It's hard to believe, but it looks like the curtains may be closing on the Saw franchise, at least temporarily. The much-anticipated Saw XI has hit a significant snag and will not meet its original fall release date.
According to Saw XI screenwriter Patrick Melton, the delay isn't due to creative differences. In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Melton revealed, “We haven’t heard anything since May. 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 their script draft back in spring 2024, nearly a year ago. The hold-up, Melton explained, stems from “inter-squabbling between producers and Lionsgate. They just can’t quite get on the same page.”
Originally, frequent franchise director Kevin Gruetert was set to helm the project, announced back in December 2023 with a planned September 2024 release. However, fans were disappointed when the film's release was pushed back an entire year to September 2025. Many hoped this delay would enhance the story, especially following the success of Saw X, which revitalized the franchise by earning over $120 million globally during its theatrical run. This success naturally fueled excitement for Saw XI.
What makes this delay even more frustrating is that Saw XI was poised to tackle a relevant and timely topic. While specific plot details remain under wraps, Melton hinted that the film's narrative would echo themes from 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.
Melton expressed hope for the project, stating, “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.” He elaborated on the film's potential impact, saying, “It taps into the same themes of Saw VI, where you’re a citizen, you feel angry and frustrated with something, you feel like you can’t do anything, and John Kramer’s going to do it.” Given the current state of the world, it would have been fascinating to see the Saw franchise revisit these themes and explore them in a new light. Unfortunately, it seems we may never get that chance.
