Scream 7: What We Know So Far About The Horror Movie Sequel

Rumors of the Scream movies spawning a seventh installment had been swirling around since even before Scream VI was released. However, when the most recent sequel to one of the greatest horror movies of all time hit a franchise milestone as the first to surpass $100 million domestically and became the highest-grossing installment yet, Scream 7 became an extremely likely prospect. 

Earlier in 2023, the call was officially made for Ghostface to make yet another killing. So, how soon can we expect it, who from the cast might come back, and who is the villain behind the mask this time? Looks like we are getting a little too far ahead of ourselves speculating over this upcoming horror movie. For now, let’s just focus on what we can say about Scream 7.

What Is The Scream 7 Release Date?

At the moment, Scream 7 does not have a set release date, but we do know that the slasher sequel is in active development. An article by The Hollywood Reporter from August 2023 details that, following the box office success of Scream VI, the next installment of one of the greatest horror movie franchises was given the official go-ahead from Spyglass Media Group, which also produced the fifth installment from 2022. 

Melissa Barrera And Jenna Ortega Are Not Returning

While the full Scream 7 cast has yet to be announced, we know it will not include two of the most recent installments’ biggest stars. In November 2023, Variety reported that Melissa Barrera was fired by Spyglass and, the following day, Deadline reported that Jenna Ortega is not expected to come back for the sequel either.

Though there have been rumors, there is no confirmed connection between why the actors – who led the “Core Four” as sisters Sam and Tara Carpenter – are leaving the franchise. A Spyglass rep claims Barrera’s social media comments criticizing seemingly one-sided war coverage of the Israeli-Hamas war and allusions to the Holocaust were interpreted as antisemitic. Ortega’s voluntary exit was reported as due to Scream 7‘s still unfinished script and her commitment to filming Wednesday Season 2 and completing the long-awaited Beetlejuice 2, as well. However, a THR article from later in November claims that Spyglass refused to give the X star a higher pay raise.

Neve Campbell And Patrick Dempsey Are Rumored To Be Eyed For A Return

The critical and commercial success of Scream VI actually came as a bit of a surprise, considering it was the first installment to not include one of horror cinema’s top Scream Queens, Neve Campbell, as Sidney Prescott, following a dispute over payment. Well, now that two of the franchise’s newest leading stars have left, is there a chance that 2022’s Scream was not the final stand for the series’ original final girl after all?

Shortly after Barrera and Ortega’s exit, Variety reported that Spyglass was reaching out to Campbell about reprising her role for Scream 7, along with Scream 3’s Patrick Dempsey as her husband, Det. Mark Kincaid. The former Grey’s Anatomy cast member had actually just returned to the horror genre in Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving – and, once again, in the role of a cop. Whether or not the offer is just a rumor, nor how Campbell and Dempsey may have responded, remains unconfirmed for now.  

Christopher Landon Is Directing Scream 7

Assuming the reins of the franchise that started with the late, legendary Wes Craven at the helm is someone who is already well on his way to earning the same level of esteem in the horror genre, Christopher Landon. The filmmaker later told Jess Cagle (via ComicBook) that he was actually personally recommended for the job by Scream‘s original writer, Kevin Williamson. Landon would confirm his involvement in Scream 7 by thanking fans, the guys from Radio Silence, and Williamson in the following post from X (the new name for Twitter):

The son of Little House on the Prairie star Michael Landon has already shown he has a knack for the Scream movies’ signature satirical tone by writing and directing instant horror comedy classics like the Happy Death Day movies, Freaky, and the spooky, but heartwarming, Netflix original, We Have a Ghost. He made a name for himself as a unique voice in the genre with writing credits for 2007’s Disturbia and most of the subsequent Paranormal Activity movies (the fifth of which marked his debut as a horror director). However, he has also dabbled in more straightforward dramatic fare, such as his 2010 directorial debut, Burning Palms, or even something as light as Lifetime’s feature adaptation of his late father’s other famous series, Highway to Heaven, which he co-wrote in 2021.

Radio Silence Is Executive Producing

Before Landon was tapped to take the next stab, the first ones to take over the Scream franchise following Wes Craven’s passing with the fifth installment were the filmmaking collective, Radio Silence. Comprised of directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett and producer Chad Villella, the trio also known for another instant horror-comedy classic from 2019, Ready or Not, may not be directing this time, but have signed on to executive produce Scream 7, according to the above THR article detailing Landon’s hiring. 

The reason why the directors behind Radio Silence are not returning to helm a third Scream sequel is because – as Deadline reported on April 11, 2023 – they have been tapped to helm a new monster movie for Universal Studios. Not much is known about the project – including the title, the creature at the center of story, or when production will start. However, we do know that it has been penned in part by the co-writer of the trio’s Scream movies, Guy Busick, and, according to Deadline, will reunite the filmmakers with Barerra.

Radio Silence Previously Voiced Hope For A Scream 7

The otherwise exciting news that Radio Silence is a part of Universal’s new era of monster movies did, however, have some people bummed – including our own Corey Chichizola, who really loved the filmmaking collective’s approach to resurrecting the franchise. Thus, it is relieving to see the trio still somewhat involved with Scream 7 – a film that they are likely relieved is happening at all. When asked by Deadline at the Scream VI premiere about the potential for another sequel, Bettinelli-Olpin replied with this:

We hope. We want to be watching Scream movies whether we’re involved or not for the rest of our lives.

He also told The Hollywood Reporter that he and the others are “not giving up” on another chance to work with Neve Campbell. Could that chance be in Scream 7? Or, perhaps, with their monster movie? Only time will tell.

Fans were already up in arms to see the Scream franchise’s original lead, Neve Campbell, absent from the sixth installment, and the reactions to Barrera’s firing and Ortega’s resignation have not been any different so far. Some have begun to speculate that this will require Spyglass to reboot the franchise completely, or at least introduce a new cast amid the remaining legacy characters. Of course,  the story is far from over, so be sure to follow the rules and keep your eyes peeled for more updates on Scream 7.