Spiral: All We Know About Chris Rock’s New Saw Sequel
Here's everything we know about the upcoming Saw sequel.
This article is more than 2 years old
Spiral: From the Book of Saw is a surprising new entry in the expansive Saw franchise. Fans thought the series was retired, but the saga of serial killer Jigsaw and his maniacal traps is getting a fresh spin on it with this latest attempt. And considering some of the people involved, this looks to be a very special horror sequel.
Here is everything we know about Spiral: From the Book of Saw so far.
The First Spiral: From the Book of Saw Trailer
Our initial look at Spiral: From the Book of Saw came in February with the release of the first trailer. Watch it here…
The Impressive Creative Team Behind This Saw Sequel
What makes Spiral: From the Book of Saw stand out in comparison to other horror sequels is the creative team involved with this entry. Chris Rock proposed the idea of the film after a lucky meeting with the head of Lionsgate, the company that produces the Saw franchise. Rock was a legitimate fan of the Saw series and wanted to try his hand at acting in and producing a horror movie. It was his involvement that also brought legendary actor Samuel L. Jackson on board the project.
The writers of Spiral: From the Book of Saw are Josh Stolberg and Peter Goldfinger, the same co-writers for the last entry in the franchise, Jigsaw. The producing team includes longterm producers Mark Burg and Oren Koules, as well as original Saw creators James Wan and Leigh Whannell. However, the most interesting returning figure is Darren Lynn Bousman as director. Bousman directed Saw II, Saw III, and Saw IV. Many fans of the series see him as an important figure in crafting the world of Jigsaw. His return signals a clear desire for the series to return to its roots.
When You Can Watch Spiral: From the Book of Saw
Spiral: From the Book of Saw was originally set to debut on October 23, 2020, but was moved to May 15, 2020. This led a lot of fans to believe that Lionsgate had a lot of faith in the film’s quality and wanted it to compete in the summer movie season. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic threw those plans into the garbage.
The new release date for Spiral: From the Book of Saw has been set as May 21, 2021. Keeping that summer release date continues to show that Lionsgate wants to push this new Saw sequel as a real event film. It bodes well for the potential excellence of this brand new entry.
The Plot
According to screenwriter Josh Stolberg, Spiral: From the Book of Saw will not be a reboot of the Saw franchise, but it will also not act as a direct sequel to the previous film in the series, Jigsaw. This has led a few fans to believe that this newest installment will likely ignore some of the new characters that were introduced in Jigsaw.
Here is the official synopsis for Spiral: From the Book of Saw that was released by Lionsgate:
“Working in the shadow of an esteemed police veteran (Samuel L. Jackson), brash detective Ezekiel “Zeke” Banks (Chris Rock) and his rookie partner William Schenk (Max Minghella) take charge of a grisly investigation into murders that are eerily reminiscent of the city’s gruesome past. Unwittingly trapped in a deepening mystery, Zeke finds himself at the center of the killer’s morbid game.”
With this and the official trailer, the story points to a new serial killer who is targeting police officers and is taking inspiration from the murderous traps devised by serial killer John Kramer a.k.a. Jigsaw. It is possible that one of the new characters has some kind of past attachment to Jigsaw, as we have seen that used as a plot point in other Saw sequels. It could also be possible that Spiral: From the Book of Saw will pick up a loose thread from the end of Saw: The Final Chapter: the involvement of Dr. Lawrence Gordon (Cary Elwes) as one of John Kramer’s many assistants.
The Saw series is one of the few horror franchises to have a deeply interconnected continuity that rewards longtime fans. Spiral: From the Book of Saw might be looking to recapture some of that fan loyalty while also providing a serial killer detective story that new audiences can find thrilling. With the intriguing creative team involved and the promise that this will be a prestige horror film, we can’t wait to see what surprises Spiral: From the Book of Saw has in store.
