Saw’s Billy the Puppet Breaks Silence on Reports That It’s “Game Over” for the Franchise

Contrary to speculation, it appears that the Saw franchise isn’t about to end just yet. According to The Hollywood Reporter (THR), conflicts behind the scenes regarding Saw XI caused the project to relinquish its scheduled release date on September 26th, with The Strangers – Chapter 2 taking over that timeframe instead. However, Billy the Puppet, who is synonymous with Jigsaw, issued a statement through Lionsgate that was reported by THR, stating, “I’ve heard the rumors. They say it’s Game Over. But you should know me better than that. The game never ends.

Earlier reports suggested that one of ‘Saw XI’s writers, Patrick Melton, mentioned internal conflicts or “inter-squabbling,” adding that these issues are occurring at a management level and have no influence on the creative aspect or anything else; higher-level matters are said to be involved. The revelation of such creative disagreements within ‘Saw XI’ comes as somewhat unexpected given the swift pace at which the Saw series used to release films in its prime, along with the franchise making a significant comeback with 2023’s ‘Saw X’. However, Billy the Puppet’s recent statement indicates that ‘Saw XI’ continues to be a priority for Lionsgate.

The “Saw” movie series kicked off in 2004, serving as the first feature film for director James Wan and solidifying the duo (himself and Leigh Whannell, who co-wrote and starred in the film) as significant forces in Hollywood’s horror genre. The “Saw” films held a strong presence during the Halloween season from 2004 to 2010, with the franchise wrapping up in 2010 with “Saw: The Final Chapter.” However, despite the series ending and the death of main character John Kramer (Tobin Bell) in “Saw III” in 2006, the “Saw” franchise was revived. This resurrection began with the release of “Jigsaw” in 2017, followed by a spin-off titled “Spiral” in 2021, and most recently, “Saw X” in 2023.

The Saw series is famously recognized for ruling the “torture porn” segment within horror movies. It presents John Kramer, or Jigsaw, a terminally ill engineer who constructs lethal traps to evaluate the determination of his victims to survive. These deadly contraptions often force their occupants to perform gruesome acts of self-harm or risk losing their lives. The objective behind these traps, as portrayed by Kramer, is to instill a profound appreciation for life in his subjects. Characters such as Dr. Lawrence Gordon (played by Cary Elwes) and Amanda Young (Shawnee Smith) are among those who have endured Jigsaw’s traps and later chose to support him in his mission.

In a remarkable turn of events, movie X refreshed the Saw franchise and was highly acclaimed within the series. Set between Saw and Saw II, this installment, known as movie X, follows Kramer’s journey to Mexico in search of a cancer cure from an isolated group of doctors. Unfortunately, he realizes too late that the operation was a sham. Along with Amanda, Kramer then forces the deceptive medical team to endure another grueling game. It appears that movie XI is planned to continue the medical storylines initiated in Saw VI and movie X, as producer Mark Melton shared with The Hollywood Reporter, “Movie XI might or might not be produced, but we have a very relevant story in it, and I hope it gets made due to its timeliness.” Melton has reportedly compared the plot of Movie XI to that of Saw VI.

Regardless of the hurdles faced by Saw XI, it’s not surprising that Lionsgate is keen to ensure everything is properly arranged for Jigsaw’s next move, following the rejuvenation of the franchise with Saw X. Just as Jigsaw forewarned his associate Detective Mark Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) in Saw IV, “You think it’s over because I am dead? It’s not over. The games have just begun.” Given the chilling similarity between Billy the Puppet’s message and that of Jigsaw, it appears that the game is far from over for Saw XI.

Stay tuned for updates on the future of the Saw franchise.

2025-03-25 18:40

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