The promise that John Kramer will continue to wreak havoc as the Jigsaw killer inSaw 11is a huge relief after the disappointment of his supposed replacement earlier in the franchise. AfterSaw Xbecame the best-reviewedSawmovie ever madeand a hit at the box office, the franchise is bigger than ever. Set for a theatrical release on July 02, 2025,Saw 11is the most highly anticipatedSawfilm in years, and that’s a lot of pressure to live up to.
Tobin Bell’s latestSaw 11updateis a positive sign for the upcoming sequel. Apart from being touted as a direct sequel toSaw X, the details ofSaw 11are being kept under wraps. That said, in a recent interview,Bell promised that “John Kramer is not done,” suggesting he’ll be back inSaw 11. Previously, the cliffhangerending ofSaw Xseemed to suggest that the franchise would be repeating one of its biggest past mistakes in a future installment. Thankfully, that won’t be the case.
John Kramer Returning For Saw 11 Confirms He’ll Still Be Active As Jigsaw
Tobin Bell Is Back, And So Is The Jigsaw Killer
Bell’s promise that Kramer is “not done” and that he’ll beback forSaw 11suggests that he’ll continue to be the series’ primary Jigsaw killer.Saw 11would’ve been made infinitely less exciting if someone else was going to take up the mantle of Jigsaw, with the actor retiring from the role.Making aSawmovie without Kramer is as futile as making aHalloweenmovie without Michael Myersor aNightmare on Elm Streetmovie without Freddy Krueger.Sawjust doesn’t work without him.
Saw Thankfully Isn’t Replacing John Kramer With Mark Hoffman Again
Saw Has Never Worked Without John Kramer
In the past, theSawfranchise has experimented with replacing Kramer withdifferent Jigsaw killers. They have been presented as his apprentices following in his footsteps, but they have never been anywhere near as compelling as Kramer.Bell’s mesmerizing, nuanced performance as Kramer has always elevated theSawseries above standard torture pornby giving him a human personality and somewhat understandable motivation. It has never worked with anyone else who tried to fill those huge shoes.
Saw 11’s Release Delay Proves The Franchise Learned The Right Lessons After $111 Million Hit
After the critical and commercial success of 2023’s Saw X, Lionsgate is taking its time releasing another entry in the long-running horror franchise.
TheSawfranchise’s first attempt in earnest to replace Kramer was when the producers brought in former police officer Mark Hoffman to succeed him as the new Jigsaw killer. Sadly, that didn’t work at all, asHoffman doesn’t have the moral complexity or dramatic nuance that made Kramer such a captivating villain.Hoffman’s appearance in the final scene ofSaw Xseemed to suggest he would be replacing Kramer once again inSaw 11, which was concerning. Thankfully, Bell’s comments have confirmed that won’t be the case.
