Saturn is in retrograde, and what could be better timing for an update on the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise?
According to Deadline, the studio A24 is the highest bidder for the rights to the cinematic property. Given the distinctive aspects of their horror films, and the reputation of the franchise as one of the most popular slashers, our minds are revving up with wonders.
As of now, the bidding is not closed, but the studio is in the lead, beating out Monkeypaw Productions and Neon in the race.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was first released in 1974, directed by Tobe Hooper and co-written by him and Kim Henkel. It spawned several sequels and became a staple of the slasher genre. Despite that reputation, the original 1974 film relies more on psychological terror over the gore fest that its sequels embraced. The series, like Halloween, utilizes multiple timelines, including a remake series. The last installment, called Texas Chainsaw Massacre, released on Netflix in 2022.
A24 has been a celebrated supplier of horror films of the past decade, behind titles such as Hereditary, Midsommar, and The Lighthouse. These films, like most of their films, tell stories through intimate cinematography and auteur lenses.
One of the many great aspects of the original 1974 film is its effective camera work that showcased terrifying chase scenes through the woods and family home. There is a tracking shot that follows the character Pam from under a swing as she hops off it and walks towards the home, shaping the image like the house is swallowing her. The shot is widely regarded as one of the best in cinema.
Deadline also reports that A24’s first plans for the property will be a series produced by Roy Lee and Glen Powell, with JT Mollner helming. Mollner is no stranger to horror—having written and directed the 2023 psychological indie Strange Darling, which was well received for its nonlinear structure and approach to horror tropes. He also wrote the screenplay for The Long Walk, Francis Lawrence’s 2025 adaptation of the Stephen King novel.
With a studio and director that know how to terrorize us through scene building, a series in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre universe could take us back to the unsettling, atmospheric descent into madness we were treated to in 1974. Whether they will incorporate the gory kills of the sequels cemented the franchise into the slasher hall of fame remains to be known.
Before we get too eager about preproduction on the series, we will have to wait for the bidding to close and for the purchase to finalize. In the meantime, we can look forward to A24’s widely anticipated Crystal Lake—the Friday the 13th prequel series coming to Peacock. The anticipated return to the franchise could give us some clues as to what we can expect from the Texas Chainsaw series.