Saw XI Canceled: Is the Franchise Dead?
Differences behind the scenes are the reason for this
Thanks to the huge success of "Saw X", it was announced shortly after its release in 2023 that "Saw XI" would follow. However, it now looks more likely that we won't get to see the movie. The industry magazine The Hollywood Reporter and the genre portal Bloody Disgusting unanimously report considerable complications in the production.
Originally, "Saw 11" was supposed to be released in cinemas in 2024. After a postponement to 2025, the disappointing news now comes that things are looking bad regarding the film's release. According to Bloody Disgusting's source, the project is "totally dead" and "100% over". Apparently, this has been the case for quite some time. The root of the problem is said to involve the film's producers. Significant differences between the producers had already caused complications in January 2024.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, long-time "Saw" screenwriter Patrick Melton states that the problems are not to be found within the film's creative team. He submitted a draft script back in spring 2024, but no progress has been made since then. Instead, Melton has heard nothing from the management since May 2024. He claims that the complications are due to differences between the movie's producers and the studio Lionsgate.
However, the author seems not to have fully come to terms with "Saw XI" just yet. He still hopes that the movie will be released at some point. But what the current situation means for the future of the franchise is still unclear. Bloody Disgusting's source believes it is possible that the franchise could be sold. However, this would mean a new beginning for the series.
Movie Recommendations for "Saw" Fans
Modern horror cinema was greatly inspired by the "Saw" film series. Since the first film in 2004, directed by James Wan and written by Leigh Whannell, the series has left its footprint on the horror landscape. Here we take another look at some of the films that have been influenced by the "Saw" series and provide film recommendations for all fans of the saga.
"The Collector" (2009) - Deadly Traps in the Style of "Saw"
"The Collector" is a horror film that bears many similarities to the "Saw" movies, both in its concept and in its depiction of extreme traps. The story revolves around a thief who breaks into a house, only to find that the owner of the house is a psychopathic murderer who has littered the building with gruesome traps. As in "Saw", the victims are forced into a seemingly hopeless situation and the tension arises from the question of who will survive.
"The Collector", like "Saw", relies on claustrophobic tension and brutal traps to create horror. The moral dilemmas and the game between life and death are also a central theme that connects the movies.
"The Purge" (2013) - A Dark Look at Morality and Violence
In "The Purge", one night a year is made possible in which all crime is legal. A family must fight for survival on this one night. The movie is not just a thriller, but also a political parable about morality, society and the lure of violence.
As in "Saw", "The Purge" is also about moral dilemmas and the question of how people act in extreme situations. The threat of a violent environment is another theme that made "Saw" popular and is continued in "The Purge". The movie was followed by several sequels, including the most recent one, "The Forever Purge".
"Escape Room" (2019) - Puzzles and Deadly Games
"Escape Room" is a horror movie that puts a group of people in a situation where they have to solve deadly puzzles in order to survive. In the movie, escape room participants are involved in real-life, deadly traps involving tricky puzzles and dangerous challenges.
The influence of "Saw" is unmistakable here, especially the combination of psychological games and physical threats. As in "Saw", the characters have to make difficult decisions and stand their ground against an overpowering threat that they can only defeat through teamwork and intelligence.
"The Belko Experiment" (2016) - Survival Drama and Moral Dilemmas
In "The Belko Experiment", 80 employees of a company are locked in a high-rise building and forced to prove themselves in a deadly game. They are instructed to kill each other in order to survive. The film deals with the theme of human nature under extreme pressure.
"The Belko Experiment" picks up on the "Saw" dynamic by placing the protagonists in a deadly situation in which they are confronted with life and death decisions. The idea that an invisible "game master" sets the rules is reminiscent of the "Jigsaw" killer and his manipulative methods in the "Saw" films.
