New Line and Michael Bay’s Platinum Dunes seems to have given up on The Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise, after making the 2003 remake and its 2006 sequel. Variety reports that Twisted Pictures, the outfit behind the Saw Franchise, is in talks to take over the franchise, with plans for a 3D Chainsaw movie, which would be distributed by Lionsgate. They’re hoping to get Stephen Susco (The Grudge) to write a contemporary storyline for the new film.
The reason the rights are up for negotiation is because New Line and Platinum Dunes never actually owned the Chainsaw franchise, and had just made deals on a per-film basis for the two movies that they released. Talks on further sequels under Dunes apparently fell apart and now Twisted has swooped in to keep Leatherface and his family alive with a deal for multiple new sequels.
Although no Chainsaw movie has been well received critically since Tobe Hooper’s 1974 original, the latest remakes have made quite a lot of money, which has ensured the likes of Twisted are interested in carrying on the story, and in keeping with the vogue of the moment, turning it 3D.
Platinum Dines probably won’t be too upset though, as they still control Friday The 13th and they’ve got the upcoming Nightmare On Elm Street remake coming out early next year.