While horror fans were left devastated by the cancellation of Saw XI, there is a glimmer of hope for the genre as The Strangers: Chapter 2 takes over its release date. Set to hit theaters on September 26, the sequel will be directed by Renny Harlin, with Madelaine Petsch returning as Maya.
The sequel continues the trilogy that reboots the 2008 The Strangers film. Although plot details remain under wraps, Petsch has previously hinted that the trilogy spans just five days, with a deep dive into the psychological effects of trauma. “It’s really a character study on if you push a person past their breaking point, who are they left with at the end of the day?” she shared, emphasizing how Maya’s life continues to spiral under the constant threats from The Strangers.
Meanwhile, Saw XI was scrapped despite the commercial and critical success of Saw X. According to reports, the cancellation stemmed from internal disputes at Lionsgate, with the creative team, including co-writers Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan, not receiving any updates since submitting the script. “It’s stalled at a managerial level,” said Melton, citing disagreements between producers and Lionsgate executives as the cause.
Despite the disappointing halt to the Saw franchise, The Strangers: Chapter 2 gives horror fans something to look forward to this fall.