Lionsgate Removes Saw XI From Schedule, Adds The Strangers: Chapter 2

Lionsgate has undated Saw XI and put The Strangers: Chapter 2 in its place. THR reports that the studio has removed the planned eleventh film in the Jigsaw horror franchise from its September 26th released date. The decision comes after co-writer Patrick Melton revealed that the sequel had stalled out and made “zero progress” since May 2024 due to “inter-squabbling between producers and Lionsgate.”

In the film’s place, the studio put the second film in the new Strangers trilogy in the same September 26th release date. The second chapter follows last year’s The Strangers: Chapter 1 released in May and has grossed $48 million against a $8.5 million.

Lionsgate gave THR a tongue-in-cheek statement from the Saw puppet Billy which read, “I’ve seen the rumors. They say it’s Game Over. You all should know me better than that. The game is never over.”

The Strangers: Chapter 2 is again directed by Renny Harlin and stars Madelaine Petsch, Gabriel Basso, and Ema Horvath. It will pick up after the events of the first film, with Petsch’s Maya having ended up in the hospital after the events of Chapter 1 and still under threat from the assailants who attacked her and her boyfriend. A third film in the trilogy is also set to release an an unspecified date.