"Saw XI Stalls: Lionsgate and Producer Clash"

It's hard to believe, but it appears the curtains may be closing on the Saw franchise, at least temporarily. The highly anticipated Saw XI has been officially delayed and will not meet its original fall release schedule. This news comes as a shock to fans eagerly awaiting the next installment in the long-running horror series.

However, the delay is not due to creative differences. According to Saw XI screenwriter Patrick Melton in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the project has been stalled at a managerial level. "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 in spring 2024, nearly a year ago. The hold-up, Melton explained, is due to "inter-squabbling between producers and Lionsgate. They just can’t quite get on the same page."

Kevin Gruetert, a frequent director in the franchise, was attached to the project back in December 2023, with an initial release planned for September 2024. The delay pushed the release to September 2025, leaving fans disappointed but hopeful that the extra time would enhance the story. This hope was fueled by the success of Saw X, the 10th film in the series, which revitalized the franchise by earning over $120 million globally during its theatrical run. This success had executives eager to move forward with Saw XI.

What makes the delay even more frustrating is that Saw XI was set to explore a timely and relevant topic. Although specific plot details have not been disclosed, Melton likened the upcoming film's theme to that of Saw VI, which he co-wrote with Dunstan and was directed by Gruetert. In Saw VI, the protagonist John Kramer, aka Jigsaw (played by Tobin Bell), targets health insurance executives in a quest for justice.

"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 further elaborated that the film would resonate with current societal frustrations, much like Saw VI. "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 address contemporary issues in a fresh way had fans excited, but with the project currently stalled, it remains uncertain whether we will ever see this vision come to life.