Chris Rock is teaming with Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures for a fresh reimagining on the next Saw movie. The comedy multihyphenate has written a story that is being adapted by Pete Goldfinger and Josh Stolberg, and Rock also will executive produce. Lionsgate has dated the film for release on October 23, 2020.

“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,” said Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group chairman Joe Drake. “Saw is one of the highest-grossing horror franchises of all-time, and it’s one of Lionsgate’s most successful film series. This upcoming film will still be as mind-bending and intense as all the previous Saw films. Chris conceived this idea, and it will be completely reverential to the legacy of the material while reinvigorating the brand with his wit, creative vision and passion for this classic horror franchise.”

Said Rock: “I’ve been a fan of Saw since the first film in 2004. I am excited by the opportunity to take this to a really intense and twisted new place.” Added longtime series producers Mark Burg and Oren Koules: “Chris wants to put his own spin on the Saw franchise in the way Eddie Murphy put a completely fresh perspective on buddy-cop films with 48 Hours. This new Saw is going to be an event film in the making for horror fans. It will have all of the twists and turns and hardcore layers that our fans expect directed by one of the masters of the craft, Darren Lynn Bousman. We can’t wait to get started.”

Blumhouse and Miramax recently reaped great success when they re-awakened Halloween with hard comedic duo Danny McBride (as writer and EP) and filmmaker David Gordon Green to the tune of $254M-plus at the global box office — the best results ever for the 41-year-old franchise. The next Saw movie will be produced by Burg and Oren and be directed by Bousman, who helmed three of the most successful films in the Saw franchise. The film will be executive produced by Rock, longtime Saw executive producer Daniel Heffner and the original creators of Saw, James Wan and Leigh Whannel.

Rock next can be seen in the upcoming Sally Potter film Molly and Netflix’s Dolemite Is My Name! In the fall, he heads into production for Season 4 of FX/MGM’s drama series Fargo. Film credits include Beverly Hills Cop 2, Boomerang, New Jack City, Lethal Weapon 4, Dogma, Nurse Betty, Head of State (directorial debut), Down to Earth (co-wrote), I Think I Love My Wife (wrote & directed), The Longest Yard, the Madagascar and Grown Ups films, Death at a Funeral, What to Expect When You’re Expecting, 2 Days in New York, Top Five (wrote, directed & starred in), and, of course, Pootie Tang, among others. He co-created and narrated the comedy series Everybody Hates Chris. His Netflix special Tamborine is currently streaming.

Rock is repped by ICM, Untitled Entertainment, and Morris Yorn. Bousman is with Verve, Zero Gravity and attorney Tanya Mallean. Goldfinger is repped by Verve and attorney Adam Kaller, and Stolberg is with UTA. Circle of Confusion and Jackoway Austen.