First look at movie 'Saw X'; to hit theaters a month early in September

As Jigsaw would say it, the games have just begun for fans of Lionsgate's "Saw" franchise. In eager anticipation of the tenth installment, the studio announced "Saw X" will hit theaters Sept. 29 — a month earlier than planned. Traditionally, the slasher films are released in theaters shortly before Halloween.

"I've heard your beautiful screams of anticipation loud and clear. #SawX is now coming at you one month earlier," the official "Saw" Twitter account posted July 20. "September 29th - prepare yourselves for Jigsaw’s return."



Coupled with the Tweet was a first-look image at John "Jigsaw" Kramer (Tobin Bell) in the new film, as seen above. The upcoming feature takes place between "Saw I" and "Saw II," paving Jigsaw's return for yet another battle of wits with a group of unassuming victims. The film marks Bell's first time returning to the role since "Jigsaw," the eighth "Saw" film, in 2017.

In "Saw X," the notorious serial killer struggles with terminal cancer, leading him to seek out an experimental procedure in Mexico. After discovering the operation is a hoax, Jigsaw is fueled to embark on a psychotic murder spree against the scammers who wronged him.

Shawnee Smith will also return to the franchise as Amanda, Jigsaw's victim-turned-apprentice. Amanda first appeared in the original "Saw" as a strung-out drug addict who survived the Reverse Bear Trap, one of Jigsaw's infamous torture devices.

Fresh faces to the horror series include Steven Brand, Synnøve Macody Lund, Renata Vaca, Paulette Hernandez, Joshua Okamoto, Octavio Hinojosa and Michael Beach.

"Saw X" was directed by Kevin Greutert, who also took the director's chair on "Saw VI" and "Saw 3D. The film was penned by Peter Goldfinger and Josh Stolberg, the writers of "Jigsaw," and produced by Mark Burg and Oren Koules.

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