When you think of Chris Rock, you don’t think of horror. You think of his turn in Dogma, or the zebra from Madagascar, or his time on SNL. But bodies ripping apart? Elaborate death traps? Cycling puppets? Not so much. But soon those will be exactly what you associate Rock with – the man is planning a fresh batch of Saw films, which he’ll cook up Lionsgate for an October 2020 release.
“I’ve been a fan of ‘Saw’ since the first film in 2004,” Rock said of the horror saga originated by James Wan. “I am excited by the opportunity to take this to a really intense and twisted new place.” Joe Drake, Lionsgate chairman, sounds particularly enthused about the direction Rock has in mind. “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,” he said. “Chris conceived this idea and it will be completely reverential to the legacy of the material while reinvigorating the brand with his wit, creative vision and passion for this classic horror franchise.”
Rock’s Saw film will be directed by Darren Lynn Bousman, the director of Saw 2, 3, and 4. Considering how well Danny McBride turned his hand to Halloween, it will be fascinating to see how Chris Rock fares in taking on one of horror’s more contemporary franchises.
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