In a move that has Hollywood buzzing, Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan is shifting from the windswept wilds of Montana to the bone-chilling backwoods of Texas. According to Deadline, the mastermind behind the neo-Western empire is now a major contender in the fierce bidding war for the rights to the legendary Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise.

While Sheridan’s reputation was built on rugged cowboys, emotional family feuds, and the bitter cost of land and loyalty, this foray into horror suggests something deeper is stirring. Raised in Texas himself, Sheridan has a personal connection to the Lone Star landscape that gave birth to Leatherface’s legacy. Though he’s currently aiming to come on board solely as a producer, his name alone adds gravity—and possibly a grim poetic vision—to any future Texas Chainsaw project.

But Sheridan isn’t alone in his pursuit.

The IP, managed by Verve since 2017, has attracted a bloody lineup of suitors. Horror auteur Oz Perkins (Longlegs) has teamed with The Strangers director Bryan Bertino, crafting a chilling pitch that, if chosen by distributor NEON, would likely mark a return to the slow-burn dread of the 1974 original. Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions is also in the mix, expressing interest in producing through Universal, while Roy Lee (Weapons, The Minecraft Movie) and Strange Darling director J.T. Mollner are rumored to be working with A24 and Glen Powell to reimagine the franchise as a small-screen event.

But that’s not all. Netflix, always lurking with sharp algorithms and deeper pockets, is also in the ring thanks to a separate pitch by Roy Lee for a standalone feature.

The timing couldn’t be more fitting. With Halloween, Scream, and Final Destination all experiencing successful modern revivals, there’s a renewed appetite for legacy horror reboots. And the Texas Chainsaw Massacre—once a $140,000 indie film that raked in $30 million and scarred pop culture forever—remains one of the few titans of terror still ripe for serious reimagining.

Sheridan, who’s been crafting a broader Yellowstone universe with series like 1883, 1923, Tulsa King, and the upcoming Y: Marshals, may just be the unexpected voice needed to drag Leatherface back into cultural relevance. His eye for regional tension, generational trauma, and brutal survivalism aligns all too well with the grim DNA of the Chainsaw franchise.

Could Texas Chainsaw Massacre become Sheridan’s next American epic—one with chainsaws instead of horses, and horror in place of honor?

For now, the rights are still up for grabs. But if Sheridan does win, don’t be surprised if the next time you hear that chainsaw roar, it’s followed by a monologue about land, legacy… and blood.