In a surprising turn of events, the Saw franchise appears to have hit a snag, with the highly anticipated Saw XI facing an indefinite delay. Originally slated for a fall release, the film's production has come to a standstill, much to the disappointment of fans eagerly awaiting the next installment in the long-running horror series.
According to Patrick Melton, the screenwriter for Saw XI, the delay isn't due to creative differences. "We haven’t heard anything since May," Melton revealed to The Hollywood Reporter. "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, yet progress has been halted due to disputes 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," Melton explained.
The film, which was initially set for a September 2024 release, was pushed back to September 2025, leaving fans disheartened despite their hope that the delay was for the betterment of the story. The previous installment, Saw X, had revitalized the franchise, earning over $120 million globally, sparking excitement and anticipation for Saw XI.
Adding to the frustration, Saw XI was poised to tackle a timely and relevant topic. Although plot details remain under wraps, Melton drew parallels to Saw VI, which he co-wrote with Dunstan and was directed by frequent franchise director Kevin Gruetert. In Saw VI, John Kramer, aka Jigsaw (played by Tobin Bell), targets 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.
Melton elaborated on the film's thematic resonance, 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." The potential for Saw XI to revisit and expand upon these themes, especially given current global circumstances, is intriguing, yet the future of the project remains uncertain.
