Saw XI was meant to come out this September, but after being delayed an entire year, the horror sequel now might not even be happening at all.
In March 2025, it was reported that Saw 11 had been scrapped by Lionsgate as a result of supposed studio-level disagreements. It has now been replaced by The Strangers: Chapter 2 this September, but it might not be the end.
"They say it's Game Over. You all should know me better than that. The game is never over," said Billy the Puppet (yes, really) following the cancellation reports (via The Hollywood Reporter).
Saw X landed the highest Rotten Tomatoes rating for the series by some distance, becoming the first-ever Saw movie to get a Fresh rating. It then went on to gross $111.8 million from a reported budget of only $13 million.
It's no surprise that Lionsgate moved quickly to confirm Saw XI in December 2023, but will we ever see it? Here's everything you need to know about Saw XI.
Saw 11 potential release date: Has Saw XI been cancelled?
As mentioned above, Saw XI was meant to be released on September 26, 2025, but now no longer has an official release date.
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We've not had any confirmation from Lionsgate about whether the sequel will happen, apart from that 'statement' from Billy the Puppet.
However, co-writer Patrick Melton did confirm that the movie had "stalled at a managerial level", adding: "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."
Right now, it's unclear whether Saw 11 will ever happen, but if it does, it definitely won't be coming out this year as planned.
Saw 11 cast: Who's coming back for Saw XI?
Even before the cancellation, we didn't have any confirmed cast returns for Saw XI, but if it does happen, we can make some educated guesses.
Whether the movie continues on directly from Saw X or not (more on that in a bit), Tobin Bell will reprise his role as John Kramer. He's appeared in every single Saw movie, bar Spiral, so it'd be a major surprise to not see him.
After her excellent return in Saw X, we'd hope to see more of Shawnee Smith as Amanda Young and, if Saw 11 continues the story from the previous movie, Synnøve Macody Lund could also return as Cecilia Pederson.
Saw X's credit scene also marked a series return for Costas Mandylor as Detective Mark Hoffman, so he might also be back if the new movie is still set in the past.
Behind the scenes, Kevin Greutert was set to return as director so for now we can assume he would be back if the new movie happens. He's either edited or directed every single Saw movie, bar Spiral, so it would make total sense.
Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan had written a draft for Saw 11, so again, if it does happen, we'd expect them to still be the writers.
"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 said about their draft.
"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."
Saw 11 plot: What will Saw XI be about?
While every Saw movie has continued the convoluted timeline with retcons and revelations, there has yet to be a direct sequel for any of the Saw movies released to date, but Saw XI could break this tradition – if it happens.
Although we don't know officially what the new movie will be about, especially now it has been stalled, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Saw XI continue on directly from Saw X which, if you need reminding, took place between the first two Saw movies.
Saw X took place around three weeks after the first Saw movie, but it wasn't clear how long it took place before Saw II. There was then a six-month gap between the events of Saw II and Saw III, which started with John Kramer bedridden and in a bad way.
There's still space for Saw XI to fit chronologically before or after Saw II, and it could see Cecilia – who survived the final trap, but was left trapped in the room at the end of Saw X – come back for revenge.
That would certainly make for a different kind of Saw movie where John Kramer is being hunted, but nothing has been confirmed yet. It could also be a standalone Saw story set in the past or in the future long after Kramer's death.
Talking in December 2023 shortly after Saw XI was confirmed, producer Oren Koules hinted that it could be a direct continuation.
"Cecilia is still alive and Tobin and Shawnee are in a foreign country still. So that, to me, would be the natural place to take at least the next one," he told SFX, but stopped short of confirming this is where the new movie is set.
Hopefully if the new movie gets back on track, we'll get the first confirmed plot details for Saw XI, so watch this space.
Saw 11 trailer: Any Saw XI footage yet?
Unfortunately not and with the reported cancellation, it'll be a long while until we see the first footage of Saw XI.
The first Saw X trailer arrived in late July 2023, only two months before the movie's release in late September, so expect a similar timeline for the new movie.
Saw XI does not yet have a release date.
Movies Editor, Digital Spy Ian has more than 10 years of movies journalism experience as a writer and editor. Starting out as an intern at trade bible Screen International, he was promoted to report and analyse UK box-office results, as well as carving his own niche with horror movies, attending genre festivals around the world. After moving to Digital Spy, initially as a TV writer, he was nominated for New Digital Talent of the Year at the PPA Digital Awards. He became Movies Editor in 2019, in which role he has interviewed 100s of stars, including Chris Hemsworth, Florence Pugh, Keanu Reeves, Idris Elba and Olivia Colman, become a human encyclopedia for Marvel and appeared as an expert guest on BBC News and on-stage at MCM Comic-Con. Where he can, he continues to push his horror agenda – whether his editor likes it or not.
