The Saw franchise is officially coming home. In a move that has horror fans buzzing, the series is now in the hands of Blumhouse. And they’ve managed to do the impossible. They are bringing original creators James Wan and Leigh Whannell back into the fold for Saw XI.
The duo recently appeared at a special legacy screening of their 2004 breakout hit at Sundance. And the energy was electric. While nothing is set in stone yet, the rumor mill is spinning fast. Word is, the franchise creators might even return to the director’s chairs.
Back to Basics (But With a Twist)
While chatting with Bloody Disgusting in Park City, Wan and Whannell got candid about where the franchise is headed. If you were worried that the next chapter would follow the path of Spiral and distance itself from the core lore, you can officially breathe a sigh of relief.
James Wan made it very clear: “It’s definitely not Spiral.” He also joked about the creative corner they painted themselves into years ago. “I still blame Leigh for killing off Jigsaw,” Wan laughed, “because it’s freaking hard to try and make any future Saw movies without him!”
Whannell’s defense? “He did have cancer, by the way.”
The Return of the “Scary” Jigsaw
The bottom line for the creators is simple: you can’t have Saw without Jigsaw. They want to move away from the “soap opera” traps of later sequels and return to the psychological roots of the original film.
Here is what the team is aiming for with the eleventh installment:
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Jigsaw’s Philosophy: Focusing on what actually makes John Kramer tick.
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Pure Terror: Bringing back that “omnipresent” sense of dread from the first movie, where Jigsaw felt like an unstoppable, terrifying force in the shadows.
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Fresh Blood: While they want to honor the legacy, Wan’s “pitch” is to give fans something totally new that hasn’t been seen in the previous ten films.
Why It Matters
By bridging the gap between nostalgic terror and fresh ideas, Blumhouse is clearly trying to revitalize the IP for a new generation while keeping the “OG” fans happy. It sounds like they are trading the convoluted timelines for the raw, gritty tension that made the bathroom scene iconic in the first place. Saw XI is shaping up to be the homecoming we’ve been waiting for. We’ll keep you posted as more news comes to light.
In the meantime, here’s where you can watch the franchise:
Currently, your best bet for a binge is Hulu. It carries Saw I through VII, as well as the spinoff Spiral: From the Book of Saw. Head to Peacock for the most recent entry, Saw X.
