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Saw III Cutting Into Theaters Halloween 2006

Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures announced plans to develop and produce SAW III for an October 27, 2006, wide release. SAW II helmer Darren Lynn Bousman will return to direct the film from a 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 also return as producers with Whannell and Wan set to exec produce.

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 more than $87 million and more than $148 million in worldwide theatrical box office, the franchise has 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 franchise has sold nearly 10 million units to date for Lionsgate.

"Yes, there will be more blood," said Peter Block, Lionsgate president of Acquisitions & co-productions, and Jason Constantine, Lionsgate svp of acquisitions. "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."

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Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
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