Key Takeaways:
– Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega were initially set to take the lead in “Scream 7”.
– Due to a pay dispute, Ortega exited the project, followed by Barrera’s removal over political comments.
– Neve Campbell is confirmed to return as franchise heroine Sidney Prescott in the redeveloped “Scream 7”.
– Actors Patrick Dempsey and Courteney Cox are reportedly in talks to join the cast.
– Ex-executive producer of “Scream” Kevin Williamson is expected to direct “Scream 7”.
Behind the Ghost-face Mask: From Initial Plans to Redevelopment of Scream 7
Initial plans for “Scream 7” were set in motion by Spyglass Media and Paramount Pictures, with “Scream (2022)” and “Scream VI” leads Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega at the forefront. However, the project took an unforeseen turn when Ortega allegedly requested a significant pay raise, leading to her departure. A similar event was observed when Neve Campbell, the original face of the franchise, stepped down from “Scream VI” over pay issues. Soon after, Barrera, too, exited the project due to unfavorable responses from Spyglass executives over her remarks on the Israel-Hamas conflict. This led to the withdrawal of “Freaky” and “Happy Death Day” director Christopher Landon.
Casting Developments and Revival of “Scream 7”
“Scream 7” has since been redeveloped, bringing back Neve Campbell to headline the movie as Sidney Prescott, the franchise heroine. Executives are reportedly hoping to cast her “Scream 3” co-star Patrick Dempsey as LAPD Detective Mark Kincaid. According to industry scooper Daniel Richtman, the former “Grey’s Anatomy” star is in negotiations for the role. Richtman also claims that Courteney Cox is confirmed to reprise her role as Gale Weathers, a journalist and author, and an integral character of the “Scream” franchise.
Fresh Faces Behind the Mask
Kevin Williamson is set to direct the upcoming sequel. Not only is he the screenplay writer for the original “Scream”, but he has also penned other renowned horrors like “I Know What You Did Last Summer”, “Scream 2”, “The Faculty”, and “Halloween H20”. Williamson also made significant contributions to the first drafts of “Scream 3 and 4” and, following a few major revisions, he will be working on “Scream 7” based on a screenplay by Guy Busick, the writer behind 2022’s “Scream” and “Scream VI”.
This marks a grand return for Williamson, who made his directorial debut with “Teaching Mrs. Tingle” in 1999. This makes “Scream 7”, a product of Busick’s collaboration with his co-writer James Vanderbilt, only his second credit as a director.
How do you feel about the possible return of Courteney Cox and Patrick Dempsey sharing the screen with Neve Campbell in “Scream 7?” We would love to hear your thoughts on this development. Please feel free to leave a comment.
