A24 Revives The Texas Chain Saw Massacre With New Series and Film Plans
Horror’s most infamous dinner guest is heading back to the table, and this time the host is A24. The studio known for prestige genre hits and slow-burn nightmares has officially secured the rights to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, setting in motion a new chapter for one of horror’s most enduring and uncomfortable franchises.
Rather than launching straight into another rebooted film, A24 is starting on television, with a series set to lead the charge and a feature film also in early development. Leatherface is not just sharpening the saw. He is apparently checking his streaming schedule.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Series Comes First
The first project out of the gate will be a long-form television series directed by JT Mollner, with Glen Powell attached as an executive producer. Mollner has been quick to clarify that this is not a remake of the 1974 original, which is widely regarded as one of the most important horror films ever made and, more importantly, still deeply upsetting.
Instead, the series is being described as an expansion of the world and mythology surrounding the story. That suggests less shot-for-shot homage and more exploration of the broader landscape that gave birth to chainsaws, back roads, and deeply questionable dining experiences.
Mollner has spoken openly about his respect for the original film’s creators and his interest in building on its folklore rather than trying to replicate its lightning-in-a-bottle shock. That is encouraging, because history has shown that trying to out-grime the 1974 film is a dangerous creative hobby.
A Producing Team With Serious Horror Pedigree
Behind the scenes, the producing line-up blends franchise legacy with modern genre muscle. Executive producers include Roy Lee and Steven Schneider of Spooky Pictures, both of whom have deep roots in horror production. They are joined by Stuart Manashil, Ben Ross of Image Nation, Powell and Dan Cohen of Barnstorm, and, crucially, Kim Henkel.
Henkel co-wrote the original The Texas Chain Saw Massacre with Tobe Hooper and has remained connected to various later entries in the franchise. His involvement creates a direct creative link back to the source, which is about as close to a blessing as a chainsaw saga is likely to get. Exurbia Films’ Ian Henkel and Pat Cassidy will also produce.
In short, this is not a random grab at an IP. It is a carefully assembled group that understands both the brand and the genre landscape A24 operates in.
A New Texas Chainsaw Film Is Also in Development
Alongside the series, A24 and the same core producing team are in early development on a new Texas Chain Saw Massacre feature film. This project appears to be moving forward separately, and Mollner is not attached to direct the movie version.
That dual-track approach suggests A24 is looking at the franchise as a broader horror universe rather than a one-off revival. One path explores the mythology in depth through television, while the other keeps the theatrical chainsaw tradition alive. Leatherface, it seems, is getting a long-term contract.
Why A24 and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Matter Together
The original 1974 film redefined horror with its raw, documentary-like style and relentless atmosphere. It felt less like a movie and more like something you were not supposed to see. Since then, the franchise has spawned sequels, reboots, and reinterpretations with wildly varying tones, from bleak to bonkers.
A24’s involvement signals a likely tonal shift. The studio’s brand of horror often leans into atmosphere, character psychology, and sustained unease rather than pure franchise spectacle. That does not mean fewer chainsaws, but it could mean more attention to dread, environment, and the social undercurrents that made the original so disturbing.
A long-form series format also opens the door to exploring themes and backstory in ways previous films did not have room for. The rural decay, family dynamics, and cultural anxieties that fueled the original could be expanded without losing the central horror of a very bad road trip.
Looking Ahead
With A24 steering, a director openly protective of the original’s legacy, and producers tied to both modern genre filmmaking and the franchise’s origins, this new era of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is aiming for a balance between reverence and reinvention.
For horror fans, that balance will be everything. Expand the world, deepen the dread, but do not forget what made the first visit to that farmhouse feel like a mistake humanity never fully recovered from. Leatherface was also inducted in our Hall of Killers.
The chainsaw is coming back. The only question is how long A24 plans to keep it running.
