The Saw X getting positive reviews and a great box office haul, it was rumored earlier this year that Saw XI was canceled. This followed reports that there was fighting between the movie's producers regarding how to proceed with the franchise. Lionsgate never concretely confirmed this cancellation directly, but they removed Saw XI from its release calendar, which was even further evidence of its negative fate.

The franchise recently saw an additional shake-up last week when Blumhouse acquired the rights to Saw. The horror studio now owns 50% of the franchise, with the other half of ownership still in the hands of Lionsgate. This will mean that the two companies will work together on any future Saw movies. While the exact next steps for the beloved horror franchise are yet to be revealed, one implication of the shift could change things for the better for the first time in years.

Blumhouse's New Deal For The Saw Franchise Will Bring James Wan Back

He Started The Series In 2004

Blumhouse's acquisition of Saw will finally return James Wan to the franchise. Wan was one of the original creators of the low-budget horror films back in the early 2000s. He directed the very first Saw movie in 2004, but has not returned to helm any of them since. Wan's career has advanced in many exciting ways, but it has been over two decades since he was synonymous with the Saw franchise.

After Saw, Wan went on to direct movies such as Insidious, Furious 7, and Aquaman.

In 2022, it was announced that Wan's studio, Atomic Monster, would be merging with Blumhouse. This merger was then finalized in the early days of 2024. As such, Wan is now a creative contributor to Blumhouse in an even bigger way than he was before. This means that any major acquisitions, such as the Saw franchise, will at least be in part overseen by Wan. This gives Wan a close connection with the Saw franchise now, as the series partially returns to its original hands.

James Wan Getting Involved In Saw Again Is Exciting

He's A Horror Franchise Maestro

Wan's impact on the Saw movies should not be underestimated. After Saw really got his career going in 2004, Wan launched other major horror franchises. In 2013, he directed the supernatural horror movie The Conjuring. The film was an instant hit, making $320.4 million on an estimated $20 million budget. Including spinoffs such as Annabelle and The Nun, the series as a whole has become the highest-grossing horror franchise of all time.

Wan's horror successes are not limited to The Conjuring. Wan also ventured into supernatural horror with Insidious in 2010, which was written by original Saw co-writer Leigh Whannell. In a similar manner to The Conjuring series, Insidious is now a major horror franchise, having produced five movies in total. Both franchises prove the level to which Wan can propel a horror series to success, making his return to Saw even more exciting.

What James Wan Has Said Before About Potentially Returning To Saw

It Would Take Something "Special"

So far, there has been no indication that Wan's newfound creative control over part of the Saw franchise means that he will direct again. In a November 2024 interview with celebrating Saw X's announcement back in 2022. This shows that even when Wan was separated from the franchise, he was still invested.

Though his participation in a directorial capacity has not been confirmed, these past quotes are proof that the horror master is still open to the possibility of directing another Saw movie. He does have a lot of projects in the pipeline, both as a director and producer, so that could still get in the way of him directing. However, the Blumhouse acquisition, especially after his own merger with the company, could qualify as an "extremely special" opportunity for Wan, urging him to direct once more.