It's hard to believe, but it appears the Saw franchise has hit a snag, with the much-anticipated Saw XI now officially delayed. Originally slated for a fall release, the film's production has come to a standstill, leaving fans in suspense.
According to Saw XI screenwriter Patrick Melton in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the delay isn't due to creative differences. "We haven’t heard anything since May," Melton stated. "It’s stalled at a managerial level. It has nothing to do with the creative or anything else. There’s higher-level things at play."
Melton and his writing partner Marcus Dunstan submitted a draft of the script back in spring 2024, nearly a year ago. The hold-up, Melton explained, stems from disagreements between the producers and Lionsgate. "The reason it’s held up is just, there’s inter-squabbling between producers and Lionsgate. They just can’t quite get on the same page."
The project had initially been set to hit theaters in September 2024, with frequent franchise director Kevin Gruetert at the helm. However, the release was pushed back an entire year to September 2025, much to the dismay of fans. This delay came despite the success of Saw X, the 10th installment, which revitalized the franchise by earning over $120 million globally during its theatrical run. This success had naturally fueled excitement for Saw XI.
Adding to the frustration, Saw XI was poised to tackle a timely and relevant topic. While specific plot details remain under wraps, Melton drew parallels to Saw VI, which he co-wrote with Dunstan and was directed by Gruetert. In Saw VI, John Kramer, aka Jigsaw (played by Tobin Bell), exacts revenge on health insurance executives.
"Saw XI may or may not be made, but we have a very timely story in it, and I hope it gets made just because of that," Melton shared with THR. He elaborated that the film would explore themes similar to those in Saw VI, where citizens feel powerless and frustrated, and Jigsaw steps in to take action. Given the current state of the world, it would have been fascinating to see how the Saw franchise would revisit these themes, but it seems we may never get that chance.
