James Wan aims to return Saw to its “psychologically scarring” origins by reducing gore in the upcoming Saw 11.
With the Saw franchise back in the hands of its original co-creator James Wan, the horror maestro is gearing up to revive its classic essence.
“I feel like I have a fresh perspective now that I’m returning to it. My goal is to recapture the spirit of the first film,” Wan shared in an interview. “I want to make this next Saw genuinely scary—not just filled with gore, but psychologically unsettling, much like what Leigh and I achieved in the original.”
Wan made his directorial debut with the first Saw film in 2004, which was penned by star Leigh Whannell and released by Twisted Pictures. The duo helped shape the narrative for the subsequent two films, but Wan admits he hasn’t been deeply involved in the franchise since the first installment. After half of the franchise was sold to Lionsgate, their involvement diminished, even though Wan remained credited as an executive producer for the next seven films.
Following that, Wan went on to create other horror franchises like The Conjuring and Insidious, seemingly leaving Saw behind. However, in 2025, Blumhouse acquired Twisted Pictures’ share of the franchise, bringing Saw back under Wan’s influence since his production company, Atomic Monster, is part of Blumhouse.
As for Wan’s vision for Saw 11, it’s clear that the series has ramped up the gore with each new release. The original film featured just one trap set by Jigsaw, focusing primarily on the psychological torment of Doctor Gordon and Adam. In contrast, Saw 10, which premiered in 2023, showcased John Kramer orchestrating seven significant traps.
“I want to respect what fans love about the franchise while introducing something fresh and new that we haven’t seen before,” Wan explained. “This next movie will be the eleventh in the series, and with so many films already out there, we need to innovate to connect with a new generation that didn’t grow up with it.”
Currently, Saw 11 does not have a release date.
