Lionsgate's officially released synopsis reads: "Working in the shadow of an esteemed police veteran, brash detective Ezekiel "Zeke" Banks and his rookie partner William Schenk take charge of a grisly investigation into murders that are eerily reminiscent of the city's gruesome past. Unwittingly trapped in a deepening mystery, Zeke finds himself at the center of the killer's morbid game".
According to Chris Rock, the origins of Spiral: From The Book of Saw came from a chance meeting with the head of Lionsgate at a friend's wedding, and felt doing something in the horror genre would be a new avenue to take his career, though planned to include some comedic elements in the film. Rock approached Lionsgate with his ideas of extending the franchise, who became very interested in the concept. Lionsgate's CEO Joe Drake said that Rock's idea was "completely reverential to the legacy of the material while reinvigorating the brand with his wit, creative vision and passion for this classic horror franchise". By January 2018, industry rumors had said that Lionsgate had begun discussions of a ninth Saw film, for which The Spierig Brothers would not be returning. By April 2018, Twisted Pictures was reported to be developing a sequel with Jigsaw writers Josh Stolberg and Peter Goldfinger. On May 16, 2019, the film was officially in production. Former series director Darren Lynn Bousman returned to helm the film, along with series veterans Mark Burg and Oren Koules as producers. Rock was involved as an executive producer, in addition to writing the story treatment. Joining Rock as executive producers included the original Saw creators James Wan and Leigh Whannell, along with Daniel Heffner. Stolberg and Goldfinger were affirmed as scriptwriters. With the announcement, Rock stated, "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." Burg and Koules said that Rock's treatment of Saw was comparable to what Eddie Murphy had done for buddy cop films in 48 Hrs., giving the Saw series a "completely fresh perspective". Stolberg later confirmed that the ninth installment will exist in the same canon as the previous eight films, and will not be a reboot, nor will it be a direct sequel to Jigsaw.
Filming
On July 8, 2019, filming commenced in Toronto under the working title of The Organ Donor. Rock, Samuel L. Jackson, Max Minghella and Marisol Nichols were announced to be starring in the film. Lionsgate's CEO Joe Drake stated, "We think Samuel L. Jackson and Chris Rock along with Max Minghella and Marisol Nichols make this film completely special in the Saw canon and we can't wait to unleash this unexpected and sinister new story on fans of this franchise. This is next level of Saw on full tilt." On August 28, 2019, filming officially wrapped. In February 2020, the Motion Picture Association of America gave the film an R rating, for "sequences of grisly bloody violence and torture, pervasive language, some sexual references and brief drug use".
Marketing
The film was known under the working title The Organ Donor until the name Spiral: From the Book of Saw was leaked to the press on January 22, 2020, along with Mongrel Media as the Canadian distributor. The first teaser poster and trailer, released on February 5, 2020, confirmed Spiral as the title of the film.
Release
Spiral: From The Book of Saw is scheduled to be released in the United States on May 21, 2021, by Lionsgate. The film was originally scheduled to be released on October 23, 2020, but was moved up to May 15, 2020. The film was later delayed to its current release date, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
