Glen Powell might be trading his charming Hollywood smile for a scream-inducing chainsaw. The Texas native, best known for his charismatic roles in Top Gun: Maverick and Twisters, is now at the centre of speculation linking him to a reboot of the iconic horror franchise The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The idea of Powell stepping into such a grisly, blood-soaked universe is a curveball, one that’s captivating both horror enthusiasts and Texan film buffs.
The rumour mill gained momentum after Powell was reportedly in talks with director JT Mollner for a new take on the 1974 slasher classic. The pair were linked through murmurs of a potential collaboration, further fuelled by a panel appearance at San Diego Comic-Con. While Mollner remained coy, his words left fans buzzing. “It feels very good regardless of whether any of those rumours are true,” he said, noting the enthusiasm around his possible involvement. “Wow, people would like to see my version of that.”
Mollner’s history with the genre is complicated. His production company was once named No Remake Pictures, signalling his resistance to revisiting classics he deems untouchable. Yet he admitted he renamed it Electric Lady, a hint at a softened stance. The director called the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre ‘perfect’ but didn’t rule out reimagining it, especially if it means working with Powell. “Glen is a tremendous actor and one of the first real movie stars to come along in a long time,” Mollner said.
Producer Roy Lee added more intrigue, stating, “There is some validity to it and we’re still in discussions, but nothing that’s concrete just yet.”
If confirmed, Powell’s shift into horror would mark a significant genre departure and a full-circle moment for the Texas-rooted franchise. For now, fans can only wait to see if the Austin golden boy will help resurrect Leatherface.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ