Also, a little update on what’s going on with the release.

One of the cool things about Texas Chainsaw 3D, which most fans hated, is that it built upon Tobe Hooper’s original film. The entire opening sequence took place directly after the events of the terrifying 1974 classic, adding some new mythology to one of the most iconic horror movies of all time. It then jumped ahead several decades, but goddamn was that opening scene cool.

Presumably set for release sometime this year, the upcoming Leatherface will again bring some new mythology to the table, telling Leatherface’s origin story. In the prequel to Hooper’s original, Leatherface is a teenager who escapes from a mental hospital, and we can only assume we will find out why he started wearing flesh masks and how the chainsaw became his weapon of choice.

We can also exclusively report today that we will be meeting a new character named Ted Hardesty in Leatherface… the father of the original film’s Sally and Franklin!

Writer Seth M. Sherwood spilled the beans to me when I inquired about the IMDb-listed character, being played by actor Julian Kostov (pictured below). He told me:

Yes, Ted Hardesty is Sally’s dad. There was a later scene that went into it, but it was cut for budget reasons. I don’t know if we ever hear Ted’s last name in the movie as it is– but he’s there briefly. I mean, Grandpa Hardesty’s farm was in walking distance of the Sawyers, sooooo…

You may remember in the original movie that Sally and friends have traveled to Texas to visit Grandpa Hardesty’s grave and house, so as Sherwood pointed out to us, it makes total sense that Sally’s father would’ve had contact with the cannibalistic clan at some point. Leatherface is set years prior to the 1974 classic, likely one or two decades before Sally’s night of terror.

So what’s going on with the movie? Inside sources indicate to us that Lionsgate may be having cold feet after Blair Witch‘s poor box office performance late last year. For now, there seems to be no official release date set for Leatherface, which is sitting on a shelf while the folks in charge figure out what to do with it. We’ll keep you updated if we learn anything official.

The current incarnation of Leatherface is rated R “for strong bloody violence, disturbing images, language and some sexuality/nudity.” Millennium Films is listed as distributor, although Lionsgate had originally been set to release the film. No word on where this stands.

In Leatherface, Jessica Madsen plays one of four inmates (Sam Coleman, Sam Strike, James Bloor) who escape from a mental hospital. One of them becomes the title character and iconic slasher. The quartet kidnap a young nurse (played by Vanessa Grasse) and take her on a road trip from hell. Along the way, they are pursued by an equally deranged lawman (Stephen Dorff) out for revenge. The Conjuring‘s Lili Taylor plays Mother Sawyer.

Leatherface was directed by Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo, the duo behind the slasher masterpiece Inside (À l’intérieur), as well as Livide and Among the Living.

When we talked with the filmmakers, they told us the film is “a brutal and nihilistic road movie that we hope will surprise and delight the fans…”