In recent years, the horror genre has found a successful second wind on the big screen. Between original titles such as Get Out, A Quiet Place and Hereditary, and remakes like IT, Pet Sematary and Child’s Play, the genre is popping up around every corner. Soon the Saw franchise will join in on the wicked fun, with Chris Rock’s new take coming next summer.
The project’s director, Darren Bousman, who also helmed Saw II through IV, has provided an update on the next Saw, per his Twitter. Check it out:
Looks like that’s a wrap! It feels like a quick turnaround since it was only just announced back in May that Chris Rock had pitched a reboot to the Saw franchise. The comedian quickly convinced Lionsgate to give the green light to his idea that reimagines the horror property in “chilling detail” and “spins off the world of the notorious Jigsaw Killer.”
In a statement from Lionsgate, the studio explains the project will be “as mind bending and intense as all the previous Saw films,” along with “reinvigorating the brand with his wit, creative vision and passion for this classic horror franchise.” Chris Rock worked on the script, is executive producing and starring in the flick as a police detective investigating gruesome crimes.
Samuel L. Jackson is co-starring as the father of Chris Rock’s character. Additionally, Max Minghella (The Handmaid’s Tale, The Social Network) will play William Schenk, the partner to Rock, Riverdale’s Marisol Nichols will play his boss Capt. Angie Garza, and Ransom’s Nazneen Contractor will play a coroner he works closely with.
Darren Bousman’s post gives us very little context about what to expect from the new Saw film, besides the fact that he looks excited to have made it. The director started his career working on the franchise and helmed the three highest-grossing of the eight movies between 2005 and 2007. Since he left Saw, the franchise started to lose some steam among audiences. 2010’s Saw 3D: The Final Chapter ended (at the time) the series on a low note, and 2017’s Jigsaw garnered a mixed response.
The upcoming Saw is injecting some much-needed star power to the horror franchise with Chris Rock and Samuel L. Jackson’s involvement. It will be interesting to see what mark Rock leaves on the franchise as a well-known comedian. Is he secretly a horror genius? Jordan Peele certainly surprised Hollywood when he broke into the scary movie scene after being primarily known for his sketch comedy show Key & Peele with Keegan-Michael Key.
Chris Rock has apparently been a Saw fan since the 2004 original hit theaters. We’d expect the new Saw to have some comedic elements to it given his illustrious career, but who knows? The untitled Saw project comes to theaters on May 15, 2020.
