Summary
- Saw XI, initially cut from the release calendar, is still being planned by Lionsgate.
- The franchise has been profitable, with grosses exceeding $1 billion worldwide.
- Audience drawn to franchise due to high levels of gore, creative traps, and survival elements.
Saw is one of the most successful and iconic horror franchises of all time, and audiences have been actively waiting for the next installment of the gory franchise. Saw XI has been confirmed for some time, but the film has been dealing with more problems than John Kramer creating his latest dastardly trap.
With Lionsgate having dealt with setbacks, changes to its slate, and issues within the Saw team, there has been a growing concern among Saw fans that the next sequel may never happen. However, a new update has been provided that proves the movie is very much alive and has a future.
The Hollywood Reporter recently confirmed mixed news regarding the future of Saw XI, initially confirming that it has been officially cut from Lionsgate’s release calendar. The sequel was slated to hit theaters on September 26, but it has now been taken off that date, which has led to question marks about the future of the movie. However, THR also gained a statement via Lionsgate from Billy the Puppet – the iconic ventriloquist dummy that is often used in the Saw movies to deliver messages to the victims which said:
“I’ve seen the rumors. They say it’s Game Over. You all should know me better than that. The game is never over.”
While this isn’t confirmation of a date for Saw XI, it at least proves that the movie is still alive and is being planned by Lionsgate. It’s a more positive update than the last one, which revealed that the script creator, Patrick Melton, and Marcus Dustan had been in the midst of a period of radio silence from Lionsgate. Melton revealed that they hadn’t heard anything since May, with the movie supposedly stuck at a “managerial-level” within Lionsgate. The company has instead planned The Strangers: Chapter 2 in Saw XI’s original release date slot, ensuring that some content will still be released.
The Saw franchise has been successful over the years, often turning out great profits on small production budgets, which has helped to grow its reputation, with the movies grossing more than $1 billion worldwide. Saw X was met with critical praise as Tobin Bell reprised his role as Kramer, with this movie being slotted between the original Saw movie and Saw II in terms of the timeline. He focused on taking down a group of corrupt medical professionals who were defrauding cancer patients looking for treatment, which was a scenario Kramer himself was in.
However, the Saw franchise has ultimately never been about the interesting plot and the manner in which the movies connect for most audiences. Instead, it’s about the insane level of gore, the creative traps and puzzles that are created for the characters to try and survive, and the sheer amount of blood that is provided. The Saw movies have always delivered in the fear department, which is ultimately the crux of any good horror movie, and that’s why audiences keep coming back for more when it comes to Saw, regardless of how gruesome the movies might be.
- Release Date
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October 29, 2004
- Runtime
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103 minutes
- Director
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James Wan
- Writers
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James Wan, Leigh Whannell
