TheSawfranchise just got a major change, and it could just be the best thing to happen to the franchise in years. DespiteSaw Xgetting positive reviewsand a great box office haul,it was rumored earlier this year thatSaw XIwas canceled.This followed reports that there was fighting between the movie’s producers regarding how to proceed with the franchise. Lionsgate never concretely confirmed this cancellation directly, but they removedSaw XIfrom its release calendar, which was even further evidence of its negative fate.
The franchise recently saw an additional shake-up last week whenBlumhouse acquired the rights toSaw. The horror studio now owns 50% of the franchise, with the other half of ownership still in the hands of Lionsgate. This will mean thatthe two companies will work together on any futureSawmovies. While the exact next steps for the beloved horror franchise are yet to be revealed, one implication of the shift could change things for the better for the first time in years.
Blumhouse’s New Deal For The Saw Franchise Will Bring James Wan Back
He Started The Series In 2004
Blumhouse’s acquisition ofSawwill finally return James Wan to the franchise.Wan was one of the original creators of the low-budget horror films back in the early 2000s. He directed the very firstSawmovie in 2004, but has not returned to helm any of them since. Wan’s career has advanced in many exciting ways, but it has been over two decades since he was synonymous with theSawfranchise.
AfterSaw, Wan went on to direct movies such asInsidious,Furious 7, andAquaman.
In 2022, it was announced that Wan’s studio, Atomic Monster, would be merging with Blumhouse. This merger was then finalized in the early days of 2024. As such,Wan is now a creative contributor to Blumhousein an even bigger way than he was before. This means that any major acquisitions, such as theSawfranchise, will at least be in part overseen by Wan. This gives Wan a close connection with theSawfranchise now, as the series partially returns to its original hands.
James Wan Getting Involved In Saw Again Is Exciting
He’s A Horror Franchise Maestro
Wan’s impact on theSawmovies should not be underestimated. AfterSawreally got his career going in 2004,Wan launched other major horror franchises.In 2013, he directed the supernatural horror movieThe Conjuring. The film was an instant hit, making $320.4 million on an estimated $20 million budget. Including spinoffs such asAnnabelleandThe Nun, the series as a whole has become the highest-grossing horror franchise of all time.
Wan’s horror successes are not limited toThe Conjuring. Wan also ventured into supernatural horror withInsidiousin 2010, which was written by originalSawco-writer Leigh Whannell. In a similar manner toThe Conjuringseries,Insidiousis now a major horror franchise, having produced five movies in total.Both franchises prove the level to which Wan can propel a horror series to success, making his return toSaweven more exciting.
What James Wan Has Said Before About Potentially Returning To Saw
It Would Take Something “Special”
So far, there has been no indication that Wan’s newfound creative control over part of theSawfranchise means that he will direct again. In a November 2024 interview withPeople,Wan said that it “would have to be something extremely special"for him to come back to direct anotherSawmovie. He has, however, shown consistent enthusiasm towards the franchise,celebratingSaw X’s announcementback in 2022. This shows that even when Wan was separated from the franchise, he was still invested.
Though his participation in a directorial capacity has not been confirmed, these past quotes are proof that the horror master is still open to the possibility of directing anotherSawmovie. He does have a lot of projects in the pipeline, both as a director and producer, so that could still get in the way of him directing. However, the Blumhouse acquisition, especially after his own merger with the company,could qualify as an “extremely special” opportunity for Wan, urging him to direct once more.
