A24 has secured the rights to reboot the iconic horror franchise The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, with plans for both a television series and a feature film. The move follows a competitive bidding war that drew interest from several prominent studios and creative figures, including Taylor Sheridan, Oz Perkins, and Jordan Peele, according to reports from last week.
The television series, the first project to move forward, will be directed by JT Mollner, known for his work on Strange Darling and The Long Walk. Mollner emphasized his intention to create a fresh exploration of the franchise’s world rather than simply remaking the original 1974 film, which he described as “a perfect film.”
“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,” Mollner said in a statement. “When the opportunity for a longform 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 represents truly an honor.”
Austin native Glen Powell, whose recent credits include Twisters and Top Gun: Maverick, will executive produce the series through his production company, Barnstorm. Powell expressed his personal connection to the original film and his enthusiasm for bringing a new chapter to the franchise. He will not appear on screen.
“‘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,” Powell said in a statement. “I’m honored to have Barnstorm support 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.”
A film adaptation is also in early development, with Powell again serving as a producer. Still, Mollner is not attached to direct the movie. The rights to the franchise were previously held by Legendary Pictures, which released a Texas Chainsaw Massacre film on Netflix in 2022. The rights then reverted to a group identified as Verve, who have represented the franchise since 2017, before being acquired by A24 in September 2025.
The original 1974 film, directed by Tobe Hooper and co-written with Kim Henkel, was made for $140,000 and grossed $31 million, despite the filmmakers reportedly receiving limited profits. The franchise has since spawned numerous sequels and a remake, including 1986’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, 1990’s Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III, 1995’s The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, a 2003 remake, the 2006 prequel The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, 2013’s Texas Chainsaw 3D, 2017’s Leatherface, and the 2022 Netflix release.
No release dates have been announced for either the television series or the new film.
