Like a good horror villain, the Saw franchise refuses to die.
It’s been announced that the franchise is being rebooted with a new entry in 2020, and someone quite unexpected is behind its resurrection: Chris Rock. Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures have teamed up with Rock for the reboot, which he says will take the horror series to an “intense and twisted new place.”
Rock came up with the idea for the Saw reboot, and will executive produce the movie. The original creators of the franchise, James Wan and Leigh Whannell, executive produce alongside Daniel Heffner and Rock.
Directing the reboot will be Darren Lynn Bousman, who has plenty of experience with the franchise. He previously helmed Saw II, Saw III, and Saw IV. The screenplay will be written by Pete Goldfinger and Josh Stolberg, who co-wrote Sorority Row, Piranha 3D, and the last entry in the Saw series, 2017’s Jigsaw.
Of the announcement, Lionsgate chairman Joe Drake said:
“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. ‘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.”
Rock also released a brief statement, saying:
“I’ve been a fan of “˜Saw’ since the first film in 2004. I am excited by the opportunity to take this to a really intense and twisted new place.”
Mark Burg and Oren Koules, and who have produced the franchise from the start, are also back in the same roles. They said of the news:
“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.”
This is just the latest example of someone best known for their work in comedy making the jump to horror. Recently we’ve seen people like Jordan Peele jump from comedy to horror in spectacular fashion with 2017’s Get Out and this year’s Us, and Pineapple Express director David Gordon Green and star Danny McBride team up for last year’s Halloween.
It’s not yet clear if the Saw reboot will simply be called Saw, as we’ve seen happen in the past, or if it will have a different title. What we do know, is that the movie is currently scheduled for an October 23, 2020 release.
[Source: IndieWire]
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