Since Saw opened in theaters in October 2004, the horror series has become a pop culture phenomenon, with new entries released annually for seven years. Over the past decade, the franchise has seen multiple attempts to relaunch, including 2017’s Jigsaw, 2021’s Spiral: From the Book of Saw, and 2023’s Saw X. The franchise has generated $1.1 billion at the worldwide box office. Now, after years of development, Saw 11 is back on track as Lionsgate has hired a talented horror filmmaker to take over the series.
Deadline reports that Mike P. Nelson will direct Saw 11 from a script by Gregory Weidman and Geoff Tock. Nelson is best known for directing horror films such as The Domestics, Wrong Turn, and Silent Night, Deadly Night. His latest film, Beware Boiúna, premiered at Fantastic Fest in 2026 and will be released in theaters on October 2 through Lionsgate, the same studio behind the Saw franchise. Regarding working on Saw 11, Nelson said:
“Being asked to play in this twisted sandbox with James [Wan] is nothing short of a dream come true. Greg and Geoff and James have crafted such a wild script that brings the mystery of the original while exploring new insane bloody ideas that meld so well with the brutal moral compass of the franchise. Let the games begin!”
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Lionsgate -
Lionsgate -
Lionsgate
Saw 11 has had a difficult road to the big screen. Saw 11 (originally titled Saw XI) was set for release on Sept. 24, 2024. However, the movie was delayed to September 26, 2025. By March 2025, Saw 11 was removed from Lionsgate’s release schedule due to creative clashes between producers Oren Koules and Mark Burg. Koules and Burg will serve as executive producers on Saw 11.
James Wan, the director of the original Saw, will serve as an executive producer on Saw 11. Blumhouse Productions bought out Twisted Pictures’ stake in the Saw franchise in June 2025. This purchase grants Wan, whose Atomic Monster merged with Blumhouse in January 2024, creative control over the horror franchise he began and marks his first involvement with the series since Saw III back in 2007. About the upcoming film, Wan said:
“Making the original ‘Saw’ was a defining experience for me, so it was essential to find a director who would honor that world. Mike has a raw, distinctive filmmaking voice with an inventive approach to the genre, and I believe he’ll bring something truly unique and special to the franchise.”
Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson said regarding Wan’s return and the hiring of Mike P. Nelson:
“It speaks volumes that James Wan is passionate about returning to this franchise, and his belief in Mike evokes his own breakthrough with the original ‘Saw.’ Mike is one of the promising voices shaping the next generation of horror. He has a singular vision for this film, and we’re incredibly confident in what he’ll deliver.”
