A24 finally is working on the next iteration of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise with a TV series from JT Mollner being the first project out of the gate. This comes after winning a months-long bidding war for the 1974 horror feature’s franchise TV and film rights, which we’ve told you about. A24 won those rights back in September in an auction led by Verve.
Series EPs include Spooky Picture’s Roy Lee and Steven Schneider, who are reteaming with Mollner after Strange Darling, as well as Stuart Manashil, Image Nation’s Ben Ross, Barnstorm’s Glen Powell and Dan Cohen, and Exurbia Films’ Kim Henkel, who co-created the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Powell is only producing. Exurbia Films’ Ian Henkel and Pat Cassidy also will produce.
A movie also is in early development with the same producing team and ImageNation, but Mollner isn’t attached to that project. The movie isn’t packaged yet, and it’s not clear if it’s headed to Netflix as previously reported.
The auction for Texas Chainsaw Massacre was administered by Verve, and drew the interest of several studios and high-level creative teams including Oz Perkins, Jordan Peele and Taylor Sheridan. Verve has repped rights to the slasher franchise since 2017. Exurbia Films is the primary production company behind Texas Chain Saw Massacre, with Pat Cassidy, Ian Henkel and Kim Henkel as producers.
The original 1974 movie was made for $140,000 and distributed by Bryanston Distributing Company, which released the 1972 X-rated success Deep Throat. Texas Chainsaw Massacre grossed $31M, with the filmmakers getting stiffed on profits. In 1983, New Line Cinema took distribution rights for the entire franchise via nine movies, minting $252 million-plus worldwide. There were comic, novel and video game ancillaries during the IP’s history.
Mollner said, “I’ve said publicly that I’m not interested in remaking perfect films, and the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a perfect film. 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.”
Powell added, “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is one of my favorite films. 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.”
Henkel said, “It was a difficult decision, but A24’s embrace of boundary-testing genre film, and its record of working with artists who are inclined to test boundaries made them a compelling choice. Plus, we believe having a great creative and producing team—JT Mollner, Roy Lee, Dan Cohen and Glen Powell—in place gives us the best shot at a series that could be genuinely eye-opening and unexpected. There’s an epic tale lurking in the Chainsaw backstory.”
CAA reps Roy Lee & Barnstorm. Mollner is repped by UTA, World Builder Entertainment, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner Auerbach Hynick Jaime LeVine Sample & Klein. Schneider is repped by UTA. Exurbia Films (The Henkels and Cassidy) is represented by Verve and attorney Marios Rush.