchise at $107M.
Classic horror franchises, rebooted after several years laid dormant, are a big a business, especially when left in the hands of passionate auteurs, i.e., Scream VI under the direction of Radio Silence opened to a series best at the domestic box office with $44.4M (and $108M domestic) in 2023, ditto for 2018’s Halloween which saw the return of Jamie Lee Curtis under the direction of David Gordon Green; that pic opened to a franchise high of $76.2M (and ending its domestic run at $159.3M). Recently, Final Destination Bloodlines, the first sequel in 14 years in New Line’s 25-year-old series, opened to a franchise high of $51.6M and quickly became the highest-grossing installment in the six-film series with a current running global take of $235M.
