‘Saw’ to Switch Studios as Blumhouse Strikes Horror Deal

It seems like the Saw franchise may have found a new home. As first reported by Deadline, Blumhouse is acquiring the rights to Twisted Pictures’ share of the long-running horror series, effectively bringing the grisly IP under the wing of the studio behind Paranormal Activity, The Black Phone and The Purge. Lionsgate, which owns the other half of the franchise, will remain involved as a producing partner.

The move marks a seismic shift for the Saw brand, which began in 2004 with a low-budget psychological thriller directed by James Wan and co-written by Leigh Whannell. That debut spawned a multi-billion-dollar franchise comprising ten films, various spin-off media, and no shortage of Halloween merchandise and haunted house attractions. It also helped define a certain flavour of early-2000s horror, dubbed “torture porn” by critics but embraced by audiences eager for something more brutal and confrontational than the ghost stories dominating multiplexes at the time.

According to Deadline, the acquisition brings James Wan back into proximity with the series he helped launch. Wan’s Atomic Monster recently merged with Blumhouse in a deal that effectively creates a modern horror juggernaut. While Wan has remained attached to the Saw films as an executive producer, this development suggests he may have a more active role in shaping the next chapter.

The timing is significant. Saw X, directed by franchise veteran Kevin Greutert, delivered a stronger-than-expected box office in 2023, grossing over $112 million worldwide. An eleventh film was quickly announced and slated for release in September 2025, but behind-the-scenes tensions reportedly derailed production. Writers Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan had completed a draft, and Greutert was expected to return. However, creative disagreements between Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures brought the project to a standstill.

With Blumhouse now stepping in to replace Twisted’s role, the stalled plans for Saw XI may yet be revived under a new vision. While no new instalment is officially in development, the studio’s track record suggests it won’t be long before Jigsaw returns. Blumhouse has consistently found commercial success reviving dormant horror properties, most recently with Halloween and The Exorcist.

If the acquisition does lead to Wan’s increased creative involvement, the Saw series could be steered back toward its more psychological and concept-driven roots, rather than the increasingly elaborate mythology and body-count escalation that came to define the later entries.

Lionsgate and Blumhouse have yet to issue formal comments on the acquisition or plans for future instalments. For now, the deal signals a potent alignment between one of horror’s most bankable franchises and a studio synonymous with genre success.

Whether or not Jigsaw’s next game is already in motion remains to be seen, but the pieces are certainly back in play.

Saw trailer