After plenty of teases for its development, Saw 10 has officially been confirmed and set for a Halloween 2023 release date with a previous franchise director at the helm. Following the financially successful 2017 revival, Jigsaw, the Saw franchise continued with last year's Spiral: From the Book of Saw, a spinoff starring Chris Rock and based on a story idea from the star. Despite more mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike, the film was a modest box office success, grossing over $40 million against its $20 million production budget.
Even prior to Spiral's modest success, a Saw 10 film was confirmed to be in development at Twisted Pictures, with franchise director Darren Lynn Bousman noting it to have been premature and keeping mum on whether it would continue the story of Rock's film or the mainline series. Josh Stolberg, who penned the scripts for both Jigsaw and Spiral, has offered behind-the-scenes teases of the sequel's development over the past year, teasing that it was his favorite film in the franchise that he's written yet and teasing that fans of Tobin Bell's Jigsaw would be very pleased. Some five months after Stolberg's last update, audiences are finally getting new word on Saw 10.
The Wrap has brought word that Lionsgate is officially moving forward with Saw 10 alongside franchise producers Twisted Pictures. Kevin Greutert, who helmed the sixth and seventh installments in the franchise, is back to direct the new sequel on a script from series vet Josh Stolberg. Lionsgate has also set Saw 10 for an October 27, 2023 release date, just in time for the Halloween season.
In addition to the release date and director announcement, producers Mark Burg and Oren Koules teased that Saw 10 will include what "fans have been asking for" and that they are working with the creative team to plan a movie for franchise fans and genre lovers alike. The duo's promise seems largely in line with Stolberg's previous tease in December that Tobin Bell's Jigsaw could make his way back to the fold for the franchise, a character many have been eager to see return, even if it further convolutes the timeline of the series. With the sequel now confirmed to be moving forward, it will be interesting for fans of the franchise to see whether the 80-year-old face of the movies will be back.
Kevin Greutert's return to the director's chair for Saw 10 may come as welcome news to fans of the franchise and critics alike, given his first outing, Saw VI, still sits as the second-best-received chapter behind James Wan's original film. That being said, given the director was behind the worst-received installment in the series, Saw 3D: The Final Chapter, some may find themselves hoping that Stolberg's script combined with Greutert's direction could lead to one of the best yet. Only time will tell when Saw 10 hits theaters on October 27, 2023.
Source: The Wrap