Chapter 354: Trembling Hands

Chapter 354: Chapter 354: Trembling Hands

Upon hearing the word "sequel," the eyes of James Wan and Leigh lit up instantly.

The two exchanged an excited look, and James Wan spoke first, his tone firm. "Mr. Robert, please rest assured! Actually, even before the movie was released, Leigh and I had already started conceiving the script for the sequel. We don’t want to repeat the formula of the first one. Instead, while maintaining the core premise of the ’Jigsaw Trials,’ we want to add more twists and surprises, allowing the audience to see a larger, more complex story system."

Leigh immediately added, "We have already organized a preliminary story framework. This time, we will introduce new test subjects and more ingenious trap designs, while also revealing some of Jigsaw’s past experiences to make the character more three-dimensional. We guarantee that the sequel will absolutely not live down to Ms. Irene’s expectations, nor will it disappoint the audience."

Robert nodded with satisfaction, a gratified smile appearing on his face. "Very good, I knew you were already prepared. Irene has great trust in your creative talent. She hopes you can maintain the original creative intent of the first film while boldly innovating, turning Saw into a sustainable classic IP."

He paused, then added, "Subsequent funding and the production team will fully cooperate with you. If you have any needs, you can bring them up at any time."

The two hurriedly expressed their thanks, their inner excitement growing even stronger.

For them, being able to receive continued support from Future World Pictures and having the opportunity to continue the story of Saw was even more exciting than the blockbuster opening weekend box office.

Robert at this moment took a blue folder out of his briefcase and pushed it toward the two. "This is what Irene asked me to pass on to you. She hopes that while you are producing Saw 2, you can also take a look at the proposal for this new project."

James Wan curiously picked up the folder, and the gold-stamped title came into view: Final Destination.

He was slightly taken aback and turned to look at Leigh. Both of their eyes were filled with confusion.

"This is a new horror movie project conceived by Irene," Robert explained. "She feels that besides the ’artificial trials’ horror mode of Saw, the horror theme of ’fatalistic reincarnation’ also has great market potential. The core premise of this project is: A group of young people avoid the call of Death due to an accident, only to discover that Death will not give up, but will instead take them away one by one in all sorts of unexpected ways."

As James Wan listened to Robert’s introduction, he quickly flipped through the proposal.

The proposal detailed the beginning of the story: A group of high school students are riding a plane, and because one person’s premonition comes true, they get off the plane early, avoiding the catastrophe of the plane explosion.

But subsequently, these survivors begin to encounter bizarre accidents one after another. Every death seems accidental, yet hides some sort of inevitable connection.

"This premise is so compelling!" Leigh leaned in beside James Wan, looking at the proposal together, and couldn’t help but exclaim. "Unlike the escape room trials of Saw, this kind of ’omnipresent threat of death’ can better create a suffocating sense of horror. Furthermore, the design of each accidental death can be full of creativity, allowing the audience to feel the impermanence of fate amidst the tension and excitement."

James Wan nodded, his eyes filled with approval. "Ms. Irene’s concept is so ingenious. This theme is not only novel but also has a lot of room for development. We can showcase the ’rules’ of Death through different death scenes and details, letting the audience guess who the next victim is while trying to find a way to break fate."

He flipped to the last page of the proposal and saw written on it: "Core Keywords: Fate, Accident, Chain Reaction, Human Struggle." He couldn’t help but exclaim, "These keywords accurately capture the essence of the story and form a very good differentiation from the ’Choice, Redemption, Human Trial’ of Saw."

Robert watched the two as they were engrossed, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. "The reason Irene gave this project to you is that she feels you have a unique talent for creating a horror atmosphere and controlling the pacing of the story. She hopes that while you are creating Saw 2, you can consider the editing and directing work for Final Destination. Of course, this is not a hard requirement. You can learn more about it first before making a decision."

James Wan closed the proposal and looked at Robert with a firm gaze. "Mr. Robert, please tell Ms. Irene that we are very willing to accept this challenge! The premise of Final Destination fills us with creative inspiration. While completing the script for Saw 2, we will seriously polish the concept for this new project, striving to bring the audience another wonderful horror movie."

Leigh also nodded, his tone excited. "Exactly! Being able to gain Ms. Irene’s trust and having the opportunity to try different types of horror themes is a very precious opportunity for us. We will definitely go all out and not let her down."

Robert smiled with satisfaction. "Good, I will convey your thoughts to Irene. She has always said that you are the directors who understand horror movies the best, and now it seems, she was absolutely right."

He paused, then added, "Regarding Final Destination, if you have any new ideas or suggestions, you can communicate with me at any time. Irene will also personally participate in the script polishing process. She hopes this project can complement Saw and together enrich the horror movie matrix of Future World Pictures."

The two hurriedly nodded, their hearts filled with anticipation.

For them, just a year ago they were independent directors that no one paid attention to, and now, not only had they become famous overnight thanks to Saw, but they also had the opportunity to continue directing two heavyweight horror movies. It all felt like a dream.

"By the way, there is one more thing," Robert suddenly remembered something and added. "The overseas distribution rights for Saw are currently being bid on by more than a dozen studios. We are currently in negotiations and expect to confirm the partnership by next week. For the subsequent overseas promotion, we may need your cooperation to participate in some online interviews and fan interaction activities. Do you think that’s okay?"

James Wan immediately agreed. "Of course! We are very willing to cooperate if it allows more overseas audiences to see this movie."

Leigh also followed up. "We are ready. Whether it’s interviews or interactions, we will fully cooperate with the team’s arrangements."

Robert nodded and stood up. "Good, then let’s stop here for today. For subsequent work, we will arrange for dedicated personnel to coordinate with you. I wish you success in your creation and look forward to seeing the wonderful scripts for Saw 2 and Final Destination soon."

James Wan and Leigh also hurriedly stood up and escorted Robert to the door of the conference room.

Watching Robert’s departing back, the two exchanged an excited look once more, couldn’t wait to sit back down at the table, reopened the proposal for Final Destination, and began to discuss it heatedly.

"How do you think the first death scene should be designed?" Leigh spoke first, his eyes shining with excitement. "The proposal mentioned the survivors after the plane explosion. Could the first victim encounter an accident in daily life, like being hit by a runaway car while crossing the road, or being electrocuted by a leaky water heater while taking a shower?"

James Wan shook his head. "I think it could be more creative. For example, the first victim could be a young person who likes street racing. He avoided the plane explosion, but during a race, because the brakes suddenly failed, he crashed into a billboard on the side of the road. And the pattern on the billboard just happens to be related to the scene of the plane explosion, which can form a kind of fatalistic echo."

"That’s a great idea!" Leigh clapped his hands excitedly. "Also, we can bury some suggestive details in every death scene, like the appearance of black feathers, a ticking clock, or lights that suddenly go out, so that when the audience looks back on it afterwards, they realize these were all omens of Death’s arrival."

James Wan nodded. "Exactly! And, we can design a core character, like that high school student with the ability of premonition, letting him see some blurry omens before every death occurs, and then try to save the other survivors. This can increase the tension of the story and also let the audience feel the human struggle and the resistance against fate."

The two chatted more and more engrossed. The sunlight outside the window gradually slanted to the west, but the discussion in the conference room never ceased.

For them, the success of Saw was just a beginning. The upcoming Saw 2 and Final Destination would be important opportunities for them to go further in the field of horror movies.