Saw X unveils another image of Shawnee Smith as Amanda Young

Lionsgate is clearly very aware of just how popular the Amanda Young character, played by Shawnee Smith, is with fans of the Saw franchise. Although she was killed off in Saw III, she’s back for the new sequel Saw X, since the film’s story takes place between the events of the first film and Saw II – and since she’s back, she’s getting a good amount of attention in the film’s marketing. For example: Rotten Tomatoes just got the first look at a new image from Saw X, and the focus of the image is Smith as Amanda. You can check it out at the bottom of this article.

Saw X reaches theatres on September 29th.

Amanda isn’t the only dead character who’s back in a big way for this sequel, as John “Jigsaw” Kramer, played once again by Tobin Bell, is front and center here. He also died in Saw III.

Kevin Greutert, who previously directed Saw VI and Saw: The Final Chapter (and also edited the first five films, plus Jigsaw) is back at the helm for Saw X. Jigsaw and Spiral: From the Book of Saw screenwriters Pete Goldfinger and Josh Stolberg have written the script. Stolberg has promised that this movie “is gonna make John Kramer fans very happy!” It has been said that “The upcoming Saw movie is planned to be very much a John Kramer story … The idea is that the story is being told from Kramer’s point of view as opposed to following the trap victims.”

Here’s the synopsis: In the Twisted Pictures next installment John Kramer (Tobin Bell) is back, and it’s the untold chapter of Jigsaw’s final games. Set between the events of Saw I and II, a sick and desperate John travels to Mexico for a risky and experimental medical procedure in hopes of a miracle cure for his cancer – only to discover the entire operation is a scam to defraud the most vulnerable. The infamous serial killer returns to his work, turning the tables on the con artists in his signature visceral way through devious, deranged, and ingenious traps.

Bell and Smith are joined in the cast by Synnøve Macody Lund (Ragnarok), Steven Brand (The Sandman), Michael Beach (Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story), Renata Vaca (Pedal to Medal), Paulette Hernandez (Crown of Tears), Joshua Okamoto (Control-Z), and Octavio Hinojosa (How to Survive Being Single).

Franchise producers Mark Burg and Oren Koules of Twisted Pictures provided the following statement: “What a thrill to be reuniting with Tobin. His performance as John Kramer is part of the magic that made this franchise a phenomenon and his character is an active part of this film.” They have previously said, “We have been listening to what the fans have been asking for and are hard at work planning a movie that Saw aficionados and horror fans alike will love.”

A press release from Lionsgate says “the return of Bell to the franchise furthers Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures’ goal of a film that captures everything Saw fans love about the franchise, while also keeping them guessing with all-new traps and a new mystery to solve.”

Deadline reminds us that Bell’s Kramer (otherwise known as Jigsaw) is “the antagonist at the heart of the Saw franchise – a former civil engineer who was diagnosed with colon cancer and subsequently elected to test others’ will to live via a series of deadly games. The character appeared in the first three Saw films before being killed off, then going on to appear via flashbacks in most of the films that followed.”

Are you looking forward to Saw X, and are you glad Jigsaw and Amanda are back? Let us know by leaving a comment below… after you’ve taken a look at this image: