20 Upcoming Horror Movies That Could Save Franchises

Now, in fairness, Saw X did a pretty damn fantastic job of resurrecting the beloved franchise, given that it scored series-best reviews and grossed a mighty $125 million worldwide.

Saw XI was quickly announced, but development stalled for the next two years due to disagreements between producers. 

This was only resolved when Blumhouse acquired a stake in the Saw IP last June, at which point Saw XI was re-announced, with original creator James Wan confirmed to be creatively involved.

Given that Wan and co-creator Leigh Whannell only worked on the first three Saw movies, it's certainly encouraging to have one of them back, especially with Wan claiming he wants to make a Saw film that's "scary" like the original.

But the elephant in the room, ultimately, is original star Tobin Bell, who, while an undeniable icon and key figure in the series' success, turns 84 years of age this summer. And while it's possible that Bell appears in Saw XI, Wan is surely smart enough to try to build a future for Saw beyond Bell. 

If James Wan can do that, while hearkening back to the more psychological intensity of the original Saw, he could deliver one of the series' strongest installments while charting a path for long-term success.