"Saw XI Stalled: Lionsgate, Producer Tensions"

It's hard to believe, but the Saw franchise appears to be hitting pause, with the much-anticipated Saw XI officially delayed and no longer set for a fall release. This isn't due to creative differences, however. According to Saw XI screenwriter Patrick Melton, speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, the project has been stalled at a managerial level. "We haven’t heard anything since May," Melton revealed. "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 handed in a draft of the script back in spring 2024, nearly a year ago. The reason for the delay, Melton explained, lies in the disagreements 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."

Originally slated for a September 2024 release, frequent franchise director Kevin Gruetert was attached to the project back in December 2023. However, the film's delay to September 2025 left fans disappointed, despite the hope that the extra time would enhance the story. This hope was fueled by the success of Saw X, the 10th installment, which revitalized the franchise by earning over $120 million globally, prompting executives to push forward with Saw XI.

What makes the delay even more frustrating is that Saw XI was set to explore a timely topic. Though specific plot details remain under wraps, Melton drew parallels to Saw VI, which he and Dunstan wrote and Gruetert directed. In that film, John Kramer, aka Jigsaw (played by Tobin Bell), targeted 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 told THR.

"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 the Saw franchise to revisit these themes, in light of current global issues, was a compelling prospect, but it seems fans may have to wait indefinitely to see how it unfolds.