Earlier this year, following the success of the tenth entry in the franchise and subsequent collapse of a potential eleventh, it looked like the games were over for the Saw series. That is, until horror giant Blumhouse came aboard, acquiring prospective rights from previous owners Twisted Pictures.
Due to Blumhouse's recent merger with Wan's Atomic Monster, this acquisition also brought Saw co-creators James Wan and Leigh Whannell back on board with the franchise they helped kickstart all the way back in 2004, leaving fans to speculate of just how much of a hand Wan, who clearly has the magic touch with franchises if The Conjuring and Insidious are anything to go by, will have in Saw‘s future. The good news? According to Blumhouse head honcho Jason Blum, he'll be back onboard in a big capacity.
In a new cover story interview with Variety, Blum breaks down his creative vision for the Saw series going forward:
It’s really hard to make 10 movies in a franchise — I don’t take that away from the original series’ producers. And I’m grateful to them for allowing us to continue. My creative outlook is what I always preach: Get the people who made the magic in the first place more involved. James Wan will be hugely involved. That’s how we’re going to reinvent it.
Back when the deal was first announced, Wan expressed his excitement at returning to the franchise that put his name on the map as one of modern horror's biggest players:
“Saw holds a special place in my heart—it’s where Leigh and I began our Hollywood journey. Coming back to this world with a fresh perspective is both thrilling and deeply personal. For me, this will mark a significant creative return to the Saw franchise for the first time since the early days, and I’m very much looking forward to embracing the original spirit whilst pushing the legacy forward in bold, unexpected ways,”
So there you have it, folks – not only is Saw not dead, the creator himself is back on board to steer the ship in a new direction. Stay tuned for updates as they roll in.
