Writer Says ‘Saw VII’ May Be Last of the Series

Published by Jeff Leins on: February 9th, 2010

Those of you who ask yourself every October “When will they stop making those Saw movies?” may finally have an answer.  Talking with a UK-based radio show (click here to listen to the entire show), Saw 4-7 co-writer Patrick Melton says the upcoming 3D sequel may be the last.

Transcribed at length by Latino Review, Melton said, “I have a very strong feeling its going to end with Saw VII. That’s something we’re debating now.”

Jigsaw actor Tobin Bell said last year he thought the series would continue until there were at least eight torturous flicks, and Melton confirms this was the plan less than a year ago.  The producers conceived two trilogies — presumably split by Jigsaw’s death at the end of the third installment — followed by the eventual finale, which would be titled Saw: Endgame.  However, Saw 6’s abysmal box office performance in 2009 may have caused an early change in plans and the seventh movie may bear the subtitle instead.

This as the studio war between Lionsgate and Paramount was just heating up.  The latter scheduled Paranormal Activity 2 on the same weekend as Saw VII (Saw 3D) and poached Saw editor-turned-director Kevin Greutert to continue their horror franchise.  Then, much to the dismay of the man in the middle, Lionsgate exercised a contractual option that brought Greutert back to gory traps and intertwined who-cares plot lines.  Principal photography started yesterday.

If Paramount keeps their aggressive release date of October 22, the showdown may wind up killing the Saw franchise forever.  Well, at least until Lionsgate reboots it.