The horror community was left reeling this week as Lionsgate unexpectedly removed the highly anticipated Saw XI from its 2024 release calendar. This shocking development comes just months after Saw X successfully revived the franchise with both critical and commercial success, leaving fans and industry analysts scrambling to understand the studio’s sudden reversal.
A Franchise That Wouldn’t Die…Until Now?
The Saw franchise has been the ultimate horror survivor since its 2004 debut. With ten films released over nineteen years, the series became synonymous with the “torture porn” subgenre while grossing over 1billionworldwideonmodestbudgets.∗SawX∗(2023)markedaparticularlystrongcomeback,earning1billionworldwideonmodestbudgets.∗SawX∗(2023)markedaparticularlystrongcomeback,earning111 million globally and receiving the best reviews of the series since the original.
Industry insiders point to several potential factors behind Lionsgate’s decision:
- Overcrowded Horror Market: 2024 has become unexpectedly competitive in the horror space, with major releases like Smile 2, Alien: Romulus, and Wolf Man all targeting similar audiences.
- Creative Concerns: Rumors suggest the Saw XI script may have failed to meet expectations following Saw X‘s success, with test screenings reportedly yielding mixed reactions.
- Streaming Strategy Shift: Lionsgate may be reconsidering its theatrical approach as it prepares to merge with Starz, potentially eyeing a direct-to-streaming release.
Franchise Fatigue or Strategic Pivot?
The move raises questions about whether we’re seeing true franchise fatigue or simply strategic repositioning. Unlike other long-running horror series (such as Halloween or Scream) that have taken extended breaks, Saw has maintained remarkably consistent output since its inception.
Notably, this isn’t the first time Lionsgate has adjusted Saw release plans. The studio previously delayed Spiral (2021) due to pandemic concerns, and Jigsaw (2017) underwent significant reshoots before release. However, completely removing a sequel from the calendar is unprecedented for the franchise.
The Tobin Bell Factor
A key consideration is the status of Tobin Bell’s Jigsaw/John Kramer, whose surprise return in Saw X was credited as a major factor in that film’s success. At 81 years old, Bell’s ability to continue anchoring the franchise may have influenced Lionsgate’s decision-making process.
Sources indicate the studio was considering moving forward with a new killer in Saw XI, potentially explaining the hesitation. The franchise has attempted this transition before (most notably with Spiral), but never with complete audience acceptance.
Financial Realities of Modern Horror
While Saw X‘s 111milliongrossseemsimpressive,modernhorroreconomicstellamorenuancedstory.Withmarketingcostsforhorrorfilmsnowregularlyreaching111milliongrossseemsimpressive,modernhorroreconomicstellamorenuancedstory.Withmarketingcostsforhorrorfilmsnowregularlyreaching30-40 million (plus significant backend participation for key creatives), profit margins have shrunk considerably since the franchise’s heyday.
The production budget for Saw X was reportedly 13million,butinsiderssuggest∗SawXI∗wasbudgetedcloserto13million,butinsiderssuggest∗SawXI∗wasbudgetedcloserto20 million before factoring in Bell’s likely salary increase following Saw X‘s success.
Alternate Release Strategies
Several potential paths forward exist:
- 2025 Theatrical Release: The most straightforward option would be delaying rather than cancelling, allowing more development time.
- Streaming Experiment: Lionsgate could use this as an opportunity to test a hybrid release model through its Starz platform.
- Franchise Reboot: This pause might allow for a more comprehensive series reinvention rather than another direct sequel.
Fan Reactions and Industry Impact
The announcement has sparked intense debate among horror fans. Some applaud Lionsgate for avoiding rushed sequels, while others see this as mishandling of one of horror’s most reliable franchises.
The move also raises questions about the broader health of mid-budget horror franchises. With studios increasingly focused on either micro-budget breakouts or IP-driven tentpoles, the Saw series occupies an increasingly rare middle ground.
What This Means for Horror
The Saw franchise’s uncertain future reflects larger trends in the genre:
- Audiences increasingly prefer original horror concepts (Talk to Me, Barbarian) over franchise entries
- Streaming has changed audience expectations for gore and violence
- The “torture porn” subgenre has significantly declined in popularity since the franchise’s peak
Creative Team Responses
While Lionsgate has remained tight-lipped, key Saw creatives have hinted at their disappointment. Director Kevin Greutert, who helmed both Saw X and the upcoming Saw XI, recently liked several fan tweets lamenting the delay before unliking them hours later.
Producer Mark Burg offered the most substantial comment, telling a fan on Instagram: “These decisions are never easy. We’re all proud of Saw X and want to make sure whatever comes next honors that.”
Historical Precedents
This situation mirrors other horror franchise pauses:
- Halloween took 9 years off after Resurrection (2002) before Rob Zombie’s reboot
- Scream 4 (2011) underperformed, leading to an 11-year gap before Scream 5
- Hellraiser went direct-to-video for years before the 2022 Hulu revival
However, none of these involved removing an already-announced sequel from the schedule.
The Future of Jigsaw’s Game
While Saw XI may be shelved for now, the franchise’s history suggests this likely isn’t the final chapter. The series has repeatedly found ways to reinvent itself, from the original’s twist ending to Saw VI‘s healthcare satire to Saw X‘s prequel approach.
What remains clear is that in an era of content overload, even the most durable horror franchises can’t take audience interest for granted. Whether through a delayed theatrical release, streaming experiment, or complete reinvention, Jigsaw’s game will continue – just not as soon as fans hoped.
The abrupt removal of Saw XI serves as a reminder that in today’s volatile entertainment landscape, no franchise – no matter how seemingly indestructible – is truly safe from the studio’s blade.