Saw XI 'Stalled at a Managerial Level' Due to Lionsgate and Producer Tensions

I can hardly believe I'm saying this, but it looks like it's game over for the Saw franchise, at least for now. It has been officially confirmed that the much-anticipated Saw XI has been stalled and will not be hitting theaters this fall as originally planned.

However, this delay isn't due to creative differences. According to Saw XI screenwriter Patrick Melton in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, "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, along with his writing partner Marcus Dunstan, submitted their draft of the script back in spring 2024, nearly a year ago. Melton further explained, "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."

Frequent franchise director Kevin Gruetert was attached to the project as early as December 2023, with an initial release date set for September 2024. However, fans were devastated when the film's release was pushed back an entire year to September 2025. Many hoped this delay was to enhance the story, especially following the box office triumph of Saw X. The 10th installment revitalized the franchise, pulling in over $120 million worldwide during its theatrical run, which naturally spurred executives to push forward with Saw XI.

What's more disappointing is that the 11th installment was poised to tackle a highly relevant topic. While plot details for Saw XI remain under wraps, Melton hinted that the storyline would resonate similarly to Saw VI, which he and Dunstan wrote and Gruetert directed. In Saw VI, lead character John Kramer, aka Jigsaw (played by Tobin Bell), exacts revenge on a group of health insurance executives.

Melton expressed his hopes 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 further elaborated on the themes, 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." It would have been fascinating to see the Saw franchise revisit these themes and explore them in the context of today's world, but unfortunately, it seems we may never get that chance.