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

It's hard to believe, but the Saw franchise might be taking an unexpected break. The highly anticipated Saw XI, which was set to thrill fans this fall, has been officially delayed. According to recent updates, the film will not meet its original release schedule.

This delay isn't due to creative disagreements. Patrick Melton, the screenwriter for Saw XI, shared 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, alongside his writing partner Marcus Dunstan, submitted their script draft in spring 2024, nearly a year ago. The hold-up stems from, as Melton explained, "inter-squabbling between producers and Lionsgate. They just can’t quite get on the same page."

Back in December 2023, frequent franchise director Kevin Gruetert was set to helm the project, which was initially slated for a September 2024 release. However, fans were disappointed when the release was pushed back to September 2025. This news came after the success of Saw X, the 10th installment, which revitalized the franchise by earning over $120 million worldwide. The strong performance had executives eager to move forward with Saw XI.

What adds to the frustration is that Saw XI was poised to tackle a relevant contemporary issue. While specific plot details remain under wraps, Melton hinted that the story would resonate with themes similar to those in Saw VI, which he co-wrote with Dunstan and was directed by Gruetert. In Saw VI, the iconic John Kramer, aka Jigsaw (played by Tobin Bell), targeted health insurance executives in a narrative of vengeance.

"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. He further elaborated, "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 explore these themes again, in light of current global issues, would have been fascinating. Sadly, it appears we may never see this vision come to life.