Blumhouse in Talks to Buy "Saw" Franchise from Twisted Pictures

Blumhouse is in talks to acquire part of the long-running horror franchise “Saw”.

Blumhouse is in the midst of a deal to take over the ownership stake of Saw from Twisted Pictures, the banner run by Oren Koules and Mark Burg. Twisted co-owns the rights with Lionsgate, which has distributed the films since releasing the first film in 2004.

If a deal is made, it would bring the franchise back into the hands of James Wan, the filmmaker who directed that movie and created the franchise with co-writer Leigh Whannell.

Blumhouse, run by Jason Blum, merged with Wan’s production banner, Atomic Monster, in early January 2024.

The talks between Blumhouse and Twisted began last year but broke down earlier this year.

A sale price was one of the big sticking points.

Made for only $1.2 million, Saw became one of the most profitable horror movies of all time when it opened to $18.2 million domestically and earned $104 million worldwide.

Home entertainment was equally massive (this was the DVD era, after all) and a franchise, that encompassed 10 movies as well as merchandising, video games, and more, followed.

The last entry in the franchise, “Saw X” was released in 2023 and earned $112.2 million worldwide. An 11th movie was in the works but stalled out.

While it is unclear what the plans for any new stories would entail — more movies? a series? — but the deal is the latest in a growing number that have creatives or filmmakers own, partially or entirely, their creations.

Koules and Burg reportedly financed most of Saw’s budget after first seeing Wan and Whannel’s short film. Wan, off the success of Saw, went on to create or co-create the Insidious horror franchise and The Conjuring horror universe.

Saw

Saw