"Saw XI Delayed: Lionsgate and Producer Clash"

It's a shocking turn of events for fans of the *Saw* franchise as the much-anticipated *Saw XI* has hit a significant roadblock. Initially slated for a fall release, the film's production has been stalled and will not meet its scheduled debut. This delay, however, is not due to creative differences or script issues.

According to *Saw XI* screenwriter Patrick Melton in an interview with *The Hollywood Reporter*, the project has been on hold 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," Melton explained. He and his writing partner Marcus Dunstan submitted a draft of the script in spring 2024, nearly a year ago. The crux of the delay, Melton noted, stems from "inter-squabbling between producers and Lionsgate. They just can't quite get on the same page."

Originally, frequent franchise director Kevin Gruetert was set to helm *Saw XI*, which had been given a September 2024 release date back in December 2023. However, the film faced a significant delay, pushing its premiere to September 2025. This news disappointed fans, especially after the successful run of *Saw X*, the 10th installment that revived the franchise's box office performance, grossing over $120 million globally. The success of *Saw X* had executives eager to move forward with *Saw XI*.

Adding to the frustration is the fact that *Saw XI* was poised to tackle a relevant and timely topic. Although specific plot details have not been disclosed, Melton hinted that the film would echo the themes of *Saw VI*, which he and Dunstan wrote and Gruetert directed. In *Saw VI*, John Kramer, aka Jigsaw (played by Tobin Bell), targets a group of 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 shared with *THR*. He further elaborated that the film would delve into themes similar to those in *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." Given the current state of the world, exploring these themes again would have been intriguing, yet it seems we may never get to see how *Saw XI* would have approached them differently.