"Saw XI Stalled: Lionsgate and Producer Tensions"

It's a shocking turn of events for fans of the iconic horror franchise, but it's official: the much-anticipated Saw XI has been put on hold and will not meet its scheduled fall release. This unexpected halt in production has left enthusiasts disappointed, as they were eagerly awaiting the next installment following the successful run of Saw X.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the delay isn't due to creative disagreements. Screenwriter Patrick Melton revealed, "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 and his writing partner Marcus Dunstan handed in a script draft back in spring 2024, yet progress has been halted by what Melton describes as "inter-squabbling between producers and Lionsgate. They just can’t quite get on the same page."

Originally, frequent franchise director Kevin Gruetert was set to helm Saw XI, with a planned release in September 2024. However, fans faced a setback when the film's release was postponed by a full year to September 2025. The hope was that this additional time would enhance the storytelling, especially given the strong performance of Saw X, which revitalized the series by raking in over $120 million worldwide.

Adding to the disappointment, Saw XI was poised to tackle a contemporary issue. Though specific plot details remain under wraps, Melton drew comparisons to Saw VI, which he co-wrote with Dunstan and was directed by Gruetert. In Saw VI, John Kramer, aka Jigsaw (played by Tobin Bell), targeted health insurance executives. Melton expressed his hope for the film's eventual release, stating, "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 elaborated on the thematic parallels to Saw VI, saying, "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 revisit these themes in a modern context was intriguing, but with the current production standstill, fans may never see this vision come to life.