Production began in Torontothis week on Saw 2, the follow-upto Twisted Pictures/Lions Gate's 2004 smash that grossed more than $100m at theworldwide box office.

Lions Gate FilmsInternational will begin selling international rights at Cannes on the picture,which is being produced by Evolution Entertainment's genre arm Twisted Picturesand Lions Gate Films.

Lions Gate plans a Halloween2005 North American release on Saw 2, however the parties are keeping the storyline a closely guardedsecret.

Darren Lynn Bousman makeshis directorial debut and co-wrote the screenplay with Saw screenwriter LeighWhannel.

Donnie Wahlberg, Franky G,Glenn Plummer, and Emmanuelle Vaugier head up the cast, with Shawnee Smith,Dina Meyer and Tobin Bell returning from the original.

Twisted Pictures' GreggHoffman, Oren Koules and Mark Burg are producing, as they did on the original.Whannel and Saw's director James Wan serve as executive producers along withStacey Testro, Peter Block, Lions Gate president of acquisitions and co-productions,and Jason Constantine, Lions Gate senior vice president of acquisitions.

Twisted Pictures iscurrently in post-production on Catacombs, the first title under thenine-picture deal between Twistedand Lions Gate, and is in pre-production on Silence for Universal Pictures.