The SAWfranchise is now in the hands of Blumhouse Atomic Monster, with the company recently acquiring the rights from Twisted Pictures. Franchise creators James Wan and Leigh Whannell will be helping to “guide the future of the franchise” alongside Blumhouse and Lionsgate, and a brand new installment in the film series is now on the way.
Bloody Disgusting has learned this afternoon thatMike P. Nelson, director of Lionsgate’s forthcoming Beware Boiúna, will helm the next film in the billion-dollar SAW franchise.
Nelson will direct the untitled SAW film, which is written by Gregory Weidman & Geoff Tock (Below, Dune: Prophecy) and produced by James Wan, Jason Blum, and Leigh Whannell. Executive producers are Mark Burg, Oren Koules, Stacey Testro, Michael Clear, Judson Scott. Alayna Glasthal and Sarah Paek are the executives overseeing the film for Atomic Monster.
James Wan said in a statement, “Making the original Saw was a defining experience for me, so it was essential to find a director who would honor that world. Mike has a raw, distinctive filmmaking voice with an inventive approach to the genre, and I believe he’ll bring something truly unique and special to the franchise.”
Mike P. Nelson added, “Being asked to play in this twisted sandbox with James is nothing short of a dream come true. Greg and Geoff and James have crafted such a wild script that brings the mystery of the original while exploring new insane bloody ideas that meld so well with the brutal moral compass of the franchise. Let the games begin!”
Lionsgate’s Adam Fogelson said, “It speaks volumes that James Wan is passionate about returning to this franchise, and his belief in Mike evokes his own breakthrough with the original Saw. Mike is one of the promising voices shaping the next generation of horror. He has a singular vision for this film, and we’re incredibly confident in what he’ll deliver.”
Wan of course directed the originalSAW, written by and starring Whannell, but it’s been a long time since Wan and Whannell have been directly involved with the franchise. SAW III way back in 2006 was the final film to have major involvement from the duo, with Whannell writing the screenplay based on an idea from he and Wan. The idea for that movie was to effectively end the SAW franchise, with the third installment killing off both Jigsaw and Amanda. Of course, that bold decision ended up having no real impact on the franchise’s future viability.
Stay tuned for more on Mike P. Nelson’s untitled SAW movie as we learn it.
Mike P. Nelson made his feature debut withThe Domestics back in 2018, going on to direct Wrong Turn (2021),Silent Night, Deadly Night (2025) and the upcoming Beware Boiúna.
Nelson also directed the Jason Universe short film, Sweet Revenge.
