Horror remakes and reboots have become a staple within the Hollywood genre landscape. Occasionally, a new perspective brought to well-known material can result in significant success, as seen with “Evil Dead Rise.” However, more often than not, the underlying commercial motives are evident.
One frequently reimagined franchise is the longstanding “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.” The most recent effort to revive the magic of Tobe Hooper’s 1974 creation proved unsuccessful, much like previous attempts. Nonetheless, this does not deter future endeavors to revisit the series.
Reports from Deadline suggest that Glen Powell, an actor with roots in Austin, Texas, where Hooper originally filmed two “Chainsaw” installments, may be involved in a potential return of Leatherface and the infamous crew. Although Powell is not widely known for horror roles, he gained attention with his work on the horror-comedy series “Scream Queens.”
Deadline’s article largely speculates rather than updating, yet the involvement of such a prominent publication indicates that momentum is building around a potential “Texas Chainsaw” remake. Allegedly, both studios and filmmakers have approached Verve, the agency that has represented the rights to the slasher series created by Hooper and Kim Henkel since 2017, regarding a new project featuring the notorious cannibal characters.
A Verve representative provided minimal details, stating that a “multimedia strategy for the seminal horror franchise” is under development, but they have yet to officially present the property to any filmmakers, producers, or buyers. Preemptive packages are reportedly being proposed to Verve.
One such proposal involves Glen Powell, who might take roles both in front of and behind the camera, and writer-director J.T. Mollner, known for the 2023 serial-killer story “Strange Darling.” Still, discussions are in preliminary stages, with no contracts or formal attachments yet, and the Powell and Mollner collaboration is just one of several interested groups.
Further updates on the “Chainsaw” franchise, which currently includes nine films, will be provided when available. Meanwhile, the question persists: does the series need a new installment, or should audiences remain loyal to Hooper’s original classics?
