'Saw 9' rumors: 'Jigsaw' sequel happening? Conversations reportedly underway

Five people are held captive in the Jigsaw killer's barn in 2017's "Jigsaw."Lionsgate

Jigsaw may be back yet again to play more games. Following the eighth installment's success in the box office, talks about "Saw 9" are reportedly underway at Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures.

The latest rumor comes from Bloody Disgusting, which claims the studios are considering making a follow-up to this year's "Jigsaw." Apparently, it is just a "conversation" at the moment, but directors Michael and Peter Spierig are reportedly not returning to direct the next film.

It is worth stressing that this is not an official statement from either studio, so fans should take it with a grain of salt. Still, it makes sense for them to make another movie. While "Jigsaw" earned negative reviews and the second worst opening in the franchise, it did garner a worldwide gross of more than $100 million from a budget of $10 million, proving people are still interested. That alone makes "Saw 9" seem like a sure thing by Hollywood standards.

Narratively speaking, "Jigsaw" also ended with more room for another film. Fans learned that Logan Nelson (Matt Passmore) was actually Jigsaw's original apprentice, even before franchise-favorites like Shawnee Smith's Amanda, Costas Mandylor's Detective Hoffman, and Cary Elwes' Doctor Lawrence Gordon. It turns out that he was the man earlier in the story that appeared to die in the first test and that the "game" was one of the original Jigsaw, aka John Kramer's (Tobin Bell), tests set 10 years ago. Now, it remains to be seen if Kramer's successor ends up crossing paths with some of the franchise characters who should still be alive in modern timeline.

The original "Saw" premiered back in 2004. Created by James Wan of "The Conjuring" and Leigh Whannell of "Insidious," the film became a global phenomenon and spawned sequels that were released on Halloween every year from 2005 until 2010. The eighth installment, "Jigsaw," premiered last October. Its digital download is arriving on Feb. 19 and other home media formats on Feb. 26.