You wanna play a game… Again?
Comedian Chris Rock is having a stab at horror with his reboot of the movie franchise Saw. I know, WTF.
Announced by Lionsgate on Thursday, the comedian will be working on the new films concept, with a total of eight movies in the pipeline, according to USA Today.
Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group chairman Joe Drake announced:
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.
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.
With the studio confirming that Rock’s concept would be ‘completely reverential’ to the torture-driven franchise, promising the film will benefit from his creative vision.
A bold move for a franchise that is already eight films deep. Although looking at the box office figures, we can see why.
According to Box Office Mojo, the first Saw movie released in 2004 received a worldwide gross of $103M, with the eighth instalment, Jigsaw – taking over $102M in 2017.
And with the exception of Saw VI– the rest of the franchise’s instalments have all topped $100M globally.
With the studio – and Rock – keeping tight-lipped on the new movie’s concept, it hasn’t yet been confirmed if Rock will star in the film, or whether other key characters will be returning.
But you can rest assured that it will contain ample amounts of gore and violence – and in true Saw fashion, life or death decisions, treacherous traps, cunning puzzles and suspense by the boatload.
The upcoming film, which is currently untitled, will be released in the states on October 23, 2020 – just in time for Halloween weekend.
Talking about the news, Rock said:
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.
Based on Rock’s original ideas, the screenplay for the film will be written by Pete Goldfinger and Josh Stolberg – and will be directed by Darren Lynn Bousman who’s no newbie to the franchise having previously directed three other Saw movies.
Cue the creepy doll riding in on a bicycle.
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