Scream 7 Cast, Director, Writer And More

After "Scream VI" was released in March 2023 and introduced a new generation of heroes, fans are ready for the seventh movie in the long-running series, which initially kicked off in 1996. Written by Kevin Williamson and directed by horror legend Wes Craven, the exceedingly self-aware spin on the slasher franchise — which saw Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) and her friends fleeing from a masked killer known only as Ghostface — was an immediate hit, and you know what that means: sequels. The following movies upped the ante when it came to kills and meta commentary, resulting in one of the very best franchises that horror has to offer. 

Six films and one TV show later, what can we expect from "Scream 7?" What horrors are in store, who will be facing off against Ghostface, and who will be calling the shots from behind the camera? Well, if you like scary movies, then read on for everything you need to know about "Scream 7."

There's been a ton of behind-the-scenes drama surrounding "Scream 7," especially in regards to the cast. While Melissa Barrera was originally slated to return, she's no longer coming back as Sam Carpenter. After comments in response to the Gaza-Israel conflict, the actress was let go from the film. Shortly after, it was announced that Jenna Ortega wouldn't be coming back as Tara Carpenter either due to her work on "Wednesday" Season 2.

So what's next for the "Scream" series? Well, get ready to see the face of the franchise (well, not counting Ghostface) back in action. After Neve Campbell declined to appear in "Scream VI" — the actress said she was majorly low-balled by the studio — the long-time final girl is coming back for the seventh installment. On Instagram, Campbell announced the good news, saying, "Sidney Prescott is coming back!!!! It's always been such a blast and an honor to get to play Sidney in the 'Scream' movies. ... I'm very happy and proud to say I've been asked, in the most respectful way, to bring Sidney back to the screen and I couldn't be more thrilled."

However, she's not the only original "Scream" member returning for the seventh film. Courteney Cox is in talks to reprise the role of Gale Weathers, the in-your-face reporter who's survived more Ghostface encounters than anyone else in the series. When Cox appears in the upcoming sequel, she'll be the only actor who's appeared in every single "Scream" movie, which is a pretty impressive feat. (Well, not counting the voice of Ghostface, Roger L. Jackson.) Neve Campbell also implied to Entertainment Tonight that Patrick Dempsey might reprise his role as Detective Mark Kincaid from "Scream 3."

At the moment, we don't have any concrete details on what will happen in "Scream 7." But we do know two things for a 100% fact — Ghostface is coming back, and the movie will center on the series' long-time final girl. That's something Neve Campbell confirmed when speaking with Entertainment Tonight in July 2024, saying, "We're going to follow Sidney. They did pitch the concept to me, and it's the reason that I jumped on board."

Previously, Sidney had taken a back seat to her younger co-stars in the fifth "Scream" installment. But this time around, she'll be front and center, with the actress comparing the new movie to Jamie Lee Curtis' big return to the "Halloween" franchise. So whatever Ghostface is doing and whoever he's stabbing, it will all revolve around Sidney somehow, and she's beaten enough baddies over the years to handle this upcoming killer.

In addition to losing its two main stars, "Scream 7" also lost its original director. After Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett — who directed the fifth and sixth "Scream" movies — elected to step away from the film, the reins were handed over to Christopher Landon, who previously worked on both "Happy Death Day" movies, the body-swap flick "Freaky," and Netflix's "We Have a Ghost." However, after the drama involving Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega, Landon lost the "Scream" spark and decided to step away.

"I guess now is as good a time as any to announce I formally exited 'Scream 7' weeks ago," Landon wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter) in December 2023. "This will disappoint some and delight others. It was a dream job that turned into a nightmare. And my heart did break for everyone involved. Everyone. But it's time to move on." The filmmaker then went on to say that he hopes the legacy of "Scream" OG Wes Craven "thrives and lifts above the din and the divided world." 

While it's incredibly sad that Landon is longer involved, "Scream 7" has found a pretty amazing replacement. Kevin Williamson — the man who wrote the original "Scream," as well as the second and fourth films — will be sitting in the director's seat. Screenwriting duties will go to Guy Busick, who co-wrote 2022's "Scream" and "Scream VI," along with "Ready or Not" and "Abigail."