EastEnders Star In Talks For Leatherface Movie

Ex-EastEnders actor Sam Strike is reported to be in talks to play the lead in a new ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ origin movie by the name of ‘Leatherface’.

According to The Wrap, Strike — known in the UK for playing Johnny Carter on the BBC soap — is in negotiations to portray the beastly Leatherface himself, in what’s being dubbed as a prequel to Tobe Hooper’s classic horror film, which follows Leatherface in the early years of his murderous existence during the 70s.

- Interview: It Follows Director Reveals All
- Alien 5 Will NOT Dismiss Alien Sequels
- Poltergeist Trailer: What’s New For The Reboot?

French filmmakers Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo are set to co-direct the film, with up-and-coming writer Seth M. Sherwood on scripting duties.

'Leatherface' will be the seventh 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' movie since Hooper's '74 original and it certainly doesn't seem like it'll be the last, after 2006's 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning' was one of several 'TCM' movies that've made a significant dent at the box office.

With the original film recently receiving a brilliant re-master and Blu-ray release (with noticeably better picture quality and touch-ups throughout), it seems that fans are still hungry for Leatherface and the family, but whether long-term ones will be interested by yet another reboot (of sorts) is anyone’s guess.

One other question is whether the timeline will fit into the existing franchise. Strike’s build (slender) and age (21) suggest that he’s going to have to put on a few pounds, but the towering, looming presence of a foreboding Leatherface doesn’t seem likely to make an appearance in this origin story. What’s more, if it’s set in the so-called ‘early years’ of Jackson’s (the name child who becomes the crazed killer) life, then how will that conceivably fit into the timeline of the films, with the first filmed and set in 1974?

There’s no word of who’ll play any of the other characters yet, and even Strike’s link isn’t set in stone because there’s rumours he’s been approached the play the role of Peter Parker in Marvel’s ‘Spider-Man’ reboot.

No doubt we’ll hear more over the coming months and, importantly, when he’s decided whether to play Spidey or Leatherface. Tough choice…

- Is Clown This Year’s Most Disturbing Horror Film?
- Horror Film Hate Crime Banned By BBFC
- Alien 5 Will IGNORE Last Two Sequels

Picture credits: Vortex