James Wan talks about the possibility of returning to direct another “Saw” movie

James Wan, the renowned horror director behind the famous “Saw” franchise, shared his thoughts on the series in a recent interview with People.

When asked about the possibility of returning to the franchise, Wan was cautious, stating, “I would never say never, but it would have to be something really special for me to come back. Right now, I’m involved in so many other projects that are very meaningful to me. I’d rather focus on them and see those projects come to fruition before revisiting something from the past”.

The director also revealed that had he stayed in charge of the franchise, he would have taken a different approach on some aspects: “But that’s why I’ve never been critical of the direction the franchise has taken”, he commented.

Wan praised the directors who took over the series, as well as Lionsgate, for continuing to successfully expand the “Saw” universe: “Everyone has done an excellent job pushing the franchise forward and continuing to produce so many films. Kudos to them for knowing what to do and where the story needed to go”, he said.

Despite the success, Wan admitted to having some reservations about the first film: “I don’t see anything perfect about that movie. The production of ‘Saw’ was literally a daily struggle to achieve things I couldn’t. So, even though the movie and the franchise are a comfort to many, as a filmmaker, I can’t help but notice everything I couldn’t accomplish”, he explained. “I think that’s how we are as artists: we don’t see the glass half full, but half empty”, he added.

Wan also spoke about the positive reception of the first Saw: “But of course, people loved it. Now, with time, I can look at the movie in a more positive light than I did back then”.

Finally, he expressed his gratitude: “I’m grateful, maybe, for the size of the budget, because it forced me to be as creative as possible”.

It’s worth noting that Saw was produced with a budget of only US$1.2 million and grossed over US$109 million at the box office. Additionally, the 11th film in the saga is already in production and will bring back Tobin Bell in the iconic role of John Kramer/Jigsaw.

In a recent interview with The Los Angeles Times, Bell revealed that his character’s story is far from over and he’s excited to continue exploring it: “I’m really excited to keep developing him. John Kramer isn’t finished. There’s more to be discovered about him”.

The next Saw installment is set to be released on September 26, 2025.