Despite the frequent buzz on its production, Scream 7 update is that it remains in the works as the franchise swims in a pool of controversies, budget conflicts, and cast exits. It’s been a frustrating wait for Scream fans, with the movie’s production delayed on multiple accounts owing to the Hollywood SAG-AFTRA strike and the drama that followed. After the tumultuous turn of events, viewers were left wondering about the franchise’s future and whether they could expect Scream 7 to grace their screens in the foreseeable future.
Scream is one of the most renowned horror franchises, with the identity-shifting character of Ghostface stalking and slashing teenagers since the release of its first movie in 1996. The first four Scream films were directed by the legendary late Wes Craven, who is recognized as the master of horror owing to his contribution and impact of his work in the genre. Craven set the premise for Scream, making it the cult classic it is today, consisting of six films, a television series, merchandise, and games. The Scream movies have had multiple writers, directors, core cast members, and fresh faces over the years, so what went down during the production of Scream 7 that led to numerous delays and fan outrage? Let’s find out!
The Controversial Firing of Melissa Barrera Led to Delays
After the initial Hollywood strike delay, things turned ugly when the Scream production company Spyglass fired Melissa Barrera, who led the last two installments of the franchise as Sam Carpenter. The action was triggered after she shared social media posts in support of Palestinian citizens amid the Israel-Hamas war. Spyglass cut ties with Barrera after she shared posts that accused Israel of genocide and ethnic cleansing as a reaction to the Hamas terror attacks and their subsequent invasion of Gaza on October 7, 2023. However, the actress has maintained her stance and stated that she does not believe her posts to be controversial, with her intentions purely to support those suffering from war.
Spyglass has explicitly stated that they have “zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion, or anything that flagrantly crosses the line into hate speech” in a statement released on November 21, 2023. This action led to widespread outrage from fans, deeming it an unfair dismissal and exclaiming that Barrera was deliberately shown in poor light. Fans disagree with Spyglass’s accusation that her posts promote any form of hate speech, with many vouching for a boycott of the movie with the ‘#BoycottScream7’ trending on X. Surprisingly, this was just the beginning of the events that led to the domino effect of exits from Scream 7.
Scream 7 Cast: Jenna Ortega’s Exit and Neve Campbell’s Return to The Scream Franchise
Following the ousting of Melissa Barrera, the franchise faced yet another loss as Jenna Ortega, who played her sister Tara Carpenter in Scream (2022) and Scream VI (2023), quietly exited shortly. Though Ortega cited her reason for leaving to schedule conflicts and a possible pay dispute, fans believe it was an act of solidarity towards her onscreen sister after what they felt to be an unfair sacking. Ortega was a massive draw for audiences and would cost the franchise significantly, which led them to take a step back into the past and pull out the big guns in the form of Neve Campbell. The franchise roped in the Scream veteran to reprise her role as Sidney Prescott.
Following her very public departure from Scream 6 back in 2022 owing to pay disputes, Campbell is more than thrilled to be back on screen for Scream 7, sharing a long message in an Instagram post stating, “… I’m very happy and proud to say I’ve been asked, in the most respectful way, to bring Sidney back to the screen…” While fans of the Scream franchise would’ve originally been excited to see the return of a legacy character, they have been left deeply divided due to Barrera’s dismissal. The outrage has escalated to an extent where fans are picking sides, with potential boycotts looming, going as far as to say that Campbell’s return indicates her support for Spyglass’s decision.
The Return of Kevin Williamson as Director of Scream 7
If the cast uncertainties and exits weren’t bad enough, the director of Scream 7, Christopher Landon, also exited in December 2023, citing backstage difficulties. The director of movies like Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones (2014) and Freaky (2020), Landon, shared in a post on X proclaiming his formal exit from Scream 7, terming it “a dream job that turned into a nightmare.” Even though he was honored to have the brief opportunity to follow in Wes Craven’s and Kevin Williamson’s footsteps, he explained that his heart hurts for everyone involved and hopes that Craven’s legacy continues to thrive even without his involvement.
When Campbell announced her return, she also confirmed in the same Instagram post that Kevin Williamson — who wrote the first two films and the fourth — would direct the new Scream installment. It is also believed that Williamson’s involvement greatly influenced Campbell’s return to the Scream franchise. Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett directed the previous two Scream movies, with Landon being roped in as a replacement. James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick are still expected to serve as screenwriters, though it is unclear where the script stands amid the rapid departures.
What to Expect from The Plot of Scream 7
After nearly a decade since the previous installment, in 2022, the Scream franchise introduced Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Mason Gooding, and Jasmin Savoy Brown as the “Core Four,” setting the premise for new faces in Scream (2022). They also brought in major legacy characters, Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette, to reprise their roles from the previous installments — creating a link between the old and the new. The fifth and sixth installments were centered around the Carpenter sisters, played by Barrera and Ortega, along with twins Chad and Mindy Meeks-Martin. This marked the establishment of a new set of films following these four, as Ghostface brought about more murder and mayhem.
Owing to the exits of Barrera and Ortega, the plot for Scream 7 remains uncertain. With the sudden absence of the main leads, there lies a substantial risk of the film falling into a dreaded nostalgia trap. Especially now with Campbell’s return and the potential return of characters like Patrick Dempsey’s Mark Kincaid. With no formal information on the plot, the new turn of events indicates that the franchise might be taking a step back and not forward. It will be interesting to see the writers find a way to explain the disappointing exits of the Carpenter sisters in the upcoming installment, as they had quickly turned fan favorites.
Scream 7 Release Date, Returning Cast, and Production
The only notable cast information viewers can be sure of is Neve Campbell’s. While Courtney Cox’s return as Gale Weathers awaits confirmation, Kirby Reed, played by Hayden Panettiere, who first appeared in Scream 4 (2011), could also be a potential returning cast member. Roger L Jackson should also be back to provide Ghostface’s voice, and as mentioned before, fans could see Patrick Dempsey reprise his role as well. Considering their close intertwinement with the Carpenter sisters, whether the Meeks-Martin twins will be in this film is up for debate.
After all the mumbo jumbo that went down since its announcement in August 2023, Scream 7 is still in the early stages of development — the movie does not currently have a release date. However, we can tentatively expect it to hit theatres in late 2024 or early 2025. Rumors are flying around that the movie will be filming in Canada under the working title Blackbird, though this is yet to be confirmed and should be taken with a grain of salt. While we know fans of the Scream franchise are waiting to reunite with Ghostface, we can only hope that everything will go smoothly in the ongoing production of Scream 7. Here’s another guide to help you understand all that’s going on with Scream 7.
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