The last time we revisited the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise was in 2017’s Leatherface, which explored the origins of this horror film series’ main villain. Now, following in the footsteps of 2018’s Halloween, the upcoming Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie will serve a sequel only to the 1974 original. However, unlike its predecessors, the next installment will be a streaming exclusive.
Although Texas Chainsaw Massacre was originally set for a theatrical release, THR has learned that Netflix has picked up the global rights to the movie from Legendary Pictures. The two companies previously teamed on the Millie Bobby Brown-led Enola Holmes, which was also supposed to have big screen run before the COVID-19 pandemic complicated those plans. It wasn’t reported how much Netflix shelled out for Texas Chainsaw Massacre, but if you’re invested in this property, make sure you’re subscribed to the platform.
Perhaps this could also be a sign for things to come for the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise. After all, Enola Holmes reportedly scored 76 million household views over its first four weeks of availability, and Netflix announced back in May that a sequel is in development. If Texas Chainsaw Massacre performs similarly well, perhaps Legendary, which purchased the film rights to this franchise back in 2018, will want to deliver a sequel straight to Netflix too… but maybe we’re getting ahead of ourselves.
It’s unclear if Texas Chainsaw Massacre will still arrive later this year now that it’s on Netflix, or if the streaming service will instead save it for 2022. In any case, this marks another step forward towards returning to the Texas Chainsaw Massacre that, just like 2010’s Texas Chainsaw 3D, is resetting continuity. Originally Lionsgate and Millennium Films planned to make five more Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies after Leatherface, but because the companies took so long to release the prequel, they lost the film rights by the end of 2017, allowing Legendary Pictures to snag them a little over half a year later.
Picking up decades after the events of the first Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie, which Tobe Hooper directed and co-wrote with Kim Henkel, the new Texas Chainsaw Massacre stars Outlander’s Nell Hudson and Eighth Grade’s Elsie Fisher as Melody and Lila, who find themselves in Texas when Melody is sent there on a business trip. Unfortunately for them, their visit to the Lone Star State will coincide with Leatherface’s return after decades of silence. Along with Mark Burnham appearing as twisted serial killer and Olwen Fouéré taking over the role of Sally Hardesty, the new movie’s cast includes Alice Krige, Jacob Latimore, Jessica Allain and Moe Dunford, among others. David Blue Garcia directed Texas Chainsaw Massacre, taking over helming duties Ryan and Andy Tohill after the duo were fired during principal photography.
We here at CinemaBlend will let you know when Texas Chainsaw Massacre’s release date is announced, but in the meantime, discover what movies are on track to arrive later this year with our 2021 release schedule. You can also learn what Netflix will deliver next month with our detailed September 2021 guide.
