Variety reports that Gregg Hoffman, president and one of the founders of Twisted Pictures, which produced the SAW films, died this past Sunday of natural causes at age 42. Hoffman, who had worked at Disney and Lynda Obst Productions, joined Twisted in 2003 and was soon showing partners Oren Koules and Mark Burg a script and eight-minute “audition” scene for SAW by filmmakers Leigh Whannell and James Wan.
The Twisted team financed the movie themselves, and it became a smash hit for Lions Gate, grossing over $100 million worldwide; they followed up with the even more successful SAW II, and in addition to an in-development third installment, Twisted also has the fright films SILENCE (by Wan and Whannell) for Universal, CATACOMBS for Lions Gate and CRAWLSPACE, based on Herbert Lieberman’s novel, for Paramount.
“Gregg’s talents as a producer were overshadowed only by his abilities and sensitivities as a family man and friend,” Lions Gate president of production Peter Block tells the trade. “He had the uncanny ability to pursue creative and professional endeavors in a collaborative and inspiring fashion, traits all too rare in our industry.”
Everyone on the Horror Asylum team are deeply saddened by the news and all our thoughts go out to Gregg’s family.
For over 20 years the Horror Asylum has continued to bring you the very best genre news, reviews, giveaways and interviews in the horror world.