It's hard to believe, but the Saw franchise appears to be taking an unexpected break. The much-anticipated Saw XI has been officially delayed and will not be hitting theaters this fall as initially planned. However, this isn't due to creative differences. According to Saw XI screenwriter Patrick Melton in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the project has been stalled at a managerial level. "We haven’t heard anything since May," Melton stated. "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, along with his writing partner Marcus Dunstan, submitted a draft of the script back in the spring of 2024, nearly a year ago. The hold-up, Melton explained, is due to "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 Greutert was attached to the project in December 2023. Fans were devastated when the film was pushed back an entire year to September 2025. Many hoped the delay was to refine the story, especially following the success of Saw X. The 10th installment had revitalized the franchise, pulling in over $120 million worldwide during its theatrical run, fueling excitement for Saw XI among executives and fans alike.
What makes the delay even more disappointing is that Saw XI was set to tackle a relevant and timely topic. While specific plot details remain under wraps, Melton hinted that the film's themes would echo those of Saw VI, which he and Dunstan wrote and Greutert directed. In Saw VI, John Kramer, aka Jigsaw (played by Tobin Bell), exacted revenge on 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 shared with THR. He elaborated that the film would explore similar themes to 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." It would have been intriguing to see the Saw franchise revisit these themes and how they might adapt them to reflect current global issues — but it seems we might never get that chance.
