SAW III update
Bell, Meyer, and Smith to reprise roles with Soomekh added to cast

Source: Variety
Date: May 5, 2006
 

Tobin Bell, Dina Meyer and Shawnee Smith are reprising their starring roles for "SAW III" while Bahar Soomekh ("Mission: Impossible III") and Angus MacFadyen (Braveheart) are joining the hit horror franchise for the first time. Bell will reprise his role as villain Jigsaw, and Smith and Meyer are back as Amanda and Kerry, respectively. Soomekh, who co-starred in Lionsgate's ensemble drama "Crash," will play Lynn, while MacFadyen ("Braveheart") will play Jeff. Pic, which is being produced by Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures, is set to begin shooting May 8 in Toronto.

"Saw III" will be directed by Darren Lynn Bousman ("Saw II"). Franchise scribes Leigh Whannell and James Wan came up with the story for the upcoming installment, with Whannell penning the screenplay.

All told, horror franchise has grossed more than $250 million in worldwide box office receipts, with DVD Sales approaching 10 million units, according to Lionsgate.

Producers of "Saw III" are Twisted Pictures' Mark Burg and Oren Koules, and the late Gregg Hoffman, to whom the pic will dedicated. Exec producers are Wan, Whannell, Peter Block, Jason Constantine and Dan Heffner.