Why ‘Saw XI’ Was Canceled Before Blumhouse Bought the Franchise Rights

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The upcoming Saw XI initially generated a lot of excitement, with the possible return of Jigsaw, Saw X director Kevin Greutert back at the helm, and seasoned writers Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan crafting the story. However, Oren Koules and Mark Burg, the original producers and creators of the Saw franchise through Twisted Pictures, unexpectedly abandoned the project and decided to sell the company they had built over twenty years. While financial difficulties might have played a role, Saw was a passion project for them. Here’s our understanding of the reasons behind their decision to cancel Saw XI and then sell their most significant asset.

Why Was ‘Saw XI’ Cancelled?

As a big fan of the Saw franchise, I was really bummed to hear what happened with Saw XI. It sounds like trouble started way back in January 2024 when the people making the movie just couldn’t agree on where to take the story. Everything kind of stalled, and then there were worries about whether Tobin Bell was up for another physically demanding role. We didn’t get any news for a whole year, and then someone close to the production finally confirmed my fears – the movie is completely dead. They said it’s been over for almost a year now, which is just really disappointing to hear.

While fans eagerly awaited news about the future of the Saw franchise, a surprising announcement arrived: Saw XI was cancelled, and Twisted Pictures was selling the rights to the entire series. Blumhouse Productions, led by Jason Blum, won the bid and now co-owns the hugely successful films, TV shows, and video games with Lionsgate.

The sequence of events unfolded just as people remembered at the time. While there were likely behind-the-scenes negotiations, and much of the detail surrounding the deal isn’t important, the key takeaway is that Blumhouse now owns the Saw franchise. However, the question remains: what about Saw XI led the previous owners to sell? Despite working on the series for over two decades, the project appeared troubled from the start. James Koules later explained to Fangoria why Saw XI was ultimately cancelled:

My partner and I disagreed about the latest Saw movie, but the timing felt right to move on. We sold everything related to the franchise – the recent film, the previous ten movies, all the extra materials, the theme park ride, the escape rooms, everything. It’s been difficult, and while part of me is sad, I also feel relieved to be finished with it all. I’ve dedicated 21 years to Saw, and now I’m ready to pursue other storytelling opportunities.

Ultimately, it appears Saw XI was scrapped before Blumhouse took over due to creative exhaustion. Mark Koules and Oren Burg, who had collaborated successfully for two decades, simply reached a point where they couldn’t continue. Adding to this, Saw X proved to be a big hit with both audiences and critics—a welcome surprise given the mixed reception of earlier Saw films. Following up on Saw X with another strong installment felt too risky for the original producers, so they decided not to move forward.

Will Blumhouse Productions Make ‘Saw XI’?


Lionsgate

As a big horror fan, I’m really glad to hear the future of Saw looks secure! It’s such a relief knowing the rights issues are sorted out – we won’t be waiting forever for a new installment while everything gets settled in court. Jigsaw will be back, which is awesome, but now everyone’s wondering if Jason Blum will give the green light to Saw XI. Fingers crossed, because I’m definitely hoping for more!

I’ve always been fascinated by how Leigh Whannell approaches projects, and I recently read an interview where he talked about Saw XI. He actually admitted he’s intentionally avoided asking Tobin Bell (Jason) what his vision for the next film is! Apparently, the deal included the script, and he doesn’t want to accidentally give away any ideas that Jason might want to use. What’s really interesting is that Leigh understands Jason’s bigger goals. He knows Jason really wants to own the creative properties he works on – like being able to expand into video games, something he couldn’t do with franchises like Paranormal Activity. It’s clear Jason wants full control and the ability to build out these worlds in all sorts of ways, and Leigh is very aware of that.

As a huge Saw fan, I’ve been following the whispers about Saw XI, and things aren’t looking promising. The producer, Koules, hasn’t revealed the initial plans, and he’s not confident that Jason Blum will stick to them. It’s been a while now, and even though Blumhouse is busy with other films, the lack of any news about the Saw franchise is a bit worrying. Honestly, it feels like Saw XI – the sequel we were all hoping for, and which would have likely brought back Jigsaw/Kramer – is probably never going to happen.

Is the ‘Saw’ Franchise Due for a Full Reboot?


Lionsgate

Maybe the key to bringing the Saw franchise back to life was obvious all along. While 20 years isn’t a long time for a reboot, it’s hard to imagine another way to restart the series. Tobin Bell’s age is a significant concern, and using flashbacks to manipulate the timeline feels like an easy way out. John Kramer needs to find someone to carry on his work, and according to producer Jason Blum, that’s exactly what they plan to do – completely reimagine the concept.

The Saw movies are getting a fresh start. This won’t be another side story like Spiral; instead, it’s a complete reboot designed for today’s viewers. While the old plot twists don’t really work anymore, Blumhouse is confident they can revive the horror series quickly. Although Saw XI would have continued the story of the popular villain, it would have been difficult to match the success of the previous films. It’s best to consider that project canceled and focus on what’s next. And, to avoid disappointing fans, it’s time to remove that Instagram post about it.

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2025-11-21 15:36