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

It's hard to believe, but the Saw franchise is hitting pause, at least for the time being. The much-anticipated Saw XI has been officially stalled and won't be hitting theaters this fall as originally planned.

This delay isn't due to creative differences, according to Saw XI screenwriter Patrick Melton. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Melton revealed, "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 and his writing partner Marcus Dunstan submitted a draft of the script back in spring 2024, almost a year ago. Melton elaborated on the reasons behind the delay, 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."

Frequent franchise director Kevin Gruetert was initially attached to the project back in December 2023, with a September 2024 release date set. However, fans were devastated when the film's release was pushed back an entire year to September 2025. Many hoped this delay would enhance the story, especially following the box office triumph of Saw X. The 10th installment revitalized the franchise, earning over $120 million globally, which naturally spurred executives to greenlight Saw XI.

What makes this delay even more disappointing is that Saw XI was poised to address a highly relevant topic. Though plot details remain under wraps, Melton hinted that the storyline would echo themes from Saw VI, which he and Dunstan wrote and Gruetert directed. In Saw VI, John Kramer, aka Jigsaw (played by Tobin Bell), exacts revenge on health insurance executives.

Melton expressed hope about the film's potential impact, 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."

Given the current state of the world, it would be fascinating to see the Saw franchise revisit these themes and explore them in a new light. Unfortunately, it looks like fans may have to wait longer, or possibly forever, to see how this story unfolds.