The Saw franchise timeline constantly changes, and here is when Saw X takes place in the franchise compared to other movies. The low-budget horror movies have always had a knack for including surprising twists and retcons related to the overall Saw universe. The franchise has done everything from prequels to moves that effectively take place at the same time as previous entries, while Spiral advanced the series’ timeline further into the future after John Kramer’s death. However, Tobin Bell’s return as Jigsaw in Saw X‘s cast immediately raised questions about when the movie takes place.
Although John Kramer died at the end of Saw III, the franchise repeatedly found ways to bring him back in the next five installments somehow. This primarily was done through flashbacks to illustrate the long game that Jigsaw had in mind when it came to planning his next victims and their deadly traps. It became clear that Saw X was doing something different with Kramer’s return after it was stated that he was the protagonist of the movie. Shawnee Smith’s return as Amanda became another indication that the Saw timeline was changing in some fashion, leading to the confirmation that Saw X is a prequel.
Saw X Takes Place Between Saw & Saw II
It is officially confirmed that Saw X takes place after Saw and before Saw II in the franchise’s timeline. This setting was chosen so the story can explore John Kramer’s attempt to cure his cancer with an experimental procedure in Mexico. It is estimated that roughly a year passes between the events of Saw and Saw II, which gives the franchise plenty of time to explore Kramer’s life without affecting the canon too much. As for a more precise explanation of Saw X‘s place in the Saw timeline, franchise producer Oren Koules (via Bloody Disgusting) confirmed it is set “weeks after” the original movie.
The timeline placement makes Saw X a prequel for the franchise, and it looks to be the first proper one in that regard. While Jigsaw explored portions of John Kramer’s first game that took place before Saw, there was still an entirely different story that completely unfolded years after Kramer’s death. All indications are that Saw X‘s story is entirely set between Saw and Saw II. However, the movie could contain connections to several other Saw movies that take place later in the timeline thanks to the various flashbacks that the franchise has utilized in the past.
Saw X’s Timeline Placement Marks Another Big Franchise Retcon
As exciting as it is to have John Kramer and Amanda back for Saw X, the franchise is once again retconning the lore by doing this prequel to bring them back. John’s legacy and history have routinely changed over the years thanks to the franchise finding different ways to bring Tobin Bell’s character back. The result has been taking his rather simple story and evolving his life into something much more complex with new victims, new apprentices, and more. With Saw X being set so far back in the Saw timeline, the movie could alter the franchise in much more dramatic fashion than past entries.
