What Leatherface From Netflix's Texas Chainsaw Massacre Looks Like In Real Life
Leatherface, one of the most iconic villains in slasher film history, will soon return to the screen in Netflix's upcoming "Texas Chainsaw Massacre." The new movie, which functions as a direct sequel to the original 1974 "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre" by Tobe Hooper, is directed by David Blue Garcia and is the ninth film overall in the horror franchise.
In the brand new movie, a group of young people — including Lila, portrayed by Elsie Fisher of "Eighth Grade" fame — travel to Harlow, Texas, in the hopes of revitalizing the small and nearly desolate town. All seems well until they encounter Sally Hardesty (Olwen Fouéré), the only survivor from the original movie, and realize that Leatherface is still kicking around in Harlow 50 years later (via The Hollywood Reporter).
In the original film, Leatherface was portrayed by Gunnar Hansen, who died in 2015. The new sequel's producer and screenwriter, Fede Álvarez, told Entertainment Weekly that he believes Hansen would likely have returned if he were still alive. "We were trying to find someone that could have been Gunnar today. We tried to find the best next thing," Álvarez explained of the Leatherface casting process.
And thus, a new actor will be bringing the menacing antagonist to life. So, who is playing Leatherface in "Texas Chainsaw Massacre," and what do they look like underneath the mask?
Mark Burnham will portray the iconic horror villain
Fede Álvarez and Legendary Pictures cast actor Mark Burnham to take up Leatherface's mask (and chainsaw) for the new movie. "When [Burnham] showed up, we definitely felt like, 'This is the guy,'" Álvarez told EW about the casting process. "He had all the physicality we needed from him on camera. He has such an imposing figure."
Burnham is known best for roles in films like 2013's "Wrong Cops," 2017's "Lowlife," and 2021's "Ultrasound." Although he has just under 30 acting credits to his name, per IMDb, Burnham has been in the business since the 1990s, and has appeared on classic TV shows like "3rd Rock from the Sun" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." On his personal Instagram page, the actor shares behind-the-scenes shots from his projects, as well as plenty of candid moments from his life. And of course, he does look quite a bit different without the Leatherface mask on.
In addition to Mark Burnham as Leatherface, Elsie Fisher as Lila, and Olwen Fouéré as Sally Hardesty, "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” also stars Sarah Yarkin, Jacob Latimore, and Moe Dunford. According to Bloody Disgusting, the narrator from the original movie and 2003 remake, John Larroquette, will return to narrate the new film.