Story perspectives

A24 Wins Texas Chainsaw Bid, Hires Curry Barker

4/23/2026

Summary

A24 hires Barker

A24 hired Curry Barker to write and direct a Texas Chainsaw Massacre after beating Blumhouse in a heated auction.
Roy Lee, Steven Schneider, Stuart Manashil, Pat Cassidy, Ian Henkel and Kim Henkel will produce it with Ben Ross of Image Nation as executive producer.
Glen Powell, Dan Cohen and JT Mollner are developing a Texas Chainsaw Massacre series while Curry Barker’s work includes Milk & Serial and the $14 million TIFF-sold film Obsession.

Summary

**A24 Secures Chainsaw**

A24 secured the Texas Chainsaw franchise rights after a fierce bidding war sparked by Netflix’s poorly received revival attempt.
The studio hired director Barker, reflecting a surge of YouTube creators such as RackaRacka’s Danny and Michael Philippou entering mainstream horror.
Sony is producing an R-rated Bloodborne animated film with YouTube star JackSepticEye (Seán McLoughlin) as producer, illustrating studios’ growing reliance on digital creators for horror content.

Summary

A24 Revives Franchise

A24 purchased the franchise rights from Verve, the holder since 2017, to revitalize the property.
The original 1974 film earned over $30 million on a $140,000 budget, showing strong ROI.
Co-creator Kim Henkel praised A24’s reputation for boundary-testing genre work, hinting at new backstory exploration.
A24 plans both a feature film and a television series to attract Gen Z fans of the franchise.

History

Historical Context

"The Texas Chain Saw Massacre," released on October 11, 1974, grossed over $30 million against a $140,000 budget, becoming a landmark in horror cinema. Directed by Tobe Hooper, it reflected societal anxieties of the era, including skepticism towards authority post-Watergate. A24's recent acquisition signals a revival of classic horror, while YouTube creators like Danny and Michael Philippou are reshaping the genre for younger audiences.

1 of 4

A24 hires Barker

A24 hired Curry Barker to write and direct a Texas Chainsaw Massacre after beating Blumhouse in a heated auction.
Roy Lee, Steven Schneider, Stuart Manashil, Pat Cassidy, Ian Henkel and Kim Henkel will produce it with Ben Ross of Image Nation as executive producer.
Glen Powell, Dan Cohen and JT Mollner are developing a Texas Chainsaw Massacre series while Curry Barker’s work includes Milk & Serial and the $14 million TIFF-sold film Obsession.

1 / 4