Lionsgate, the leading independent filmed entertainment studio, and Twisted Pictures today announced plans to develop and produce Saw III, the next film in the psychologically intense and disturbing horror franchise, for an October 27, 2006 wide release. The film will be directed by Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II), with story by Leigh Whannell and James Wan (Saw, Saw II) and screenplay by Whannell. The Twisted Pictures team of Mark Burg and Oren Koules will return as producers with Whannell and Wan set to executive produce. The announcement was made by Peter Block, Lionsgate President of Acquisitions and Co-productions, Jason Constantine, Lionsgate Senior VP of Acquisitions, and the Twisted Pictures team of Mark Burg and Oren Koules.

Saw II set a Lionsgate record with a three-day opening weekend of $31.7 million last Halloween, becoming the widest release in Lionsgate history and achieving one of the best opening weekends ever for a horror sequel. With a domestic box office of over $87 million and more than $148 million in worldwide theatrical box office, Saw II easily eclipsed the $55 million domestic box office total of the original Saw. Saw and Saw II have grossed nearly $250 million in combined worldwide box office.

Saw II debuted as the #1 DVD in North America two weeks ago, becoming the fastest-selling theatrical DVD release in Lionsgate history with 3.9 million units sold in its first week alone. The movie was also released on VHS and UMD. The "Saw" franchise has sold nearly 10 million units to date for Lionsgate.

"Yes, there will be more blood," said Block and Constantine. "'Saw III' will involve the same creative forces responsible for the tremendous success of 'Saw II'. The Twisted team of Mark and Oren, along with Darren, James and Leigh, have all agreed to be prominently involved in 'Saw III'. We are proud to be partnered with some of the most disturbing creative talents on the planet, and the 'Saw' franchise will ensure that gore becomes every bit as much a Halloween staple as ghosts, goblins and candy corn." Block noted that the film will be dedicated to Twisted Pictures principal and "Saw" producer Gregg Hoffman, who passed away in November 2005.

"We have been discussing story lines that extend the 'Saw' franchise to new limits and beyond with Lionsgate for the past several months," said Burg and Koules. "The most important element of any franchise is remaining true to the roots of its success. We believe that we are developing a script that is certain to please the 'Saw' franchise's core fans while adding fresh, terrifying and unimaginable new twists to the 'Saw' saga. Jigsaw himself would be proud."

Quelle

und für die, die nicht englisch können :

Lionsgate und Twisted Pictures haben heute ihre Pläne bezüglich Saw 3 bekannt gegeben. Der dritte Teil der extrem lukrativen Horrorreihe wird in den USA am 27. Oktober, pünktlich zu Halloween, in die Kinos kommen.

Der Film wird wieder von Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw 2) inszeniert, die Geschichte stammt vom bewährten Team Leigh Whannell und James Wan. Ersterer wird auch das Drehbuch verfassen. Mark Burg und Oren Koules von Twisted Pictures bilden abermals das Produzentenpärchen.

Saw 2 sorgte letztes Jahr für ein Rekord-Dreitages-Wochenende mit 31,7 Millionen Dollar für Lionsgate. 148 Millionen Dollar an weltweitem Einspielergebnis dürften die Entscheidung für ein weiteres Sequel wesentlich erleichtert haben.

Die Saw 2-DVD wurde vor zwei Wochen in Nordamerika veröffentlicht und wurde mit 3,9 Millionen verkauften Exemplaren zum Megahit für Lionsgate.

"Wir haben in den letzten Monaten Storylines diskutiert, welche die Saw-Reihe in neue Dimensionen hieven wird," meinten Burg und Koules. "Das wichtigste Element jeder Filmreihe ist es, zu den Ursprüngen ihres Erfolges zu stehen. Wir glauben dass wir ein Drehbuch entwerfen werden, dass alle Saw-Fans zufriedenstellen und das mit frischen, Furcht einflössenden und unvorstellbaren Wendungen aufwarten wird. Jigsaw selbst würde stolz sein."

Quelle: Lionsgate

Na, ich freu mich drauf und gut wenn die Original-Macher bei einer Filmreihe dabeibleiben.