Breaking: Mike P. Nelson Hired to Direct the Next ‘Saw’!

Breaking: Mike P. Nelson has been hired to direct the next installment of Saw for Lionsgate, Blumhouse Atomic Monster, Dread Central has learned.

And having worked with Mike on multiple films, including Silent Night, Deadly Night and V/H/S/85, I think he’s the perfect choice.

Mike approaches stories and filmmaking from a different perspective. He really thinks this stuff through, and every time you see one of his movies, you get something new and different. That’s exactly what makes the idea of him taking on Saw so exciting to me.

Look at his Wrong Turn for a great example. He took an established franchise and delivered a completely fresh take. He pulled off the same kind of surprise with our “No Wake” and “Ambrosia” segments in V/H/S/85, finding a way to connect those stories that made the whole thing even more fun.

His résumé also includes the post-apocalyptic action-horror film The Domestics, which marked his feature directorial debut.

Next up is Beware Boiúna, arriving in theaters October 2 through Lionsgate. When you see it, you’ll understand what I mean. Mike takes the giant snake movie in a different direction, and it feels incredibly fresh. His move to Saw also continues that relationship with the studio.

For another perspective, check out Matt Konopka’s Fantastic Fest review of Beware Boiúna, which praises the film’s ability to make its enormous predator genuinely frightening.

That willingness to approach familiar horror from an unexpected angle is why I’m so excited about this. I want to see what happens when Mike brings that way of thinking into Jigsaw’s world.