Latest news with #JohnKramer
Metro
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Inside Saw's future as 'disagreements' over film left horror franchise 'dead'
The Saw films were a staple of 2000s horror, introducing fans to the twisted, torturous traps of the iconic Jigsaw killer. Directed by James Wan and co-written with Leigh Whannell, the first film was released in 2004 in which serial killer Jigsaw imprisoned Adam Stanheight ( Whannell) and Lawrence Gordon (Cary Elwes) with the purpose of subjecting them to a series of puzzles to escape. Across the franchise, Jigsaw – or John Kramer (Tobin Bell), as the jaw-dropping ending of the first film reveals – has attracted acolytes who have continued his twisted games spanning 10 films so far. Released in 2023, Saw X took us back in time to the period between Saw and Saw II in which Kramer desperately seeks life-saving treatment following his cancer diagnosis, but is instead duped by con artists and enacts his bloody revenge. Soon after its release, an 11th film was announced, but the production of Saw XI has been anything but smooth with delays, a cancellation, and rumours of behind-the-scenes drama. With a potential lifeline for the legendary horror series now in the mix, we take a look at what exactly is going on with Saw XI. Following the runaway success of Saw X, it was confirmed in December 2023 that Saw XI was on its way. Saw X landed the highest Rotten Tomatoes rating for any film in the franchise, grossing a whopping $125million (£92.3m) worldwide. It was announced that Kevin Greutert, who directed the 10th film, would be returning for Saw XI, and Bell would also be reprising his role as the iconic John Kramer. Co-writer Patrick Melton – who penned Saw IV, Saw V, Saw VI, and Saw 3D – teased what fans could expect from the 'very timely' plot of the 11th installment. 'It taps into the same themes of Saw VI, where you're a citizen, you feel angry and frustrated with something, you feel like you can't do anything, and John Kramer's going to do it,' he told The Hollywood Reporter. Given Bell's return, it seems the 11th film was set to be another prequel set between the events of Saw and Saw II, which could have meant we would see Shawnee Smith's Amanda Young hit the big screen again. A post-credit scene from Saw X also saw Costas Mandylor reprise his role as police detective turned Jigsaw disciple Mark Hoffman, which could mean he was set to star in Saw XI though this was never confirmed. Speaking to SFX magazine, producer Oren Koules hinted that it would be a direct follow-up to the events of Saw X. 'Cecilia is still alive and Tobin and Shawnee are in a foreign country still. So that, to me, would be the natural place to take at least the next one,' he revealed. Saw XI was originally set to be released on September 27 of the same year, but was delayed until September this year, it was announced in April 2024. Never Let Go, starring Halle Berry, took the film's original release date. Two Lionsgate titles saw their release dates change in the same announcement – the remake of The Crow and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. After a period of silence over the film, sources told Bloody Disgusting that Saw XI was 'totally, 100% dead' due to disagreements at studio level. The report, released on March 27, claimed 'everything went sideways in January 2024' due to producers fighting. 'It's totally dead,' the insider said. 'It's 100% over. Almost a year now.' They claimed that one producer attempted to 'plough forward' with production, while the other 'put up roadblocks' that halted production. '[Lionsgate] didn't have anyone to smooth over the disagreement,' the source added, claiming 'greed and ego won.' Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Melton confirmed the claims that the movie has 'stalled at a managerial level.' '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,' he said. He continued: 'It has nothing to do with the creative or anything else. There's higher-level things at play.' Saw – Netflix and Prime Video Saw II – Netflix Saw III – Netflix Saw IV – Available to rent via Prime Video, Apple TV, and the Sky Store Saw V – Available to rent via Prime Video, Apple TV, and the Sky Store Saw VI – Available to rent via Prime Video, Apple TV, and the Sky Store Saw: 3D – Available to rent via Prime Video, Apple TV, and the Sky Store Jigsaw – Available to rent via Prime Video, Apple TV, and the Sky Store Spiral: From The Book of Saw – Available to rent via Prime Video, Apple TV, and the Sky Store Saw X – Netflix The writer claimed he and writing partner Marcus Dunstan turned in a draft of the script in 2024, but that he hadn't 'heard anything' since then. Greutert also addressed the apparent cancellation in a Reddit post, writing: 'Let's just say that this past year+ has been among the saddest and most frustrating of my life.' A week after the damning news of the Saw XI cancellation, fans were offered an unusual glimmer of hope. The franchise's killer mascot, Billy the Puppet, posted a cryptic statement suggesting the game is far from over. 'I've seen the rumors. They say it's Game Over. You all should know me better than that. The game is never over,' the tricycle-riding puppet said in a statement shared by Lionsgate. But at the same time, it was announced that Saw XI had been completely removed from Lionsgate's release schedule, seemingly sealing its fate. Which brings us to June 4, 2025, when Deadline reported that Blumhouse is allegedly in the process of acquiring perspective rights to Twisted Pictures' portion of Saw. If the deal goes ahead, Blumhouse would take over the ownership of the franchise rights from Twisted Pictures owners Mark Burg and Oren Koules. Lionsgate would still be involved in the project, seeing as the company owns 50% of the franchise. More Trending If Blumhouse takes over the Saw franchise, and therefore Saw XI, it would mean Saw is reunited with co-creator James Wan following Blumhouse's merger with his company Atomic Monster. It is unknown what stage the deal is at, as Lionsgate, Twisted Pictures, and Blumhouse have not yet addressed the report. It could mean that Saw XI has been brought back from the dead by Blumhouse, famed for titles such as Paranormal Activity, The Purge, Insidious, Sinister, and many more. Metro has contacted representatives for Lionsgate and Blumhouse for comment Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Jennifer Lopez already tipped for an Oscar after Kiss of the Spider Woman trailer MORE: Fans of iconic 70s band blast 'awful' biopic casting of Nick Jonas as rock legend MORE: Box office bomb with 40% on Rotten Tomatoes set to hit streamers after scandal
Metro
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Brutal horror film with 'diabolical gore' finally arrives on Netflix
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A 'brutal' and 'bloody' horror film has finally arrived on Netflix to turn your stomach. Saw X, released in 2023, is the tenth installment in the wildly popular 'torture porn' franchise Saw, which began in 2004. The latest film took us back in time and saw the return of Tobin Bell as John Kramer, aka the terrifying Jigsaw killer, whose elaborate traps and trials have given us numerous nightmare-inducing moments in horror cinema. Saw X is set between the events of Saw and Saw II and sees Kramer travel to Mexico in search of a miracle cure following his cancer diagnosis. When he discovers the entire medical procedure he undergoes is a scam, he seeks bloody vengeance against those involved with another set of his infamous traps. Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. The film is now available to watch on Netflix – but its not for the faint-hearted, with critics dubbing it 'thoroughly unpleasant.' It currently holds an 81% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the critic's consensus reading: 'Led by a franchise-best performance from Tobin Bell, Saw X reinvigorates the series with an installment that has a surprising amount of heart to go with all the gore.' In their review, The New York Times wrote: 'This is the most well-groomed Saw movie to date. The story mostly makes sense and [Kevin] Greutert pulls back on the frenetic editing techniques that made the older movies look like the blood and guts equivalent of white noise.' Bloody Disgusting added: 'Saw X delivers a franchise high, and that's no small feat ten installments deep. There's a comfortable sense of awareness and humor found in a sequel that utilizes its pared-back simplicity to showcase the characters and gore.' FlickDirect said Saw X is 'probably one of the best Saw films in over ten years', while Film Inquiry lauded its 'brutal, surgical precision and typically excellent practical effects.' The Hollywood Reporter wrote that 'the diabolical gore is as creative and brutal as ever,' with many agreeing this was a particularly bloody entry in the world of Saw. Saw – Netflix and Amazon Prime Video Saw II – Netflix Saw III – Netflix Saw IV – Available to rent via Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, and the Sky Store Saw V – Available to rent via Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, and the Sky Store Saw VI – Available to rent via Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, and the Sky Store Saw 3D – Available to rent via Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, and the Sky Store Jigsaw – Available to rent via Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, and the Sky Store Spiral – Available to rent via Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, and the Sky Store Saw X – Netflix Speaking to Metro ahead of the film's release, producers Oren Koules and Mark Burg shared their famous bloody kills and convoluted traps from across the franchise. 'My favorite trap, or the scariest trap for me, is in Saw I,' Oren reflected. 'The guy laying on the floor, when Amanda takes the key out of the guy's stomach and takes the head trap off, that's me on the floor getting my stomach cut open. 'So, I have a very personal attachment to that trap.' More Trending 'My scariest trap was one where we call the Twisty Tim, where he was on a cross and we just bent his arms, and kept twisting his arms around until they snapped out of the sockets,' Mark added. 'To me, that just would scare the hell out of me.' It comes as a report from Bloody Disgusting states Saw XI has been cancelled, citing citing lack of progress on the project and studio disagreements. Saw X is available to stream now on Netflix Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: WWE Backlash 2025 preview and UK start time for 'last time ever' match MORE: 'Shocking' movie with disturbing twists finally streaming on Netflix today MORE: Critics demand their 'therapy bills paid for' after watching gruesome horror sequel
Axios
27-04-2025
- Business
- Axios
Exclusive: Embedded payroll startup Salsa raises $20M
Salsa, a startup providing embedded payroll infrastructure to vertical SaaS platforms, raised $20 million in Series A funding, CEO John Kramer tells Axios exclusively. Why it matters: Vertical SaaS platforms have been steadily adding various financial services to their suites, but many still lack a payroll offering. Zoom in: Altos Ventures led the round, which included participation from SemperVirens, Greycroft, Definition, and Better Tomorrow Ventures (BTV). New York-based Salsa has raised $30 million since being founded in 2021. How it works: Salsa provides an API-based platform and a library of UI components that enable vertical SaaS platforms to quickly launch and offer payroll as a feature to their end customers. It also handles all the compliance, money movement, tax filings and payments on behalf of its customers. The company is licensed to offer payroll in all 50 states and Canada. Context: Before Salsa, Kramer was the COO of HoneyBook, a client relationship management platform for independent businesses. "At HoneyBook, we couldn't build a better payroll product for our customers because it is too big for one company to build. There's too much compliance and operations [work]," Kramer says. Coming full circle, Kramer says HoneyBook recently became a Salsa customer and launched its payroll product in 17 days. Follow the money: Salsa has also signed up platforms like Jane, Maple, Mangomint, GlossGenius and Paid. State of play: Salsa competes with startups like Check, which has raised about $120 million since being founded in 2019, and Zeal (fka Puzzl), which has raised nearly $30 million (including a $15 million round led by Portage last October).
Associated Press
15-04-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Complete Genomics Names Four Winners of Spatial Xcellerator Grant Program
SAN JOSE, Calif., April 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Complete Genomics, a leading innovator in genomic sequencing, today announced four winners from 30 applicants to its Spatial Xcellerator Grant Program. Winning projects address oncology, pediatric brain tumors, spinal cord injury and Alzheimer's disease. As the exclusive U.S. distributor of STOmics' Stereo-seq technology for spatial transcriptomics, Complete Genomics launched the Spatial Xcellerator Grant Program and spatial certified service providers last year to promote advancements in spatial omics research. 'We designed the Spatial Xcellerator Grant Program to give scientists access to the most advanced spatial transcriptomics tools available,' said Rob Tarbox, vice president of product and marketing at Complete Genomics. 'The creativity and scientific rigor of the winning projects illustrate the enormous potential of spatial omics to unlock new insights in areas like cancer, neurodegeneration and tissue regeneration. We're proud to support work that will not only push the boundaries of spatial biology but also accelerate the impact of these discoveries on human health.' Winners of the Spatial Xcellerator Grant Program: 'Spatial transcriptomics provides an unprecedented ability to map gene expression directly within intact and damaged spinal cord tissue, revealing how distinct cell populations and molecular pathways interact at and around the injury site,' said John Kramer, associate professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics at University of British Columbia, who led one of the winning projects. 'By preserving spatial context, this approach enables researchers to pinpoint region-specific responses, uncover hidden cellular heterogeneity and ultimately gain deeper insights into the mechanisms underlying spinal cord injury and repair.' About Complete Genomics Complete Genomics is a pioneering life sciences company that provides novel, end to end DNA sequencing solutions. It has been at the forefront of high throughput cost-effective sequencing technology development since its inception in 2005. Our products have powered over 9,400 publications across a wide array of applications. To learn more, visit * For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures. View original content: SOURCE Complete Genomics
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fans devastated by Saw XI update just six months before planned release
Fans of the Saw horror film franchise are responding to reports that the latest instalment, Saw XI, is unlikely to meet its September release date and could even be cancelled altogether. Saw XI was initially scheduled for release in September 2024 but this was later pushed to September 2025. Lionsgate confirmed Saw XI in December 2023, shortly after the release of Saw X in September that year. Producer Oren Koules told SFX Magazine at the time that the sequel would be a follow-up to Saw X, as 'Cecilia is still alive and Tobin and Shawnee are in a foreign country still'. 'So that, to me, would be the natural place to take at least the next one,' he said. Kevin Greutert, who directed Saw VI, Saw 3D and Saw X, was set to return for Saw XI, as were the stars Tobin Bell, reprising his role as John Kramer or the Jigsaw, Shawnee Smith as Amanda Young and Costas Mandylor as detective lieutenant Mark Hoffman. The newest film, however, appears to have been 'totally dead' for almost a year, Bloody Disgusting reported, adding that fighting between producers was to blame. 'It's totally dead. It's 100 per cent over. Almost a year now,' an unnamed source told the outlet. 'Everything went sideways in January 2024,' the source added, 'the producers started fighting'. One producer tried to 'plow forward' with the film, the report said, but the other 'put up roadblocks' and Lionsgate 'didn't have anyone to smooth over the disagreement'. 'Greed and ego won,' the source said. The Hollywood Reporter carried a similar update, with more information from Saw XI screenwriter Patrick Melton, who also wrote Saw IV, Saw V, Saw VI, and Saw 3D. Melton, along with writing partner Marcus Dunstan, said he turned in a draft of the script for Saw XI in spring 2024, but hasn't 'heard anything' since then. 'We haven't heard anything since May. It's stalled at a managerial level. It has nothing to do with the creative or anything else. There's higher-level things at play,' Melton said. 'Saw XI may or may not be made, but we have a very timely story in it, and I hope it gets made just because of that. It taps into the same themes of Saw VI, where you're a citizen, you feel angry and frustrated with something, you feel like you can't do anything, and John Kramer's going to do it. '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.' The franchise launched in 2004 and, after grossing $104m (£80m) on a budget of just $1m (£770,573), spawned multiple sequels, the last of which, Jigsaw, was released in 2017. A spin-off starring Chris Rock, titled Spiral: From the Book of Saw, was released in 2021. Fans of the longtime gory horror franchise are understandably upset, especially considering Saw X went on to gross $125m (£96m) worldwide on a budget of $13m (£10m) and opened to positive reviews from critics. In The Independent's review of Saw X, critic Clarisse Loughrey said: 'Ten films in and it's a routine we're so intimately familiar with that it'd be hard to call any element of Saw X original but returning director Kevin Greutert knows what'll satisfy his audience: a few buckets of blood and the gag-inducing sound of crunching bone. Here, they'll get exactly what they want.' Responding to reports that the film's production has stalled, one fan wrote on X: 'That sucks. I fell in love with the franchise after seeing Saw X. I couldn't believe how good it was, so I went back and watched all of the movies. It's now my second favorite horror franchise behind Halloween.' SAW 11 has been cancelled so what's the point in living anymore. goodbye cruel world — jas :3 (@dcbatsy) March 17, 2025 'I hear Saw 11 might be cancelled. I was really looking forward to this movie, it actually is one of my most anticipated movies of the year. It's already been delayed, as it was supposed to come out last year,' said another. Talk about FUMBLING the bag. Saw X put the franchise back on the map. And at an all time high too. 11 should've been a no-brainer. — Lewis (Taylor's Version) (@lpowell092020) March 17, 2025 'Talk about FUMBLING the bag. Saw X put the franchise back on the map. And at an all-time high too. 11 should've been a no-brainer.' The Independent has reached out to representatives of Lionsgate for comment.
