Occasionally, you get a headline that forces you to do a double-take. I remember back when I first heard about the horror film Get Out, I had to make sure we were talking about the same Jordan Peele of Key and Peele fame. When you think about comedians or comedic actors, horror movies aren’t really the first things that come to mind. On that note, while we knew Lionsgate was revving up to reboot the Saw franchise, I’m not sure many of us saw what was coming next.

On Thursday, Joe Drake, the chairman of Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group, made a random announcement, stating that comedian Chris Rock would be collaborating with the studio for a Saw spinoff.

“When Chris Rock came to us and described in chilling detail his fantastic vision that reimagines and spins off the world of the notorious Jigsaw Killer, we were all-in,” Drake said. He also went on to give a release date for the Saw film of October 23, 2020.

While this is being coined as a “reboot” of sorts, keep in mind it’s a reboot in name only. More than anything, it’s a spinoff set in the world already established in the 67 movies already produced. It’s a reboot in the sense that it’s rebooting the inevitable next batch of films.

RELATED – Jigsaw Writers Developing yet Another Saw Film

“Chris wants to put his own spin on the Saw franchise in the way Eddie Murphy put a completely fresh perspective on buddy-cop films with 48 Hours,” said producers Mark Burg and Oren Koules. “This new Saw is going to be an event film in the making for horror fans. It will have all of the twists and turns and hardcore layers that our fans expect directed by one of the masters of the craft, Darren Lynn Bousman. We can’t wait to get started.”

“I’ve been a fan of Saw since the first film in 2004,” Rock said. “I am excited by the opportunity to take this to a really intense and twisted new place.”

I’d make a joke at Rock’s expense, but Jordan Peele proved that generally funny actors can really light up the horror genre, so now I’m more intrigued than anything. I will say this about the Saw franchise. In spite of the low quality of some of the movies, it is a franchise that lends itself greatly to spinoffs thanks to its world-building and premise. I’m on board to see how this is handled.

But what about you? Are you as optimistic as I am about this? Let us know down below!

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SOURCE: Variety

https://variety.com/2019/film/news/chris-rock-saw-spinoff-1203216731/