The rights to the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” franchise are now available with early parties already showing interest in obtaining the rights to the horror franchise…
A bidding war could soon ensue as the rights to the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” franchise are now available.
The legendary horror series that first launched with the 1974 film directed by Tobe Hooper was previously under stewardship at Legendary Pictures since 2017 but the studio ultimately only released one movie — the forgettable 2022 “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” reboot that went straight to Netflix. Plans for a sequel never materialized and the rights to the horror franchise eventually reverted back to Exurbia Films, which is run by Pat Cassidy, the original movie’s co-screenwriter Kim Henkel and his son Ian Henkel.
While it’s way too early to speculate on who might land the rights to the franchise, a couple of notable names are reportedly interested.
A group that includes Texas native and actor Glen Powell alongside “Strange Darling” director JT Mollner and producer Roy Lee — who is about to develop the new “Cujo” remake at Netflix. Another notable name apparently kicking the tires on potentially getting involved in the bidding is “IT” director Andy Muschietti.
The original 1974 film became a breakout hit after Hooper produced the film on just a $300,000 budget but the movie would go onto earn $31 million at the global box office. The film centered around a group of kids traveling through Texas who end up encountering a family of cannibals, which included the menacing Leatherface — played in the original film by Gunnar Hansen — and they are slaughtered one by one until only a single survivor manages to escape.
Hooper returned to direct the sequel “Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2” in 1986 but the film was much different from the original, although still became a beloved cult classic.
From there, “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” produced a slew of sequels to varying success but the franchise was eventually revived with a remake in 2003 with the film going onto earn over $107 million at the box office.
Now it looks like a new generation of “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” films could be on the way with a package for the rights expected to be shopped around town in the near future.
H/T: Hollywood Reporter
