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We told you that Saw XI was having trouble because of infighting between those responsible for the franchise, and now the studio responsible is confirming those reports by pulling the movie off its release schedule… and replacing it with another familiar horror franchise.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Saw XI has been pulled from its September 26, 2025 release date by Lionsgate, with the studio commenting on rumors of “squabbling” between itself and the movie’s producers via a statement from the franchise’s ventriloquist dummy Billy — yes, really — that reads, “I’ve seen the rumors. They say it’s Game Over. You all should know me better than that. The game is never over.”

Well, if a fictional ventriloquist dummy denies a story, that’s when you know it can’t be true. That's one of the primary rules of journalism right there.

The September 26 slot isn’t going to be abandoned by Lionsgate, however; The Strangers - Chapter 2 will now hit theaters on that day, continuing the relaunch of the horror franchise that began with 2024’s The Strangers - Chapter 1. In a statement, producers Courtney Solomon and Mark Canton said, "Like Strangers fans everywhere, we’re thrilled for Chapter 2 — it’s the kind of film that’ll have audiences watching through their fingers. Bringing it to theaters this Halloween season feels perfect, and we can’t wait for everyone to see where the story goes next."

That’s all well and good, but if we’re not hearing from inanimate objects from inside the movie itself, do we really know anything about what’s happening?

The Strangers - Chapter 1 is currently streaming on Starz.

In the immortal words of Danny Elfman, "Life's no fun without a good scare." We couldn't agree more, which is why we've cobbled together a couple pieces to send a chill up your spine. Join Popverse as we explore:

• The best horror movies of all time, according to horror aficionado Greg Silber
• The most underrated horror movies from the past couple years
• All the new and upcoming horror movies for 2025 and beyond

And much gore. Er, more. Much more.