"Saw XI Delayed: Lionsgate and Producer Clash"

The Saw franchise has hit a major roadblock, and fans may have to face the possibility of no Saw XI in the near future. Despite the massive success of Saw X, which revitalized the series with over $120 million at the global box office, the upcoming eleventh installment has been officially stalled—derailing its planned fall release.

According to Saw XI screenwriter Patrick Melton, the delay isn’t due to creative shortcomings. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Melton revealed, “We haven’t heard anything 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 and his longtime collaborator Marcus Dunstan submitted their script draft in spring 2024, nearly a year ago, and have been left in limbo ever since.

The root of the issue? Internal disputes. “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. This behind-the-scenes conflict has effectively put the project on ice, despite director Kevin Gruetzer—frequent franchise veteran—being attached since December 2023.

Originally slated for a September 2024 release, Saw XI was pushed back a full year to September 2025, leaving fans disappointed. Many had hoped the delay was to enhance the film’s narrative, especially following the critical and commercial triumph of Saw X. But now, with no clear movement, uncertainty looms over the film’s future.

Adding to the frustration is the film’s potentially powerful premise. While official plot details remain under wraps, Melton teased that Saw XI would echo the socially charged themes of Saw VI, which he co-wrote and which focused on corporate greed—specifically targeting 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.

He continued, “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.” Given today’s climate of social and political unrest, the story could have resonated deeply with audiences—making the current deadlock all the more disheartening.

For now, the fate of Saw XI hangs in the balance, caught not in creative limitations, but in executive gridlock. Whether Lionsgate and the producers can reconcile their differences—and whether fans will ever see this timely chapter unfold—remains to be seen.