We told you first that Blumhouse is buying Twisted Pictures‘ share of the prospective rights of Saw. That deal, led by CAA Evolution, has now closed.
As we previously reported, this puts the future of Saw back in the hands of its architect James Wan, whose Atomic Monster merged with Blumhouse last year. Wan directed the seminal first film, which was written by co-creator Leigh Whannell.
Blumhouse now officially has the shares of future films previously owned by producers Oren Koules and Mark Burg. Lionsgate remains a 50% economic interest in the IP which spans ten movies grossing over $1 billion worldwide, as well as comic books, video games, theme park attractions, toys, masks and clothing. The studio will continue to be a partner on the property and distribute movies.
Now, as far as the library goes, Content Partners has acquired a stake in the existing library alongside Mark Burg’s continued retained share. Lionsgate also has a piece of the Saw library.
“With the success of the tenth film, this felt like the right time to pass the baton. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built with Lionsgate over the past 20 years and deeply grateful to the fans who’ve been with us since the beginning. It’s especially meaningful to see the franchise return to its original creators, James and Leigh, and I can’t think of a better partner than Jason to lead Saw into its next chapter. On a personal note, I know the late Gregg Hoffman, my original partner on this journey, would be so happy with this ending,” said Koules.
“Twenty-one years ago we met James Wan and Leigh Whannell and financed the first Saw movie. The film was magical, and a hit beyond our wildest dreams, and our fans kept the franchise alive for over 20 years. It’s been an amazing ride and, with the recent passing of our beloved executive producer, Jason Constantine, it’s time for me to move on and tell new stories. Saw will always be a part of my history and Hollywood history, and I hope Jigsaw and the Saw Universe live on for many more movies and years to come. Lastly, I’d like to thank all the amazing actors, crew, and Lionsgate executives who have worked with us on 10 movies over the past 20 years — none of this could have happened without you all. We wish James, Leigh and Jason huge success with the continuation of the franchise,” said Burg.
“Saw holds a special place in my heart—it’s where Leigh and I began our Hollywood journey. Coming back to this world with a fresh perspective is both thrilling and deeply personal. For me, this will mark a significant creative return to the Saw franchise for the first time since the early days, and I’m very much looking forward to embracing the original spirit whilst pushing the legacy forward in bold, unexpected ways,” said Wan.
“The Saw franchise has defined a generation of horror, and its cultural impact continues to grow, making this a strategic investment in one of the most recognizable and successful genre properties of the last two decades. But what really excites me about bringing Saw to Blumhouse is having James and Leigh back in the fold and to see the future of the franchise come to life with their guidance,” said Blumhouse CEO and founder Jason Blum.
Added Adam Fogelson, Chair of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, “Over the course of ten chilling and thrilling Saw films, Oren and Mark have been outstanding partners, producers, and stewards of this billion-dollar franchise which has played a massive role in Lionsgate history. As they pass the baton to James – whose direction started it all – and to Jason and the team at Blumhouse, Billy couldn’t be in more gifted or twisted hands. Game on.”
