It's hard to believe, but the iconic Saw franchise is facing an unexpected pause. The much-anticipated Saw XI has been officially delayed and will not hit theaters this fall as originally planned. This news comes as a shock to fans eagerly awaiting the next chapter in the chilling series.

The delay isn't due to creative issues, according to Saw XI screenwriter Patrick Melton. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Melton shared, "We haven’t heard anything since May. 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 co-writer Marcus Dunstan submitted their script draft back in spring 2024, and the project has been in limbo ever since. The core issue, Melton revealed, stems from disagreements between the producers and Lionsgate: "The reason it’s held up is just, there’s inter-squabbling between producers and Lionsgate. They just can’t quite get on the same page."

Originally set for a September 2024 release, frequent franchise director Kevin Gruetert was attached to the project. However, the film's release was pushed back to September 2025, leaving fans disheartened. This delay came despite the strong performance of Saw X, the 10th installment, which revitalized the franchise by earning over $120 million globally during its theatrical run.

Adding to the disappointment, Saw XI was poised to tackle a relevant and timely theme. While specific plot details remain under wraps, Melton hinted that the film would resonate similarly 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), targeted health insurance executives. Melton expressed hope for the project's continuation, stating, "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 elaborated on the thematic parallels, saying, "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." Given the current global climate, it would have been fascinating to see how the Saw franchise would explore these issues again, albeit in a fresh way. Unfortunately, it appears that fans might have to wait longer, if not indefinitely, to see how this story would unfold.