More Alive Than Dead — But Is That Really Living? 'Saw 11' Is Happening, But Don’t Celebrate Yet
Here’s everything we know about one of the most anticipated horror films.
In 2023, the Saw franchise unexpectedly came back to life when Saw X proved that even an old horror machine can still squeeze out something fresh. Critics gave the film an 80% rating on Rotten Tomatoes — the best score in the franchise’s history. Fans were thrilled: John Kramer returned, the bloody games once again had more to them than just torture, reflecting twisted morality, and a compelling new antagonist — Cecilia — was introduced.
It seemed like the future of Saw looked promising. But alas, this is Saw, not a Disney ride — and the carnage happens off-screen as much as on it.
Saw 11: It started with hope
Right after the success of Saw X, producers rushed to announce a sequel. The original plan was for Saw 11 to release in September 2024, but it was later pushed to September 2025. The script was prepared by Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan — franchise veterans who had worked on it since the sixth installment. Kevin Greutert, who directed Saw X, was set to return as director, and Tobin Bell was ready to reprise his iconic role as the Jigsaw Killer. Everything was ready — except the producers.
The battle for Saw: Internal drama at Lionsgate
In March 2025, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Saw 11 had been officially put on hold — not due to script issues or casting, but because of a severe conflict between producers and Lionsgate management. Screenwriter Melton confirmed that a draft had been completed back in spring 2024, but for nearly a year, the project had been at a standstill. Inside the studio, a real-life 'game of survival' was unfolding — with no clear rules and no way out.
The problem ran so deep that a full franchise reboot was even being considered — if negotiations completely broke down. Some sources went so far as to say the franchise was half-dead, and only a miracle could bring it back to life.
Plot: The hunt for Jigsaw
Although plot details were kept under wraps, some information did leak. Saw 11 was supposed to directly continue the events of Saw X. At the center of it all was Cecilia, the fraud and charlatan who survived one of Kramer’s deadly games. She wasn’t planning to learn from her mistakes — she wanted revenge. It would have been an interesting twist: instead of the usual traps and moral lectures, the audience would witness a hunt for John Kramer himself.
The idea promised to break the franchise’s usual formula: where once Kramer punished others, now someone was deliberately coming after him. Saw 11 might have shown, for the first time, what it’s like for the Jigsaw Killer to be on the receiving end of his own twisted philosophy. All this could have unfolded alongside the deepening relationship between John and Amanda — a central dynamic that audiences loved in Saw X.
Hope for a rebirth
In June 2025, unexpected — and genuinely good — news arrived. The rights to the franchise were acquired by Blumhouse, a studio known for making cheap but effective horror films. What’s more, James Wan, director of the original Saw (2004), was returning to the project. He hadn’t been involved in directing since then, but now he seemed ready to get back in the director’s chair — or at least take on a creative role.
Lionsgate still retains 50% control and will remain a partner, but now the process will be led by a studio that knows how to breathe life into old ideas. This could mean a return to the roots — or a bold reboot — especially considering the prolonged production crisis and a change in creative leads: Josh Stolberg and Peter Goldfinger, who wrote previous entries, are confirmed not to be returning.
What’s next?
At this point, Saw 11 in its original form is canceled. But the idea of a sequel lives on — only now it will be a new project, possibly with a different title, plot, and approach. It’s unclear whether Blumhouse will continue the story of Cecilia and the events following Saw X, or opt for a clean slate.
One thing is certain: Saw isn’t dead. It just found itself caught in one of its own deadly traps.
