Neve Campbell broke the news today that she would return to the big screen as final girl Sidney Prescott in what will become the seventh installment in the Scream franchise. The news is pretty bonkers considering all of the off-screen issues that have surrounded the production since Spyglass Media parted ways with Melissa Barrera at the end of last year after she shared a pro-Palestinian post on her social media accounts.
But, prepare yourself for even more bonkers news as Kevin Williamson — the man and writer who originally developed the storyline for Scream — will be stepping into direct. The news comes just a few months after Christopher Landon revealed that he would be stepping down from the project. While he penned a handful of the other films, Williamson will not be the writer for Scream 7, instead passing the torch to Guy Busick, who previously worked alongside ex-franchise directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett on Scream (2022) and Scream VI.
The news of Campbell’s return and Williamson’s directorial move comes just days after Scream and Scream VI star, Mason Gooding, said that he suspected that a seventh movie would still be made. While his comments may have been innocent enough, now we’re looking at them under a microscope wondering what other plans Spyglass will be releasing soon. The reunion between Campbell and Williamson is one filled with poetic justice, as Campbell previously turned down a role in Scream VI due to payment discrepancies.
After it was revealed that Barrera and her on-screen sister and co-lead Jenna Ortega wouldn’t be returning for Scream 7, Campbell teased that she may return should a “respectful offer” be made. This is where Williamson comes into play, as the writer previously rallied behind Campbell, supporting her decision to know her worth and stick to her price for future Scream movies. In his comments, Williamson said that he hoped they’d eventually give her what she asked, meaning that the creative likely played a key part in striking the deal.
What Is ‘Scream 7’ About?
Although Campbell is back as Sidney Prescott, a plot for Scream 7 is still up in the air. No other major casting announcements have been revealed at this time, but there’s a chance that with Campbell now on board, her Scream 3 co-star, Patrick Dempsey could reprise his role as well. As Scream (2022) informed audiences, Sidney and Dempsey’s Detective Mark Kincaid tied the knot, meaning he could bake a comeback in the franchise. As for what lies ahead, the writing team will likely be going back to square one as Barrera’s Sam Carpenter was meant to have a three-film arc, something that will obviously no longer be the case.
Kevin Williamson’s Scary Good Legacy
If you are a fan of ’90s horror flicks, there’s a good chance you already know Williamson’s name — Scream or not. The classic 1996 Wes Craven-directed slasher was, in fact, the movie that started it all for Williamson, but it was by no means the only mega project of his career. The writer was also behind classic scare-tastic projects such as I Know What You Did Last Summer and The Faculty, as well as the second and fourth films in the Scream franchise. On television, Williamson has been behind many fan-favorite shows over the years with credits as the creator of Dawson’s Creek, Vampire Diaries, The Following, and more.
With Williamson backing Scream 7 and Campbell reprising her role as Sidney Prescott, the film seems like an unstoppable force for Spyglass. As of right now, no release date has been set but stay tuned for more information. See Williamson‘s announcement post below.
via Collider