Lionsgate and Blumhouse Atomic Monster have tapped Mike P. Nelson to direct the next installment in the $1 billion “Saw” franchise. Original co-creator James Wan and Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chair Adam Fogelson made the joint announcement.
Nelson, who recently directed Lionsgate’s upcoming “Beware Boiúna,” steps into a project written by Gregory Weidman and Geoff Tock (Dune: Prophecy, Below). Original creators Wan and Leigh Whannell return to produce alongside Jason Blum.
“Making the original ‘Saw’ was a defining experience for me, so it was essential to find a director who would honor that world,” said Wan. “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.”
Nelson is no stranger to legacy horror IP. His credits include the 2021 “Wrong Turn” reboot, the recent “Silent Night, Deadly Night” reimagining, and the short film “Sweet Revenge” (which brought Jason Voorhees back to life).
“Being asked to play in this twisted sandbox with James is nothing short of a dream come true,” said Nelson. “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!”
Launching at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival, the original “Saw” spawned the longest-running continuous theatrical horror franchise in history without relying on remakes or timeline resets. With Wan returning to the franchise as producer, the next film will reunite the creative team behind the franchise that launched the careers of the most disturbed minds in horror.
Mark Burg, Oren Koules, Stacey Testro, Michael Clear, and Judson Scott serve as executive producers, with Alayna Glasthal and Sarah Paek overseeing for Atomic Monster.
