For two decades, the Saw franchise has carved its place in horror cinema with grisly traps, morally twisted lessons, and the relentless presence of Jigsaw. While the franchise has had its highs and lows, one fact remains: it all began with a low-budget, high-concept 2004 thriller co-written and directed by James Wan.
Now, the filmmaker is hinting at a return to the world that launched his career. Additionally, this time, he has a clearer vision to honor its legacy while steering it toward new territory. So, if Wan’s words are any indication, the next chapter of ‘Saw XI’ might still deliver.
James Wan On Returning To ‘Saw’
Speaking in an interview with SR, James Wan reflected on the strange feeling of revisiting the very franchise that launched his career. Despite having stepped away after the original film, Wan has remained connected to Saw as a producer and occasional story contributor. Still, the idea of directly shaping its future again carries special weight for him. “It’s a bit early to talk about it, but needless to say, it’s one that I am very excited about,” Wan admitted.
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“I really haven’t had much to do with the franchise since the very early days. I’m not taking this very lightly at all. I definitely want to find a way for the next movie to be respectful of what fans love about the franchise, whilst finding a new audience for it.” That balance between legacy and reinvention seems to be at the heart of his plan. “It’s a 20-year-old franchise,” Wan added. “I do think finding a fresh start to some degree is important, while still staying true to the world that we have created.”
His words strike a hopeful chord for fans who felt ‘Saw X’ breathed new life into the series. Released in 2023, the tenth entry was both a critical and commercial success. It was the best-rated installment to date. Set between the first two films, it explored John Kramer’s trip to Mexico in a desperate attempt to find a cure for his cancer, only to discover a fraudulent medical scheme that led him to unleash his vengeance.
The movie’s emotional core, driven by Tobin Bell’s chilling return as Jigsaw, proved that audiences still crave Saw’s signature blend of psychological horror and moral reckoning. Yet, Wan’s acknowledgment that the franchise needs “a new start” suggests that he isn’t content to recycle past formulas simply. Fans can expect him to bring his signature touch to craft something that honors Jigsaw’s twisted philosophy.
The Franchise Is Stuck In Development Hell
While Wan’s comments hint at excitement, the path to ‘Saw XI’ has been anything but smooth. Development for the film stalled in January 2024 due to disagreements between longtime producers Oren Koules and Mark Burg. By March, the project was officially removed from Lionsgate’s release calendar, leaving fans disheartened. Koules later revealed to ComicBook that the scrapped script was designed to pick up immediately after the events of ‘Saw X’.
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“The script we had was going to take place 30 seconds after Saw X ended,” he said. However, creative disagreements derailed the process. “Mark and I had a difference of opinion about how Saw 11 would be,” Koules explained. “It’s really too bad. Inter-squabbling between producers and Lionsgate is what ultimately cancelled the film.” The shakeup paved the way for Blumhouse to acquire the Saw franchise rights from Twisted Pictures.
In many ways, the move represents a full-circle moment. Not only does Blumhouse have a track record of revitalizing horror franchises, but its founder, Jason Blum, has frequently collaborated with James Wan on other successful projects. With Wan regaining creative control, the prospect of him returning as both writer and director for ‘Saw XI’ feels more likely than ever.
