One of the most popular and longest-running modern horror franchises is the Saw series. Starting back in 2004, these films kicked off a subgenre of gory, torture-filled films like Hostel. However, the Saw franchise outlasted all the imitators thanks to a strong fan following of its intricate storyline across eight films.
While there is a reboot to the series coming with Spiral, it is an intriguing exercise to think about how the franchise would have looked if it were made today. Taking a look at the most significant characters across the entire franchise, these actors seem to be good fits if the Saw series were cast anew.
Detective Tapp: Ving Rhames
Detective Tapp appeared in only the first Saw film. He was played by Danny Glover, probably the biggest name associated with this project. Tapp was a determined homicide cop who relentlessly hunts down the mysterious serial killer known as Jigsaw, only to be killed by Jigsaw decoy Zep.
Ving Rhames is just the kind of intimidating presence needed for this sort of role. He is known for a range of movies like Pulp Fiction and the Mission: Impossible franchise, and could easily play the no-nonsense cop in this film.
Detective Allison Kerry: Cobie Smulders
Though she was featured in the first three Saw films, Detective Allison Kerry never really got much spotlight in this franchise. She was a cop helping Tapp and later Eric Matthews with their Jigsaw investigations before she became a victim of one of his traps.
Cobie Smulders has had a pretty impressive career thus far, best known as Robin Scherbatsky on How I Met Your Mother and Nick Fury's loyal ally Maria Hill in the MCU. She can really stand out as the serious authority type and Stumptown let her show off her detective skills.
Jill Tuck: Jennifer Anniston
Jill Tuck was introduced in Saw III and it is revealed that she is John Kramer's ex-wife. The loss of their son ends up being what spurs John into becoming Jigsaw. Jill's role gradually grows throughout the franchise, eventually taking on Mark Hoffman in the later films.
Though she is mostly known for her comedic roles, it might be interesting to see Jennifer Anniston in a role like this. Though it begins as a worried wife role, it becomes something much more compelling.
Daniel Rigg: Jovan Adepo
In Saw II and Saw III, Daniel Riggs is nothing more than a secondary cop helping Eric Matthews and Allison Kerry. However, Riggs becomes the central character in Saw IV. He is another cop who becomes obsessed with the Jigsaw case and his obsession leads him down a deadly path.
Jovan Adepo is quickly becoming one of the most impressive actors working today. While he's had standout roles in Fences and Homecoming, it is his Emmy-nominated role as Will Reeves/Hooded Justice in Watchmen that makes him seem ideal for this part.
Adam Stanheight: Steven Yeun
Though he only really appears in the first film, Adam is one of the most important characters in the Saw franchise. He is one of two men trapped in the cellar and forced to play Jigsaw's twisted game in the very first film. He is also played by the screenwriter of the first film. Leigh Whannell.
Steven Yeun has perfected the scared senseless performance with his role as Glenn on The Walking Dead. His subsequent work has proven that he is an actor of incredible range and he could bring a lot to a role like this.
Eric Matthews: Timothy Olyphant
Former New Kids on the Block member Donnie Wahlberg took on the role of Eric Matthews in Saw II. Matthews is a violent and short-tempered cop who discovers his son has been captured by Jigsaw.
Though he doesn't have the boy band history, Timothy Olyphant would be a perfect fit for Matthews. He has received a lot of acclaim for his various lawman roles and even played a Deputy U.S. Marshal with anger issues in the excellent series, Justified.
Mark Hoffman: Shea Whigham
One of the more controversial figures in the Saw franchise has been Mark Hoffman. He is first introduced as another cop on this twisted case who is sucked into one of the deadly traps. However, it is eventually revealed he is John Kramer's protégé taking over the role of Jigsaw.
Shea Whigham might not be a household name, but he has the same intimidating silent demeanor that was used for the character of Hoffman. He could have made Hoffman a more compelling and threatening villain.
Amanda Young: Emilia Clarke
Amanda Young is introduced in the first Saw film in one of the franchise's most infamous traps — the reverse bear trap. After she escapes, she becomes a student of John Kramer and helps him with his mission in Saw II and Saw III.
Given the arc her character took in Game of Thrones, it would be fascinating to see Emilia Clarke in this role. She could bring a lot to the part of a victim who is inspired to follow a darker path.
Dr. Lawrence Gordon: Sterling K. Brown
Lawrence Gordon is very much the main character of the first film. Along with Adam, he finds himself locked in a cellar with his leg shackled and only a handsaw to free himself. Cary Elwes originated the role and returned for Saw 3D.
Sterling K. Brown is the kind of actor who could bring the gravitas and depth to a character like this which could in turn elevate the whole movie. He has that leading man quality and is the kind of intense performer whom the audience would follow through a horror film.
John Kramer: Morgan Freeman
Tobin Bell will always be iconic as John Kramer, aka Jigsaw. Though his existence was a big mystery in the first film, he was constantly the highlight of all of the sequels. His memorable voice and sermon-like dialogue made the character a horror legend.
Who better to provide the foreboding voice of the horror franchise than one of the most famous voices in the world? Hearing Morgan Freeman deliver the instructions for those traps would be effective and seeing him in a serial killer role would be a refreshing change of pace.