On March 12, 2024, Neve Campbell took to her Instagram and shared a picture of the Scream 7 script, announcing that she will be returning as Sidney Prescott in the upcoming Scream installment. This news came as a welcome surprise after Campbell’s highly publicized absence from Scream 6 due to a pay dispute. Sidney had been the main target of the Ghostface killers in the first four Scream movies and had become the iconic final girl of the series.
Scream 5, however, took a different approach. This prequel focused on an entirely new set of characters — sisters Tara (Jenna Ortega) and Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barrera) — who had their own connections to the Ghostface legacy. While Sidney made a cameo appearance in Scream 5, it was clear that the torch was being passed to a new generation. And when she was completely written out of Scream 6, many believed that Sidney’s story was finally over. But now, with her return, it looks like they’re trying to bring back that old Scream vibe. However, it’s not without its complexities. Let’s dig deeper into Never Campbell’s Scream 7 return and why it’s such a big deal for the upcoming movie.
Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega Won’t Be Returning
Neve Campbell’s Scream 7 return is undeniably exciting, but this means we won’t be seeing the Carpenter sisters returning. Scream 5 and 6 meticulously built up Tara and Sam as the franchise’s new faces. While opinions on the new Scream movies were divided, it felt like the franchise had a definitive plan in place. Not to mention, the Carpenter sisters served as the entry point for a new generation of fans unfamiliar with the earlier films.
However, it all started going downhill in November 2023. Barrera was let go from Scream 7 after social media comments regarding the Israel-Palestine war, where she voiced her support for Palestine. Spyglass (the studio behind Scream) considered her statements hateful and antisemitic and announced that Barrera had been fired from the franchise. This decision caused significant social media backlash, with many fans petitioning for a complete boycott of the Scream movies. Soon after, Ortega also announced her departure, citing scheduling conflicts with her role in Wednesday Season 2. Rumors suggest that Ortega’s exit wasn’t entirely due to scheduling, but rather a disagreement with Spyglass over pay. Regardless of the reason, Scream 7 was suddenly left without a central protagonist.
Rebooting the franchise so soon after introducing the Carpenter sisters was not a viable option, and any new actors brought on board would likely face backlash from fans still upset over the handling of Barrera and Ortega’s exits. So, in a desperate move, Spyglass turned to Campbell. She’s the franchise’s original star, and fans of the older Scream movies have been consistently calling for her return to the franchise.
The Writer of the Original Scream Movies Is Directing Scream 7
Originally, Scream 7 was set to be directed by Christopher Landon, a massive fan of the franchise whose own films (Happy Death Day) showcased a clear love for the franchise’s meta-horror style. However, following the dismissal of Barrera, Landon faced a lot of fan backlash for not standing up for her. Things got really ugly, with some people even sending death threats. So, Landon eventually walked away from the project. Much like the casting situation, Spyglass knew that any director they brought in would face similar fan hostility. So, they hired the man behind the original Scream movies: Kevin Williamson.
Williamson wrote the screenplays for Scream 1, Scream 2, and Scream 4, which are widely considered to be the best of the series. Even Williamson’s canceled ideas for Scream 5 and Scream 6 sounded like such brilliant takes that could have elevated the franchise to new heights. With him in the director’s chair and Campbell reprising her role, it sounds like Scream 7 will be a true continuation of the original Scream story that was left off in Scream 4. However, if you take a closer look, the cracks start to show.
Campbell and Williamson Returning May Not Entirely Be Good News for the Franchise
While Williamson’s return to the franchise is definitely exciting, there’s a big problem: he’s back as the director, not the writer. The script remains in the hands of Guy Busick, who wrote Scream 5 and Scream 6. You might assume Williamson would have a big say in the story since he’s directing, but he was already involved as an executive producer for Scream 5 and Scream 6.
So even though he gave some input, the scripts still felt lacking. The reveals felt forced, and the movies seemed too formulaic. It’s just a big letdown to have Williamson back without him having control over the writing. And Williamson taking on the director’s role is another potential problem. It’s cool to see him helm his own creation, but he’s only directed one movie before — Teaching Mrs. Tingle all the way back in 1995. It’s been 25 years since he directed anything!
It leaves a sour taste, knowing that the person writing Scream 7 wasn’t originally planning to continue Sidney’s story. Busick spent two movies building up the Carpenter sisters and the Core Four, only to be forced to now write something for Sidney. Scream 7 has a tough job ahead — bringing Sidney back in an organic way that doesn’t feel forced, explaining why the Carpenter sisters are MIA, and tying up any loose ends from Scream 6. Fans are worried that Scream 7 might not live up to expectations, especially with all the behind-the-scenes drama. We’ll just have to wait and see if Williamson and Campbell can pull it off and keep the Scream legacy alive.
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