The Future of 'Saw XI' Remains Uncertain as Writers Concede Project is 'Stalled'
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Synopsis
The future of 'Saw XI' is uncertain, as the project is reportedly stalled due to managerial issues between producers and Lionsgate. Writers Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan have not received updates since presenting a draft in spring 2024, raising concerns among fans about the next installment in the horror franchise.
Key Takeaways
- 'Saw XI' project is currently stalled.
- Screenwriters have not received updates since May 2024.
- Director Kevin Greutert aims for a September 2024 release.
- Producers are not aligned with Lionsgate on the project.
- Potential storyline ideas for a sequel are already in discussion.
Los Angeles, March 18 (NationPress) The 'Saw' film franchise may seem unsettling to many, yet a segment of the audience revels in this genre of cinema. Nevertheless, the latest update regarding the 11th installment of the series might leave its fans feeling uneasy.
The development of the newest chapter in the enduring horror series has "stalled", with no progress reported for screenwriting partners Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan since they delivered a draft in spring 2024, according to 'Female First UK'.
Melton, who has been associated with the franchise since the 2007 release of 'Saw IV', informed 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".
Studio Lionsgate confirmed in December 2023 that Kevin Greutert, who directed 'Saw X' that same year, was set to direct with the intention of a September 2024 release.
According to 'Female First UK', this release has been delayed by a year, leaving the future of the upcoming film uncertain.
Melton expressed, “'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. 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”.
He noted that the producers and the studio simply aren't "on the same page".
He elaborated, "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".
The last film, 'Saw XX', featured Tobin Bell returning as the notorious killer Jigsaw, also known as John Kramer, along with Shawnee Smith reprising her role as his apprentice Amanda Young. In November 2023, Greutert discussed the potential for a sequel and mentioned that ideas for a possible storyline were already brewing.
He remarked on 'The Director's Cut - A DGA Podcast', "There's a version that picks up immediately where this one leaves off, but it's way too early to tell".
However, he clarified to The Hollywood Reporter the previous month, “We’ll just have to see what the future of 'Saw' is. There are so many directions we could go, but for me, there’s no obvious one coming out of this film. I really wanted it to feel like a kind of final send-off for the Jigsaw character, but never say never”.
In December that year, Lionsgate officially declared plans for the next film, featuring a Saw-style backdrop with Roman numerals indicating a release date of September 27, 2024.
