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EXCLUSIVE: Studios and filmmakers are knocking on Verve‘s door as the agency is sitting on a bloody good IP that they’re looking to take on the town: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Verve has repped the rights for the Tobe Hooper and Kim Henkel created slasher series since 2017.
At a time when horror and franchises are really the only surefire bets at a post Covid and strike impacted box office, the 51-year old horror property about a chainsaw-wielding serial killer still has potential to make a killing.
One of the parties, we hear, showing interest in reviving Texas Chainsaw Massacre is filmmaker/scribe JT Mollner and producer Roy Lee hot off their $3M grossing, 96% certified Rotten Tomatoes cult hit Strange Darling. If Mollner gets a script together, word is that Glen Powell would like to read it, for a possible starring and producing gig. It’s very early days on this; no contracts or attachments as of yet and the Mollner/Powell combo is but one interested party out of many (though we’ve heard that Lionsgate, A24 and others are expressing interest in that version). Also, don’t be shocked if NEON jumps in the fray post their work with Oz Perkins on Longlegs, The Monkey, and upcoming Keeper, they’re looking for their next big horror film.
Said a Verve rep to Deadline, “Verve represents The Texas Chainsaw Massacre estate and is building out a multimedia strategy for the seminal horror franchise.”
“Verve has not officially submitted the property into any filmmakers, producers, or buyers,” the rep continued, “Because this is such a hot and iconic horror property, packages are preemptively being brought to Verve.”
Among horror IP, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is the little engine that could. Conceived by Tobe Hooper and Kim Henkel, and directed by Hooper, the project was inspired by serial killers like Ed Gein and Elmer Wayne Henley. Hooper shot the feature about killer Leatherface, who uses his chainsaw to go on a cannibalistic killing spree for $140,000 (unadjusted for inflation). Hooper shot the movie in rural Texas countryside with unknown actors in 95 degree plus heat. A very pre-Night Court John Larroquette narrated the movie. The pic’s means of funding is an exhibit A in indie finance with money pieced together by Hooper’s friend Bill Parsley throwing in $60,000. President of the Texas State Bar Joe K. Longley kicked in another $23K. Hooper couldn’t find a distributor until Warren Skaaren, then head of the Texas Film Commission, pointed him in the direction of the Bryanston Distributing Company which took global rights. Bryanston was famous for releasing one of the post profitable top-grossing X-rated movies of all-time, 1972’s Deep Throat which was made for $22K and grossed around $30M-$50M at the box office. Bryanston’s cut of Texas Chainsaw Massacre was big at a $225K flat fee and a reported 35% of profits. After the investors recouped their monies, and attorneys and lawyers, a reported $8,1K was left to divide among 20 cast and crew members. The original 1974 movie would go on to make $31M worldwide. The producers sued Bryanston for failing to pay them their full share of profits. A court judgment ruled that Bryanston pay the filmmakers a half million, but by that time, the distributor had declared bankruptcy.
There would be an ultimate silver lining for Hooper: Steven Spielberg tapped him to direct a horror movie that he co-wrote and produced, Poltergeist, which turned in a massive summer hit in 1982 grossing north of $77M domestic (unadjusted for inflation).
In 1983, New Line Cinema acquired distribution rights. The entire franchise would go on to count nine movies in total grossing north of $252M at the worldwide box office, as well as comics, a novel and two video game adaptations. The franchise was also responsible for launching marquee stars. The 1994 sequel, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation, starred a very early days Matthew McConaughey and Renee Zellweger.
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 EPing. It starred Jessica Biel just as she was segueing from 7th Heaven to the big screen and remains the highest grossing installment at $107M. That version was also shot by the original DP of the 1974 film, Daniel Pearl. The last Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie was 2017’s Leatherface which didn’t receive a stateside theatrical release.
We’ll keep you apprised on Texas Chainsaw Massacre‘s killing spree around town as projects come together.
