"Saw XI" seems to be teetering on the brink of existence. According to The Hollywood Reporter, there has been "zilch progress" on the forthcoming sequel since scriptwriting duo Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan submitted their draft in the spring of 2024. "We've been in the dark since May," remarks Melton, the screenwriter of "Saw XI" who has been an integral part of the franchise since "Saw IV" in 2007. "It's hit a managerial snag. It's got nothing to do with creativity or anything else; it's higher-up politics at play."
In late December 2023, Lionsgate announced that Kevin Greutert, a staple of the franchise, would helm "Saw XI" for a September 2024 release. However, the studio eventually pushed the date a year forward to September 26, 2025. Greutert directed "Saw X," which breathed new life into the series when it premiered in September 2023 and raked in $112 million worldwide. It remains uncertain whether he's still attached to "Saw XI," and Lionsgate declined to comment on the matter.
Melton underscores that "Saw X" was a success and boasts that the team has a concept for the next film that they're immensely proud of. They intended to tackle a pressing issue, albeit one that hasn't been disclosed to the public yet. The writer compares the premise of the new project to the relevance of "Saw VI," released in 2009, wherein health insurance executives were targeted by John Kramer, alias Jigsaw (Tobin Bell). This topic regained prominence earlier this year following the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
"Whether 'Saw XI' gets made or not remains to be seen, but we have a timely narrative that we're excited about, and I hope it sees the light of day solely for that reason," Melton says. "It taps into the same themes as 'Saw VI,' where you're an ordinary citizen feeling angry and frustrated about something, helpless, and John Kramer steps in to do what you can't."
Elaborating on "Saw XI," Melton adds, "The reason for the delay is sheer infighting between the producers and Lionsgate. They just can't seem to get on the same wavelength."
Reflecting on the previous films, Melton remembers that critics received "Saw VI" favorably, but it suffered at the box office due to "Paranormal Activity" releasing a month prior. "'Saw VI' was the one that got cut short because of 'Paranormal Activity,' which was ironic because it was the best-reviewed one [at the time]," he reminisces. "It was the first one that resonated with many critics because it tackled healthcare. The production was smooth sailing, despite the challenge of churning out a 'Saw' movie every year."
Mark Burg, a veteran producer of the "Saw" franchise that debuted with director James Wan's 2004 original, points out to THR that he oversaw not only "Saw VI" but also the similarly themed "John Q" in 2002. Denzel Washington's thriller revolves around a father who turns to crime after failing to cover his son's medical bills. "Jigsaw goes after someone who refuses to provide him with insurance," Burg says of "Saw VI." "So, I guess I have a two-for-two streak."
As it happens, Melton and the deceased United Healthcare CEO Thompson attended college together at the University of Iowa. "We were at Iowa at the same time, so we graduated the same year in 1997," recalls the writer, noting that while they knew each other, they weren't close friends. "I can attest that Brian was pretty ordinary at school. He drank Bud Light and was a decent guy."
