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A once pulse-pounding horror franchise has flatlined. Jigsaw's next killing spree was officially shelved on Monday after Lionsgate removed Saw 11 from its schedule and swapped in horror sequel The Strangers: Chapter 2 in its place.

Originally intended for a Fall 2024 release, the sequel was punted to the Sept. 26, 2025 date that The Strangers sequel now inherits. Despite the track record of delays, the latest puts the franchise's future in flux. Production warfare has plagued the project since its Spring 2024 announcement. Saw 11 co-writer Patrick Melton provided insight into the stall, telling The Hollywood Reporter:

“The reason it’s held up is just, there’s inter-squabbling between producers and Lionsgate. They just can’t quite get on the same page.”

Producers Can't Crack Jigsaw Puzzle, Lionsgate Silently Kills Saw 11 "It's 100% Over."

The grim update gets bleaker. According to Bloody Disgusting, a source "verified as being close to the production of its newest sequel.

Lionsgate has announced the theatrical date for The Strangers: Chapter 2, the second film of the new trilogy. Film lead Madelaine Petsch made the announcement on their Insta earlier today. The next film is coming out just in time for Halloween, on September 26th. “I promise that we’re making The Strangers—Chapter 2 as terrifying as possible, and I can’t wait to show you on September 26” - Madelaine Petsch "Like Strangers fans everywhere, we’re thrilled for Chapter 2 — it’s the kind of film that’ll have audiences watching through their fingers. Bringing it to theaters this Halloween season feels perfect, and we can’t wait for everyone to see where the story goes next." - Producers Courtney Solomon and Mark Canton Here...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

Renny Harlin's home invaders are coming back for more. With the announcement that Saw XI was cut out of Lionsgate's release schedule for this year, The Strangers: Chapter 2 has taken over its September 26 release date. The follow-up to Harlin's remake last year, The Strangers: Chapter 1, celebrated the announcement with a haunting new image showing a bloody Madelaine Petsch with a massive messy scar. Though it will hit theaters later than imagined, the Riverdale star assured that the wait will be worth it in an official statement, saying, "I promise that we’re making The Strangers: Chapter 2 as terrifying as possible, and I can’t wait to show you on September 26."

Little is known about Chapter 2 aside from where the first film left viewers off. Chapter 1 was a mostly straightforward remake of the original 2008 film starring Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman, with Petsch and Froy Gutierrez playing young...

Lionsgate has pulled Saw XI from its release schedule and put The Strangers: Chapter 2 in its place, but the Saw franchise’s killer mascot, Billy the Puppet, has issued an amusing warning via THR.

Coming off of a very successful tenth installment, Saw XI was set to release on September 26, 2025, but turmoil behind the scenes has left the fate of the franchise hanging in the balance.

But horror icons never die, and rarely do their franchises, either. That’s supported by a statement from Saw’s pint-sized icon, who all but vows that the franchise will continue in some form. Billy the Puppet, via Lionsgate, told THR, “I’ve seen the rumors. They say it’s Game Over. You all should know me better than that. The game is never over.”

Saw X director Kevin Greutert was set to return to helm Saw XI. Fellow franchise alum Marcus Dunstan...

Like the extremities of one of Jigsaw's victims, Saw XI has been sliced off the release calendar. The Hollywood Reporter has the news that the troubled horror sequel will no longer be released on September 26, 2025. It has been ceded to an entry in another long-running horror franchise: The Strangers: Chapter 2 will now see a wide release on that date.

It was previously reported last week that Saw XI, the follow-up to 2023's franchise-reviving Saw X, was effectively dead at Lionsgate after coming to a standstill amid squabbling among its producers. The removal of the film from the release calendar would seem to confirm that, but Lionsgate insists that, unlike John Kramer, the movie isn't as dead as it appears. In a statement purported to be from series mascot Billy the Puppet, the studio stated that "I’ve seen the rumors. They say it’s Game Over. You all...

03/24/2025 Update: The Strangers: Chapter 2 has been given a Sept. 26, 2025 release date by Lionsgate. It looks like Petsch was really hinting about a release date announcement!

We have some potentially promising news to share about the second installment in the new The Strangers trilogy. Lead actress Madelaine Petsch recently shared an intriguing Instagram story, sparking speculation that The Strangers: Chapter 2 might be arriving soon. This update comes just five months after the thrilling teaser trailer dropped. While there’s no official release date yet for The Strangers: Chapter 2, Petsch’s latest Instagram post suggests that more details—or even a release date—could be announced soon.

The first installment of the horror trilogy, The Strangers: Chapter 1, was released in theaters back in May 2024. The horror flick was directed by Renny Harlin and written by Alan R. Cohen and Alan Freedland. The story centered around Maya and Ryan,...

The Saw franchise appeared to have come to an end with recent reports that trouble behind the scenes had seen Saw XI ensnared in a trap it could not escape from. However, despite that, and Lionsgate replacing the movie with The Strangers: Chapter 2 in the slot earmarked for it, it looks like it is not “game over” for the franchise yet.

Just like in the movies, it looks like Jigsaw and Billy the Puppet could be about to defy the odds and return again…just a little later than originally planned. While The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Saw XI seems to have now officially lost its September 26 slot to the next movie in The Strangers franchise, both Lionsgate and one of the Saw franchise’s creepy stars seem to be confident that the franchise is not over, just on hiatus.

Lionsgate shared a statement from Billy the Puppet, the...

Lionsgate’s franchise reboot The Strangers: Chapter 1 kicked off a new trilogy of terror last year and is now set to continue this September with The Strangers: Chapter 2, revealed today by the film’s social media channels.

The Strangers: Chapter 2 is taking over the spot Lionsgate previously designated for Saw XI: September 26, 2025.

In The Strangers: Chapter 1, “After their car breaks down in an eerie small town, a young couple are forced to spend the night in a remote cabin. Panic ensues as they are terrorized by three masked strangers who strike with no mercy and seemingly no motive.”

The Strangers: Chapter 2 will continue the story of Madelaine Petsch’s character, Maya, who survived the events of The Strangers: Chapter 1.

“I promise that we’re making The Strangers: Chapter 2 as terrifying as possible, and I can’t wait to show you on September 26,” Petsch said in an announcement video.

Lionsgate’s The Strangers: Chapter 2 will open in theaters on Sept. 26, 2025.

Saw XI, which had the date, has been moved off the calendar for the time being.

The first movie, Strangers: Chapter 1, debuted last May, and was one of the better-performing movies for Lionsgate in 2024, making $35.2M domestic, $48.1M worldwide.

In Chapter 2, Renny Harlin directs Riverdale‘s Madelaine Petsch as well as Gabriel Basso and Ema Horvath. Producers are Courtney Solomon, Mark Canton, Christopher Milburn, Gary Raskin, Alastair Burlingham, Charlie Dombek on the horror franchise movie. Alan R. Cohen & Alan Freedland wrote the screenplay.

The Strangers movie franchise kicked off in 2008 at Focus Features and starred Liv Tyler in the Bryan Bertino directed-and-written movie. That pic followed James Hoyt and Kristen McKay who visit an isolated vacation home only to encounter a rude surprise when three masked assailants make their stay a nightmare. The movie was massive on a...

Saw XI has been officially cut from Lionsgate’s release calendar — but that doesn’t mean the franchise is dead yet.

The Hollywood Reporter can exclusively report that the planned sequel in the horror franchise, which had been slated to hit theaters on Sept. 26, has been removed from that date. This follows Patrick Melton, a writer on the movie, telling THR in a story published last week that there has been “inter-squabbling” between producers and Lionsgate.

On Monday, Lionsgate shared a cheeky statement from Billy the Puppet, the ventriloquist dummy used in the films by the character John Kramer, aka Jigsaw: “I’ve seen the rumors. They say it’s Game Over. You all should know me better than that. The game is never over.”

In a twinned move, The Strangers: Chapter 2 is now set for wide theatrical release on Sept. 26. Madelaine Petsch reprises her role in the...

To say it was a bold move to go ahead and film a trilogy of “The Strangers” films back-to-back-to-back is an understatement. But that’s exactly what Lionsgate has done, as the studio tries to get its own slasher franchise on its feet. The first film, released earlier this year, did pretty well at the box office, but it was not well-received by critics. Perhaps the sequel can change that?

Read More: 2024 Fall Film Preview: 50 Movies To Watch

As seen in the new teaser for “The Strangers: Chapter 2,” the film picks up where the first film left off, with our final girl (played by Madelaine Petsch) having woken up in a hospital.

Continue reading ‘The Strangers: Chapter 2’ Teaser: Madelaine Petsch Returns In Renny Harlin’s Slasher Sequel at The Playlist.

The trailer for The Strangers: Chapter 2 has arrived. The movie is the second installment in a planned Renny Harlin-directed trilogy of home invasion movies starring Madelaine Petsch as Maya. 2024's Chapter 1, which was itself the third installment of the franchise, earned a dismal 21% on Rotten Tomatoes but became a box office success, grossing $47.8 million worldwide against its $8.5 million budget. The upcoming The Strangers: Chapter 2 will continue Maya's story as she has another encounter with the titular trio of masked home invaders.

Lionsgate Movies has now unveiled the official trailer for The Strangers: Chapter 2. The trailer returns the action to the remote Pacific Northwest town of Venus, where a sinister-sounding religious radio program plays over footage of Maya waking up in the hospital and being picked up by a van of people who seem to be connected with the Strangers, given their intense gazes, happy face tattoos,...

Lionsgate’s franchise reboot The Strangers: Chapter 1 is now available on Digital for a $19.99 rental or a $24.99 purchase, but when can we expect The Strangers: Chapter 2?

Lionsgate’s plan is to release The Strangers: Chapter 2 later this year and The Strangers: Chapter 3 likely early next year, with both sequels to Chapter 1 filmed at the very same time by director Renny Harlin.

The first image from the upcoming sequel has arrived this week, giving us an idea of what’s next for Chapter 1 star Madelaine Petsch. Her character’s story continues in the upcoming The Strangers: Chapter 2 – forgive me for not remembering the character’s name… blame the movie – which will again find her fighting for her life against a trio of masked maniacs.

Stay tuned for release dates as we learn more.

In The Strangers: Chapter 1, “After their car breaks down in an eerie small town, a young couple are...

After scaring up $34.7 million at the worldwide box office, we’ve learned that Lionsgate’s franchise reboot The Strangers: Chapter 1 is already coming home to Digital this week.

The Strangers: Chapter 1 slashes its way onto Digital on Friday, June 7!

The film, the first in a reboot trilogy from director Renny Harlin, is currently still playing in theaters. You’ll be able to purchase the movie on Digital this Friday for $24.99.

Lionsgate’s plan is to release The Strangers: Chapter 2 later this year and The Strangers: Chapter 3 likely early next year, with both sequels to Chapter 1 already filmed by Harlin.

We may even get a massive 4.5 hour Director’s Cut of all three films!

Stay tuned for release dates as we learn more.

In The Strangers: Chapter 1, “After their car breaks down in an eerie small town, a young couple are forced to spend the night in a remote cabin.

One of the scariest home invasion movies of all time, Bryan Bertino’s The Strangers terrified audiences with its chilling simplicity back in 2008, introducing three masked killers who torment, torture and ultimately murder a young couple at an isolated home in the woods. A full ten years later, the characters returned in a sequel, The Strangers: Prey at Night.

And six years after that movie, the masked murderers are back in director Renny Harlin’s The Strangers: Chapter 1, the first movie in a brand new trilogy that will reboot the franchise.

The Strangers: Chapter 1 will be playing in theaters nationwide on May 17, 2024, but when can we expect The Strangers: Chapter 2 and The Strangers: Chapter 3?

We don’t yet have release dates for either of those two sequels, but producer Courtney Solomon announced at WonderCon this month that at least Chapter 2 is coming This Year.

The Strangers: Chapter 2 is currently expected...

Thanks to news coming out of WonderCon 2024, fans finally have an official release window for The Strangers: Chapter 2, the middle entry in a new horror trilogy based on the original 2008 film.

While audiences know Chapter 1 is releasing on May 17, there has not been concrete word on when exactly the following two entries will drop.

All that was shared is how the studio intends on releasing every installment fairly close to one another so the world will not be waiting years for each movie.

Read full article on The Direct.

Director Renny Harlin (A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master) and producer Courtney Solomon have teamed up to make a trilogy of movies inspired by the 2008 film The Strangers (watch it Here), with Madelaine Petsch (Riverdale) taking the lead role in The Strangers: Chapter 1, which Lionsgate will be giving a theatrical release on May 17th. Petsch and Solomon just appeared on a Q&a panel at the Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle, where it was said they would be showing “exclusive unseen footage” from the first film in the trilogy. As it turns out, that unseen footage was a trailer – and you can now check it out in the embed above!

We’ve heard that Lionsgate will also be releasing The Strangers: Chapter 2 and The Strangers: Chapter 3 by the end of the year.

Petsch is joined in the cast of these films by Froy Gutierrez (Cruel...