Are you ready to play a game? Again? But in a new way? This time with Chris Rock?
Breaking news in the horror world is that Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures is wanting to bring a fresh imagination to one of their highest grossing and gory franchises with the help of comedian Chris Rock.
“When Chris Rock came to us and described in chilling detail his fantastic vision that reimagines and spins-off the world of the notorious Jigsaw Killer, we were all-in,” said Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group chairman Joe Drake. “Saw is one of the highest grossing horror franchises of all-time and it’s one of Lionsgate’s most successful film series. This upcoming film will still be as mind bending and intense as all the previous Saw films. Chris conceived this idea and it will be completely reverential to the legacy of the material while reinvigorating the brand with his wit, creative vision and passion for this classic horror franchise.”
This next SAW is being pegged as a “re-imaging”, and will be directed by Darren Lynn Bousman, who helmed the first three sequels following James Wan and Leigh Whannell‘s pop culture phenomenon.
“I’ve been a fan of Saw since the first film in 2004,” said Chris Rock. “I am excited by the opportunity to take this to a really intense and twisted new place.”
After Blumhouse and Miramax recently had box-office success of $254M-plus with a re-awakened Halloween by the unlikely comedy duo of Danny McBride and David Gordon Green, could we see the same success with help from Chris Rock? Will he star or play an on-screen role?
The film will be produced by longtime SAW producers Mark Burg and Oren Koules, and executive produced by Chris Rock, long-time SAW executive producer Daniel Heffner and the original creators of SAW, James Wan and Leigh Whannell.
“Chris wants to put his own spin on the SAW franchise in the way Eddie Murphy put a completely fresh perspective on buddy-cop films with 48 Hours. This new SAW is going to be an event film in the making for horror fans. It will have all of the twists and turns and hardcore layers that our fans expect directed by one of the masters of the craft, Darren Lynn Bousman. We can’t wait to get started,” said Burg and Koules.
I am a fan of the first few films of the SAW franchise but lost interest over time. I don’t know how I feel about Chris Rock being attached seeing I haven’t like, well, anything he has ever done, but this has at least piqued my interest.
Stayed tuned for casting news which should start coming out soon with a October 2020 release date. Will Tobin Bell return as the original big bad Jigsaw? What are your thoughts horror fans?
