Saw XI Stalled Amid Tensions Between Lionsgate and Producers

The future of Saw XI remains uncertain as the next installment in the long-running horror franchise has been stalled due to managerial disputes between Lionsgate and the film’s producers. Initially slated for a September 2024 release, the film’s delay has left fans speculating about its fate, with no clear resolution in sight.

Patrick Melton, one of the screenwriters for Saw XI, revealed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that the film has made “zero progress” since he and writing partner Marcus Dunstan submitted a draft in the spring of 2024. “We haven’t heard anything since May,” Melton stated. “It’s stalled at a managerial level. It has nothing to do with the creative or anything else. There are higher-level things at play.”

While creative disputes have been a common obstacle in Hollywood productions, the delay of Saw XI appears to stem from internal conflicts between the franchise’s producers and Lionsgate executives. “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,” Melton explained.

The delay follows the surprising success of Saw X, which rejuvenated the franchise upon its release in September 2023, earning over $120 million at the global box office. Kevin Greutert, who directed Saw X, was confirmed to return for Saw XI when it was first announced in December 2023, but his current involvement remains unclear. Lionsgate has not responded to inquiries about his status or the project’s overall progress.

Though official plot details for Saw XI have not been disclosed, Melton hinted that the film’s story tackles timely social issues, much like Saw VI did in 2009. That installment, also written by Melton and Dunstan and directed by Greutert, focused on Jigsaw’s revenge against corrupt health insurance executives.

“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,” Melton said. “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.”

This thematic angle gained further relevance following the recent murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, although there is no direct connection between the real-world event and the film’s plot. Melton, who attended college with Thompson at the University of Iowa, acknowledged their past acquaintance but emphasized that they were not close friends.

Fans who had anticipated a continuation of the franchise after Saw X’s financial and critical success now face an indefinite wait. With the film’s original release pushed to September 2025 and no movement on the project, the question remains whether Saw XI will move forward or remain stuck in development.