Could one of the most infamous horror icons of all time be making a comeback? There’s major buzz around The Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise as its rights are about to change hands — and some of Hollywood’s biggest players are already lining up to reinvent Leatherface’s reign of terror. Jordan Peele, Taylor Sheridan, A24, NEON — everyone wants a shot at rebooting this horror legend.
See who’s ready to take the chainsaw
According to Deadline, an official bidding process for the Texas Chainsaw Massacre rights will begin on June 9, 2025. The stakes are high: since its 1974 debut, the franchise has haunted generations of moviegoers and has grossed $247 million worldwide across nine films.
The rights are currently represented by the Verve agency, which has ambitious plans to bring the chainsaw-wielding legend back to modern audiences through films, series, and other media.
Here are the key players so far:
- Jordan Peele (Get Out, Us) through Monkeypaw Productions and Universal, eyeing a bold new cinematic take on the franchise.
- Taylor Sheridan (Yellowstone) is reportedly interested in producing a brand-new feature film.
- Osgood Perkins (Longlegs) and Bryan Bertino (The Strangers) are developing a project with NEON.
- J.T. Mollner (Strange Darling) and Glen Powell (Top Gun: Maverick) are attached to an A24-led television series, with Powell also producing.
Why now?
While Netflix’s 2022 reboot met with mixed reactions, the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise remains an incredibly attractive IP. The horror genre is booming, and streamers are hungry for established brands that can drive viewership.
Plus, we’ve seen a string of successful horror franchise revivals in recent years — Halloween, Scream, Saw — and Leatherface seems poised to join that modern wave of reimagined classics.
When will the new movie or series arrive?
Although we’re still waiting to learn who will ultimately land the rights, industry insiders suggest that Verve is aiming for rapid development following the bidding process. If negotiations progress on a typical timeline, we could see the first new project officially greenlit by late 2025 or early 2026.
Whether a film or series arrives first remains unclear. Based on the current contenders, there’s a good chance we’ll see both formats developed in parallel. A24 and NEON appear to be leaning toward streaming projects, while Jordan Peele and Taylor Sheridan would likely target theatrical releases.
In the most optimistic scenario, Leatherface could be roaring back by fall 2026 — just in time for Halloween. One thing is certain: today’s horror market is hungry for bold new spins on classic brands, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is more than ready for its next blood-soaked chapter.
