James Wan aims to bring the fear back to John Kramer in Saw 11, delving into Jigsaw’s philosophy and motivations.

Good news for Saw enthusiasts! It looks like Tobin Bell’s infamous character, John Kramer, will be making a comeback in Saw 11, as franchise creators James Wan and Leigh Whannell share insights about the next installment.

Wan recently hinted at this during a discussion, stating, “Leigh and I aren’t going to reveal too much, but we believe you can’t have a Saw movie without Jigsaw. That’s the bottom line.” He emphasized their desire to return to the essence of what made the original film compelling, focusing on Jigsaw’s philosophy and motivations.

This is a relief for horror fans who were worried that the series might move away from Bell’s character, especially after the 2021 film, Spiral. Wan remarked, “I still blame Leigh for killing off Jigsaw, because it’s really tough to create future Saw movies without him.”

Whannell chimed in, noting, “He did have cancer, by the way.” While it was Jeff Denlon, one of Jigsaw’s victims, who dealt the final blow in Saw 3, Kramer was already facing terminal cancer at that time. Subsequent films either featured flashbacks or were set before his death to keep the character alive, with the exception of the 2021 release.

It seems that Wan and Whannell’s vision for Saw 11 will bring Jigsaw back to his chilling roots. In the original film, which marked Wan’s directorial debut, Kramer feigned death during a bathroom trap, allowing him to observe his victims’ desperate attempts to escape. Wan expressed a desire to recapture that terrifying essence, stating, “He’s a scary guy in the first one, and we want to return to making a genuinely scary Saw movie again, with that omnipresent feeling that Jigsaw had in the first film.”

There are also hints that Wan may take on directing duties for Saw 11, as the franchise returned to his control last year when Blumhouse acquired half the rights. However, solid details about the upcoming film are still under wraps. Regardless of who directs, Wan assures fans that they will deliver what they love about the franchise while also introducing something fresh and innovative.

As of now, Saw 11 does not have a confirmed release date.