A24 has tapped a rising horror filmmaker to take another run at one of the genre’s most notorious properties: Curry Barker will direct the studio’s new take on The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, a move that immediately raises expectations about tone and ambition. The hire, first reported by Variety, matters because Barker arrives fresh off critical praise for his recent film and because the project will be developed alongside a separate TV adaptation.
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Variety’s exclusive confirms that Barker — who has quickly become a name to watch in contemporary horror — is steering A24’s planned reimagining of the 1974 original. The studio has not released plot details, but the choice of director gives the project a clearer creative profile.
Curry Barker gained attention this year with Obsession, a tense, high-concept thriller built around a classic “wish with a cost” premise. Critics praised its lean storytelling and unsettling payoff; the film’s atmosphere and moral edge are the qualities that likely appealed to A24.
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Before Obsession, Barker made his mark with smaller experiments. His first feature — a low-budget found-footage release titled Milk & Serial that premiered on YouTube — showed a knack for generating mood and suspense on limited resources, an asset when reworking an infamous franchise figure like Leatherface.
What we know so far
- Studio: A24
- Director: Curry Barker (recently of Obsession)
- Source: Variety exclusive report
- Approach: Described as a “reimagining” of the 1974 film
- Companion project: A separate Texas Chainsaw Massacre TV series is also in development (Glen Powell, Dan Cohen, director JT Mollner)
- Public info: No casting, plot specifics, or release window announced
The film is being developed in parallel with a TV adaptation spearheaded by Glen Powell and Dan Cohen, with JT Mollner attached to direct episodes of the series. That dual-track strategy—feature film plus small-screen companion—could expand the franchise’s reach but also complicate creative cohesion.
What this hire signals is A24’s intent to treat the material as more than a straight remake. The label “reimagining” suggests a tonal reset rather than a scene-by-scene recreation, and Barker’s recent work points toward psychological dread rather than gratuitous gore.
Why this matters now
Horror runs in cycles, and studios keep returning to recognizable properties when they believe a fresh voice can deliver new cultural currency. For fans and casual viewers alike, the choice of director is a useful early clue: a filmmaker who has shown restraint and concept-driven storytelling could reposition Leatherface for audiences who have seen multiple sequels and reboots.
For the industry, A24’s involvement keeps the title in the conversation with prestige-minded horror, rather than as a routine franchise cash-in. For viewers, it means the next entry could emphasize mood, character consequence, and thematic risk—elements that helped Barker’s prior work stand out.
Details remain scarce, and A24 has not announced a release date. Still, the combination of a celebrated indie-horror studio and a director with recent critical momentum makes this one of the more intriguing horror projects to watch this year.
Until casting, storylines, or a trailer appear, the safest expectation is cautious curiosity: this could be a reinvention that respects the original’s dread while aiming for something more narratively ambitious.
Jessica Morrison is a seasoned entertainment writer with over a decade of experience covering television, film, and pop culture. After earning a degree in journalism from New York University, she worked as a freelance writer for various entertainment magazines before joining red94.net. Her expertise lies in analyzing television series, from groundbreaking dramas to light-hearted comedies, and she often provides in-depth reviews and industry insights. Outside of writing, Jessica is an avid film buff and enjoys discovering new indie movies at local festivals.