"Saw XI Stalled: Lionsgate and Producer Tensions"

It's hard to believe, but it looks like the curtains are drawing on the Saw franchise, at least temporarily. The much-anticipated Saw XI has been officially delayed and won't be hitting theaters this fall as initially planned.

However, this delay isn't due to creative disagreements. 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 a draft of the script back in the spring of 2024, nearly a year ago. Melton elaborated, saying, "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."

Kevin Gruetert, a frequent director of the franchise, was set to helm Saw XI back in December 2023, with a planned release in September 2024. Fans were devastated when the film was pushed back an entire year to September 2025. Many hoped the delay would enhance the film's narrative, especially after the commercial success of Saw X. The 10th installment revitalized the franchise, pulling in over $120 million globally during its theatrical run, which naturally spurred executives to fast-track Saw XI.

What adds to the disappointment is that Saw XI was poised to tackle a topical issue. While plot details remain under wraps, Melton drew parallels between Saw XI and 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 his 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 further explained, "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 in a new context, reflecting current global sentiments—but unfortunately, it seems we may never see this vision come to life.