In news as baffling as one of Jigsaw's elaborate puzzles, it's been announced that the Saw franchise is to be revived with a story penned by legendary stand-up comedian Chris Rock.
Just let that really sink in for a moment, because honestly - what is even happening right now?
On Thursday, Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures announced the news that they've partnered with Rock to expand the world of the Saw franchise. A new film is set for release right in time for Halloween, on 23 October 2020.
"I've been a fan of Saw since the first film in 2004," Rock revealed in a statement. "I am excited by the opportunity to take this to a really intense and twisted new place."
The iconic horror franchise is renowned for its 'torture porn' brand of terror in which various dim-witted and often immoral people are basically turned into human smoothies, across eight gore-filled movies.
But the films are also known for their ludicrous twists - and Rock's sudden inclusion as a writer of the newly revived franchise is probably the greatest and most unexpected twist yet.
"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 chairman, Joe Drake, in a statement.
"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."
Rock helming the story for the new Saw film might be unexpected, but it actually makes sense when you consider that comedians have been slowly making the leap from comedy to horror in recent years.
Vice Principals star Danny McBride helped breathe new life into the Halloween franchise by co-writing an eleventh instalment to the series last year; meanwhile comedian Jordan Peele is now an Oscar-winning master of horror, after trading in comedy sketches for films like Get Out and Us.
But does this trend signal that we should be expecting more horror movies from major comedians? Is Jerry Seinfeld going to reboot the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise? Will forgotten 90s comedian Brian Conley suddenly reboot the Puppet Master movies? And should we brace ourselves for a UK reboot of Prom Night by Sarah Millican?!
I just don't even know anymore.
What I do know is that Rock might just be the fresh voice that this series needs. Now, if we could just have Rock also portray Jigsaw in this upcoming Sawmovie then I'm officially all in on this idea - take my damn money, already.
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Words: Amy Roberts
Topics: TV and Film, Celebrity, US Entertainment