Chris Rock has promised fans that his upcoming version of horror movie Saw will maintain the blood and gore the series is synonymous with. However, Rock, who is producing the movie, added a crucial caveat, explaining that, despite his commitment to the franchise's roots, "there's like a sprinkling of humor here and there."
"A lot of times I go to a movie or I watch a TV show and I go, 'Wow, you know, two jokes would have made a big difference in that.'" Rock told IGN. "I love Saw, but I was like 'wow, it has almost no humor at all.' So, it seemed like a good place…good fertile ground…by the way, the new Saw, I've seen like a rough cut. It's still Saw…it's bloody, it's gory, but there's like a sprinkling of humor here and there. We're not revamping it, it's not Scary Movie, it's Saw."
Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chairman Joe Drake previously shared his thoughts on Rock's hiring, praising his vision for the film. "When Chris Rock came to us and described in chilling detail his fantastic vision that reimagines and spins off the world of the notorious Jigsaw Killer, we were all-in," he said.
In addition to producing, Rock will also star in the film as a police detective looking into the crimes that appear to be committed by the Jigsaw Killer. Samuel L. Jackson is also attached to the project to play Rock's father.
The new Saw film will be directed by Darren Lynn Bousman, who helmed the second, third and fourth films in the series. Rock's version has been described more of a spinoff of the original series than a reboot and is slated to be released Oct. 23.