Leatherface


In Texas, years before the events of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, in the early days of the infamous Sawyer family, the youngest child is sentenced to a mental hospital after a suspicious incident leaves the sheriffs’ daughter dead. Ten years later, he kidnaps a young nurse and escapes with 3 other inmates. Pursued by authorities including the deranged sheriff out to avenge his daughter’s death, the young Sawyer teen goes on a violent road trip from hell, molding him into the monster known now as Leatherface.

CURRENT STATUS: 
Now On DVD
In Texas, years before the events of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, in the early days of the infamous Sawyer family, the youngest child is sentenced to a mental hospital after a suspicious incident leaves the sheriffs’ daughter dead. Ten years later, he kidnaps a young nurse and escapes with 3 other inmates. Pursued by authorities including the deranged sheriff out to avenge his daughter’s death, the young Sawyer teen goes on a violent road trip from hell, molding him into the monster known now as Leatherface.

CATEGORY
Killers | Prequels

RELEASE DATE
September 21, 2017 (DirecTV)
October 20, 2017 (VOD)(Limited)
December 19, 2017 (DVD)
CURRENT STATUS
Now On DVD
LANGUAGE
English
PRODUCED BY
Lionsgate
Twisted Pictures
Millennium Films
MPAA RATING
R "strong bloody violence, disturbing images, language and some sexuality/nudity."
OFFICIAL SITES
N/A
DIRECTED BY
Julien Maury
Alexandre Bustillo
WRITTEN BY
Seth M. Sherwood
STARRING
Sam Strike
Sam Coleman
James Bloor
Jessica Madsen
Angela Bettis
Stephen Dorff
Lili Taylor
Vanessa Grasse
Nicole Andrews
Julian Kostov
Lorina Kamburova
Ian Fisher
Boris Kabakchiev
Dejan Angelov
Nathan Cooper

PROJECT DETAILS
  • It's said that the film will get an exclusive DirecTV release in September, followed by a VOD and limited theatrical run in October.
  • Producer Christa Campbell recently revealed that the film is getting a release sometime in October 2017. (5/13/17)
  • Writer Seth M. Sherwood has a recent interview, where he revealed several details about his approach with the script, saying: "When I was writing Leatherface, I tried really hard to make it feel like part of the franchise on the whole— which is actually not easy when you consider continuity was pretty loose between the original trilogy and two remakes that followed it. Chainsaw films aren’t exactly a perfectly shared universe, but at the same time, they are all undeniably Chainsaw at their heart. To tap into that I tried to pay subtle homage to all the films in some way; I wanted to tap into some of the key ideas and tropes so that it would feel familiar, but at the same time, go in a different direction."
  • He went on to detail the connection with each past sequel:
  • The Original: "My take on Leatherface was inspired directly by how Tobe and Gunnar described his mindset (or lack thereof). The Sawyer Farm is a key location. These connections were more literal."
  • Chainsaw 2: "I borrowed a few things. Obviously, the character names. Drayton, Nubbins, the Sawyer surname— were all discovered in the sequel. Mainly though, the idea of a corrupt, mentally unstable Texas Ranger on a vendetta against the Sawyers gave birth to Hartman, the real villain of my story. Like Lefty, he’s out for revenge against the Sawyers over something they did to his family. The character Clarice started as a pretty clear Chop Top homage, though along the way we decided to develop her into being more original. That said, when you see her, you can see a little of that DNA in there."
  • Chainsaw 3: "I always think of the locations of this film— the scrub brush filled badlands and remote roadside outposts as feeling like another world— a dark fairy tale land in some way. To be reminded, no, we’re just lost in Texas, is awesome. I filled my story with similar locations to hopefully capture a similar vibe."
  • Chainsaw 3D: "While I didn’t find any thematic inspiration from 3D, this is from the same team, so we decided early on that we needed some ties. Those come mainly from using names to establish a little continuity. The corrupt Mayor in 3D is the son of Stephen Dorff’s character. The cameo by Marilyn Burns as Sawyer matriarch Verna is the character played now by Lili Taylor."
  • Lastly he had this to say: "Leatherface is very much about identity. Gunnar Hansen said that Leatherface was devoid of identity beyond doing what his family told him, or what his mask might define. Instead of starting Jed Sawyer as a gibbering simpleton, I was more interested in taking somebody that could almost pass as normal and then explore how they could be reduced to nothing. Leatherface doesn’t know who he is, he doesn’t remember his family— but the saw becomes integral to restoring that… because the saw IS family!"
  • Filmed in Bulgaria. 
  • Actor Julian Kostov will have a brief role in the film as "Ted Hardesty," whom fans may recognize as the father of Sally from the original film.
  • Stephen Dorff plays "Texas Ranger Hal Hartman, who has vendetta against the teen boy who grows up to become Leatherface."
  • Angela Bettis is said to play "Verna, the mother of the Sawyer family."
  • Jessica Madsen plays the fourth and final escaped patient.
  • Sam Coleman plays "Bud" another one of the teens that escaped.
  • James Bloor is also said to be playing Leatherface. Apparently this prequel will follow "three teenage psychopaths, one of whom grows up to be Leatherface."
  • Young British actor Sam Strike (EastEnders) will play "Jackson, the teenager who grows up to be Leatherface."
  • The French directing duo Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo also helmed the gory slasher Inside, as well as Livid and Among the Living.
  • The film is expected to serve as an origin story that follows Leatherface’s early years in the 1970s.
  • It looks like the studio is now developing a prequel instead of a sequel, which was originally reported a couple years back. According to the studio, a director should be chosen in the "upcoming weeks" and production could begin as soon as this Winter. (8/13/14)
  • This is now said to be a prequel to the original 1974 film where we follow a younger Leatherface, possibly during his "teenage years."
VIDEOS
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GALLERY


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