‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ Bidding War Talks Heat Up; Taylor Sheridan Among New Names In The Mix – The Dish
EXCLUSIVE: Talks for who’ll wind up with the much-prized Texas Chainsaw Massacre IP are beginning Monday as anywhere from five to eight studios and/or streamers are vying for the rights of the Tobe Hooper and Kim Henkel created property which canvases film, TV, live events and games.
We first told about this beauty contest, administered by Verve; the agency having repped the rights to the slasher franchise since 2017.
There are no clear frontrunners, however, new creative parties have emerged with a passion for the project. Myriad notable creative entities have teamed up with studios to pitch Verve and the Texas Chainsaw Massacre rights holders on their vision for notorious killer Leatherface, who uses his chainsaw to go on a cannibalistic killing spree.
Since we first told you about the project, Taylor Sheridan’s name has gained steam as having interest in the property. At this point in time, Sheridan would only serve as a producer on a future Texas Chainsaw Massacre project. No surprise that he’s interested as Sheridan was raised in Texas.
In regards to the Oz Perkins’ version of Texas Chainsaw Massacre, we understand the Longlegs filmmaker would only produce and co-write with Bryan Bertino. Bertino, who directed the original 2008 The Strangers, would helm this particular version of Leatherface, should NEON win rights.
Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw is another new party to emerge with an eye on Texas Chainsaw Massacre, also in producing capacity. Monkeypaw has a production deal at Universal.
We first reported that Strange Darling‘s J.T. Mollner and A Minecraft Movie and Weapons producer Roy Lee were kicking the tires. We understand that’s a TV a pitch aligned with A24, and will have Austin, TX native Glen Powell involved, but not starring.
Separately, Lee has a feature film pitch for Texas Chainsaw Massacre which would be set up at Netflix.
The original 1974 movie was made for $140K and distributed Bryanston Distributing Company, famed for its theatrical release of 1972 X-rated title Deep Throat. Texas Chainsaw Massacre would go on to make $31M with the filmmakers getting stiffed on profits. In 1983, New Line Cinema acquired distribution rights with the entire franchise via nine movies grossing north of $252M worldwide There also comics, a novel and two video game adaptations.
New Line launched a prolific 2003 remake directed by German filmmaker Marcus Nispel with Michael Bay producing and pre-Quiet Place Andrew Form and Brad Fuller executive producing. Starring Jessica Biel just as she was segueing from 7th Heaven to feature films, that titles remains the highest-grossing in the 51-year old franchise at $107M.
Classic horror franchises, rebooted after several years laid dormant, are a big a business, especially when left in the hands of passionate auteurs, i.e. Scream VI under the direction of Radio Silence opened to a series best at the domestic box office with $44.4M (and $108M domestic), ditto for 2018’s Halloween which saw the return of Jamie Lee Curtis under the direction of David Gordon Green; that pic opening to a franchise high of $76.2M (and ending its domestic at $159.3M). Recently, Final Destination: Bloodlines, the first sequel in 14 years in the New Line 25-year old series, opened to a franchise high of $51.6M and quickly became the highest installment in a six film series with a current running global take of $235M.
