Last August, Bloody Disgusting exclusively told you that Legendary Entertainment/Legendary Pictures was in the mix to not only develop new films based on Tobe Hooper‘s original slasher masterpiece The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, but also a television series.
In October 2017, Lionsgate released Leatherface, a prequel to Texas Chain Saw Massacre that was produced by Millenium Films. Sources told us before the film’s release that rights had turned back over to Kim Henkel, writer and producer on the 1974 slasher classic and also director of Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1994).
A lot has happened since the previous report. Not only are we told that Legendary has closed this deal, but we’re hearing exclusively that Fede Álvarez (Evil Dead, Don’t Breathe) is producing for Henkel and Legendary. To clarify, this is not meant as a directing vehicle for Álvarez, who is seeking a filmmaker to attach to the project.
While plans aren’t set in stone, we’re hearing that the hope is to make a direct sequel to Hooper’s ’74 film, similar to what Blumhouse and Universal have done with Halloween. Unfortunately, Texas Chain Saw Massacre‘s Final Girl, Marilyn Burns, passed away in 2014. It will be interesting to see how they continue the story without her, although it could just focus on the current state of the Sawyer family. (Make sure to read John Squires’ piece on the confused Texas Chainsaw Massacre timeline.)
You can read about the potential implications of the Legendary Pictures deal by clicking here. We’ll update you with any fresh news as it comes in.
