The plot details and timeline for Saw XI emerged despite the film’s stalled development. The Saw franchise gained new life with Saw X, featuring Tobin Bell’s return as John Kramer. The film received critical acclaim, earning the series its first “Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and was a box office hit, grossing over $125 million on a $13 million budget.
Anticipation built for the next installment, Saw XI, originally set for release on September 27, 2024, and later delayed to September 26, 2025. However, in August 2024, production halted, leading to the film’s cancellation. Saw producer Oren Koules has now shared insights into what the canceled film might have included.
In an interview with ComicBook, Koules mentioned a “difference of opinion about how Saw 11 would be” between him and Twisted Pictures co-founder Mark Burg, calling it “really too bad.” Koules further discussed what Saw XI would have entailed:
“We had everybody in, including Synnøve [Macody Lund] returning from Saw X. She’s amazing. The script was set to start 30 seconds after Saw X ended.”
Koules revealed that Saw XI was intended to begin just seconds after Saw X ended, featuring the return of Cecilia Pederson (Lund) and Mark Hoffman (Costas Mandylor). Unfortunately, creative differences led to the film’s stall. During this period, Blumhouse bought a stake in the Saw rights from Twisted Pictures, which Koules described as a transfer of leadership.
What This Means for Saw XI
The cancellation of Saw XI doesn’t mean the end of the franchise but marks a significant transition for the series. Koules’ concept aimed to continue the story immediately after Saw X, drawing on its post-credit scene to capture the franchise’s earlier intensity. However, creative differences halted progress.
Saw XI’s cancellation, rooted in creative disagreements rather than quality or financial reasons, suggests there is still strong interest in the franchise, especially with Saw X’s 81% Rotten Tomatoes score. With Blumhouse and the original creators involved, there is a real chance to revive elements of the Saw XI script.
Our Take on Saw XI’s Plot Details
The canceled Saw XI held potential to elevate the franchise in a way few horror series achieve after ten entries. Its immediate continuation of Saw X could have followed Cecilia Pederson, one of the few to outwit John Kramer’s traps. Koules’ plot details and a “very timely” script would have explored Kramer targeting scammers and insurance providers, offering the kind of grounded, morally complex horror that distinguished the early films. Though we won’t see this storyline in Saw XI, Blumhouse’s involvement bodes well for the franchise’s future.
