Scream has been a constant screamer in the ever-shouting world of horror film franchises. Now, with its seventh installment in the works, the series is facing some major twists and turns. Let’s dive into the gory story details, shall we?
Firstly, the Scream franchise, after resuscitating itself with its fifth and sixth installments, is again at a crossroads. Scream 7, creatively rebooting following the departure of two pivotal stars, Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega, is set to stir the pot.
Barrera, who became the new face of the franchise, was dropped by Spyglass Media Group over allegations of antisemitism stemming from her support of Palestine in its current conflict with Israel. Ortega, on the other hand, cited scheduling conflicts with other projects, namely Wednesday Season 2 and Beetlejuice 2, for her exit.
Losing Barrera and Ortega from the Scream cast has definitely thrown a spanner in the works, but Spyglass seems to have an ace up its sleeve. According to Variety, the ousted cast could potentially be replaced by former stars Neve Campbell and Patrick Dempsey.
Although there are no negotiations currently taking place between the aforementioned parties, there’s a good chance that Spyglass would be willing to extend an olive branch to Campbell, who was notably absent in Scream 6 due to pay disputes.
In the director’s shoes remains Christopher Landon, who was tapped to replace Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. In a Twitter post that has since been deleted, the American filmmaker expressed frustration over Barrera’s departure, emphasizing that it wasn’t his call. He summed it up with a simple, “Everything sucks. Stop yelling.”
Given his previous works in the horror genre, Landon’s appointment might just be the adrenaline shot the franchise needs, especially considering the need for a script rewrite and the hunt for new cast members. That being said, who will pen Scream 7 remains a mystery, as previous writers James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick have not been confirmed to return.
As for the rest of the cast, the doors are wide open. Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding are expected to return, and Courteney Cox, who has appeared in all Scream films, will likely reprise her role as Gale Weathers.
Plot-wise, Scream 7 is shrouded in as much mystery as Ghostface’s motives. Fans can expect a new take on the infamous antagonist(s). Theories are swirling, one of which teases that Sam Carpenter might become the next Ghostface – a tantalizing twist given her lineage, but, as always with Scream, expect the unexpected.
So, will Scream 7 be the final curtain call for this long-standing franchise? Unlikely. Given the recent box office successes, particularly Scream 6’s impressive $108 million domestic haul, the possibility of an eighth Scream installment seems more than plausible. If Scream 7 can keep up with this momentum, fans might need to keep their voice boxes prepared for yet another round of terror.
