Spiral 2: The Honest Update from Chris Rock's Saw Spinoff Producers

The Disappointing Update

Spiral, the 2021 spinoff of the iconic horror franchise, offered a fresh take on the Jigsaw Killer's legacy. Starring Chris Rock as a detective investigating a string of deaths seemingly connected to the Jigsaw Killer, the movie was based on a story concept from Rock himself. Despite this, Spiral was only a modest success, grossing just over $40 million against its $20 million budget while garnering mixed reviews from critics.

Chris Rock standing by himself in Spiral

Recently, Oren Koules, the franchise producer, shared a disappointing update on the chances of a Spiral 2. While speaking with GamesRadar's SFX Magazine for Saw X and the in-development Saw 11, Koules indicated that while a sequel is possible, any such development will remain on the backburner as they focus on Jigsaw-fronted stories thanks to the success of the 2023 sequel.

Chris Rock chained up in Spiral

The Need for Spiral 2

The decision to focus solely on developing Saw 11 makes sense in light of the success of Saw X. The recent installment not only became the highest-grossing sequel since 2010's The Final Chapter but also broke the franchise's record for becoming the first to score a Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. These positive reviews were high enough to score the Certified Fresh rating on the review aggregate, currently sitting at an 80% approval rating from critics, while also landing the highest Audience score at 89%.

Chris Rock as Zeke walking into a building in Spiral

In addition to the recent movie's success, the performance of Spiral itself poses a hurdle for a potential sequel. Its socially conscious story failed to fully break the franchise free from its predictable formula, ultimately netting it a Rotten 37% approval rating from critics. Though audiences were more favorable, with a 75% rating, this didn't translate to much at the box office, making Spiral the lowest-grossing installment to date. Part of this was attributed to the spinoff hitting theaters during the COVID-19 pandemic, though the negative reviews were also deemed a factor in its lackluster performance.

Chris Rock as Zeke looking concerned in Spiral: From the Book of Saw

The Potential for Spiral 2

Despite the critical and commercial underperformance of Spiral, there is still room for a potential sequel. The first Spiral ended on a major cliffhanger, leaving the door open for more stories to tell with the characters. Whether this results in a heated search from Zeke or the actual Jigsaw apprentices looking to learn more about the killer appropriating their ideals and methods, the potential for engaging storytelling with the Spiral characters remains.

Daniel Petronijevic as Boz being attacked by new killer in Spiral: From the Book of Saw

The producers may decide to return to the Spiral characters and explore the unresolved plot threads, offering fans new insight into the world of the Jigsaw Killer. The open-ended conclusion of Spiral leaves ample room for a sequel, and with the right approach, a follow-up could provide a deeper exploration of the characters and their motivations.

Samuel L. Jackson as Marcus investigating crime scene in Spiral: From the Book of Saw