A24’s Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake will be directed and written by Obsession director Curry Barker. The project is officially described as a “reimagining” of the original. It is not really a straight remake.
A24 won the prize piece of IP in a heated auction last year. They formally announced the deal in February. They fended off competing offers from companies including Blumhouse. A24 landing the rights marked a new chapter for the IP. They also know how to appeal to the Gen Z demographic, so that’s great news.
Barker is a fast-rising name in horror. He came up in the world of YouTube sketch comedy. He shot an $800 horror movie and put it on YouTube for free. It amassed more than 2 million views and caught Hollywood’s attention. He then became the toast of the Toronto Film Festival last fall.
His movie Obsession had a budget under $1 million and became the biggest sale of the fest. It went to Focus Features for around $15 million. Obsession is set to open in theaters on May 15.
The hiring of Barker signals an intention to breathe new life into the 50-year-old franchise. It may perhaps speak to a younger audience. Barker has so far gravitated toward original concepts. However, he has spoken publicly about his love of Texas Chainsaw. His specific vision for Leatherface remains under wraps for now.
The new Chainsaw film will be produced by Roy Lee and Steven Schneider of Spooky Pictures. It is also produced by Stuart Manashil and Exurbia Films’ Pat Cassidy, Ian Henkel, and Kim Henkel. Ben Ross of Image Nation serves as executive producer.
This is separate from the A24 TV series in the works
That series is from JT Mollner and producers Glen Powell and Dan Cohen at Barnstorm. The indie studio will first tackle a series based on the franchise. Powell is among the executive producers.
The Long Walk writer Mollner is attached to direct. Speaking on the TV project, Mollner stated, “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… 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.”
Original co-creator Kim Henkel also weighed in on A24’s involvement.
“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 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.”
Henkel
The last Texas Chainsaw film was made in 2022 by Netflix. It was directed by David Blue Garcia and was set 50 years after the original story.
It was released on the streaming platform to generally negative reviews. Both new projects are currently in early development. No casting or plot details have been announced yet.
