Saw Franchise Rights Reportedly Moving To Blumhouse After Planned Saw 11 Fell Apart

The Saw franchise was a horror mainstay in the 2000s, and after struggling to find its footing for a period of time, Saw X brought it roaring back in 2023. The tenth installment was a financial hit and critical success, and Saw 11 was announced right on its heels. But after reported behind-the-scenes conflicts stalled development, Saw 11 was supposedly cancelled and officially removed from Lionsgate’s release calendar, leaving the franchise’s seemingly promising future in doubt.

Now, those fortunes may be about to change: Deadline reports that Blumhouse will purchase 50% of the rights to Saw from Twisted Pictures. The deal comes after an exhaustive period of negotiations between the two studios, who failed to see eye-to-eye on the direction of Saw’s future. According to the report, “there isn’t development on another movie yet,” but it’s still early in the process and Blumhouse will likely take their time to ensure that this anticipated buyout pays dividends.

Lionsgate will retain its 50% and continue to partner in the films. Notably, this deal would put the franchise back in the hands of original co-creator James Wan, whose production company Atomic Monster merged with Blumhouse in 2024. It’s unclear whether Saw X director Kevin Greutert and prospective writers Patrick Melton & Marcus Dunstan are still involved, after turning in an early draft of Saw 11 in 2024, but it’s safe to assume they’re still in the conversation.

What Blumhouse’s Acquisition Means For Saw 11

The Sequel May Finally Go Ahead As Intended

As mentioned, there has been no official announcement that Saw 11 is back on the cards, but it seems very likely. The main reason behind these studio conflicts was the creative direction of the franchise, so it would be surprising if Blumhouse didn’t act on their preferred vision now that they have total control. Saw X was widely recognized as the best Saw movie in a long time, so Lionsgate and Blumhouse will probably want to continue this success into the future.

Saw 11’s cancellation was disheartening news for multiple reasons; not only is James Wan’s horror franchise one of the longest-running and most beloved properties to come out of the past few decades, but it also represents a brand of gritty, independent horror that’s getting made less and less frequently with every passing year. It would be a huge shame if Wan and Blumhouse went through all this trouble just to leave the series dead.

Our Take On Blumhouse’s Acquisition Of Saw

The Horror Franchise Is Back In Safe Hands

Blumhouse has proven itself to be a very capable and reliable studio over the past few years, with movies like The Black Phone and The Invisible Man representing a very specific brand of fresh, innovative horror. Saw will definitely be safe in their hands, and the involvement of James Wan in the acquisition deal proves that they’ve got the series’ best interests at heart. It’s too early to say what Saw 11 will look like, if it happens at all, but this news should leave fans optimistic about the sequel.