No joke: Samuel L. Jackson to play Chris Rock’s dad in ‘Saw’ reboot

Chris Rock’s “Saw” horror franchise reboot just confirmed a huge name for the cast: Samuel L. Jackson.

“This is next level of Saw on full tilt,” Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chairman Joe Drake said in a statement. “We think Samuel L. Jackson and Chris Rock along with Max Minghella and Marisol Nichols make this film completely special in the Saw canon and we can’t wait to unleash this unexpected and sinister new story on fans of this franchise.”

Rock will headline as a detective, with Minghella (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) co-starring as his partner, William Schenk, according to the Hollywood Reporter. “Riverdale” actress Nichols will feature as Captain Angie Garza — aka Rock’s boss.

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Rock’s entry will be the ninth flick in the “Saw” franchise, which has been a box office hit for Lionsgate. The gore series follows the traps set by Jigsaw, a sadistic serial killer who forces victims to play deadly games of survival.

There will be plenty of “Saw” alums back for this revamp, including director Darren Lynn Bousman, who helmed three previous films in the franchise. Rock will executive produce with James Wan, who directed the 2004 original, and Leigh Whannell, who starred and penned that film’s script.

This will be a rare violent film for Rock, who’s best known for his comedy work, excluding his breakout role as Pookie in the gritty cult classic “New Jack City.”

Rumors of Jackson’s casting began circulating on Reddit alongside shots of the filming location, where shooting began this week. The new “Saw” will be in theaters Oct. 23, 2020.