John Kramer’s Perfect Saw X Return Was Nearly Ruined Two Years Earlier

John Kramer had the perfect return to the big screen in Saw X, but it was nearly ruined two years earlier. Saw X hit theaters in September 2023, and it quickly became the best Saw movie since the original in 2004. After years of wavering interest — and an all-time box office low with 2021’s Spiral (via The Numbers) — Saw X proved a pleasant surprise. Part of its success can be attributed to where it falls in the Saw franchise’s timeline, as its placement between Saw and Saw II enables the sequel to follow Tobin Bell’s John Kramer once again.

Kramer is the original Jigsaw, and he serves as the villain of the first three Saw movies. However, after Kramer perishes in Saw III, he’s only seen in flashbacks. Saw X marks Bell’s first return as a presently alive Kramer, but according to Spiral director Darren Lynn Bousman, John Kramer could have appeared in Spiral. Bousman hoped to work with Bell on the film, but Lionsgate wanted Spiral to exist “in its own universe,” explicitly stating that Bell shouldn’t be in the film. That’s probably for the best, as Kramer’s return in Spiral would have been very different — and perhaps a bit underwhelming.

John Kramer Appearing In Spiral Would Be Very Different From His Saw X Return

John Kramer’s role in Spiral wouldn’t have worked nearly as well as his return in Saw X for two key reasons. For one, the events of the 2021 film take place after Kramer’s death, which would make his comeback difficult to pull off. Unless the movie wanted to retcon the sequels that came before it, it could only include Kramer in flashbacks. This had been done before in multiple Saw sequels, so it wouldn’t have felt nearly as fresh or effective as Saw X‘s return to Kramer’s life.

The fact that Saw X makes Kramer more of a hero than a villain also highlights why a Spiral return wouldn’t have been as exciting. Saw X revamped the franchise’s formula by making Kramer a killer worth rooting for, something none of the other Saw movies attempted. It’s unlikely Spiral would have put Bell’s character in such a role, as he’d be more likely to target the copycat Jigsaw killers. With that in mind, Kramer’s return to the Saw franchise wouldn’t have been as successful as it was in 2023. It could even have prevented Saw X from going forward.

Jigsaw’s Role In Spiral Could Have Prevented Saw X From Happening

John Kramer’s Saw X comeback is nearly perfect, and it might not have happened if he appeared in Spiral. Given the former movie’s disappointing box office performance, Lionsgate might have pressed the brakes on more Saw movies in general. The studio also might not have come to the conclusion that bringing Kramer back could reignite fans’ interest in the franchise. Saw X‘s performance proves that its decision to recenter Kramer was the right call, so it’s for the best that Kramer didn’t show up in Spiral. He more than made up for the absence in Saw X.