Saw XI removed from Lionsgate’s release schedule; The Strangers: Chapter 2 will take its place

Given the drama surrounding Saw XI, it should come as no surprise that Lionsgate has removed the film from its release schedule. It was previously slated to hit theaters on September 26th, but the project has been held up for close to a year. Renny Harlin’s The Strangers: Chapter 2 will take over the date.

Given the critical and commercial success of Saw X, it was a no-brainer that the studio quickly got the ball rolling on a sequel. Kevin Greutert was slated to return to direct from a script by Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan. However, reports emerged last week that the project had been cancelled. “It’s totally dead. It’s 100% over. Almost a year now,” said the source. “Everything went sideways in January 2024 … the producers started fighting.“

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Saw XI writer hasn’t heard an update on the project since last May

Melton later added they they hadn’t heard anything about the project 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,” he said. “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. 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 reason it’s held up is just, there’s inter-squabbling between producers and Lionsgate. They just can’t quite get on the same page.“

It’s frustrating to think that one of horror’s biggest modern franchises has been scrapped (at least for now) because of the higher-ups’ bickering.

More to come…

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