It's hard to believe, but the Saw franchise is facing an unexpected pause. The much-anticipated Saw XI, originally slated for a fall release, has been officially stalled. This delay isn't due to creative differences but rather managerial issues, as confirmed by Saw XI screenwriter Patrick Melton in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. "We haven’t heard anything since May," Melton stated. "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 writing partner Marcus Dunstan submitted a draft of the script back in spring 2024, nearly a year ago. The hold-up, according to Melton, stems from "inter-squabbling between producers and Lionsgate. They just can’t quite get on the same page."

The project initially had frequent franchise director Kevin Gruetert attached and was set for a September 2024 release. However, fans were disappointed when the film's release was pushed back an entire year to September 2025. This delay came despite the success of Saw X, the 10th installment, which revitalized the franchise by earning over $120 million globally during its theatrical run. This success had executives eager to move forward with Saw XI.

Adding to the frustration, Saw XI was poised to tackle a timely topic. While specific plot details remain under wraps, Melton drew parallels to Saw VI, which he co-wrote with Dunstan and was directed by Gruetert. In Saw VI, John Kramer, aka Jigsaw (played by Tobin Bell), targets 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.

"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." The potential for Saw XI to revisit these themes in today's context would have been fascinating, but it seems we may never get to see it come to fruition.