Slasher followers rejoice! The subsequent installment within the Scream franchise not too long ago wrapped filming and is slated to hit theaters worldwide February 2026.
This sequel follows the sequence timeline, albeit in a slightly-tweaked vogue. Scream (2022) and Scream 6 administrators Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett stepped down and had been quickly changed by Comfortable Loss of life Day helmer Christopher Landon. He then exited the undertaking together with Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega, making means for unique screenwriter Kevin Williamson to take residence within the director’s chair.
Whereas the trail from Scream 6 to 7 has been tumultuous to say the least, some steadiness is ensured: franchise stalwarts Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox return as Sidney Prescott and Gale Weathers respectively and a swathe of recognisable forged members poised to reprise their roles.
With this recent stab, ahem, heading to theaters in ten months, that provides us loads of time to embark on hypothesis galore amid our personal needs for the brand new film and the way forward for the sequence. This is what I wish to see:
1. Progressive methods to carry again the returning forged
In an excellent world, Scream 7 would see us lastly ship a New Nightmare-inspired tackle the franchise. After preliminary set images hit the net from Scream 5, I used to be satisfied that is what was in retailer for us again in 2022. (The jock sporting the letterman jacket on the porch at Stu’s home? May have been a screenshot from the 1996 unique!)
Alas, from what we have seen of Scream 7 this is not the case.
So now we all know they’re most likely not enjoying variations of themselves in “the actual world”, how does Williamson plan to carry again characters who’re very a lot lifeless? David Arquette, Matthew Lillard, and Scott Foley are confirmed however Dewey, Stu, and Roman all died on display screen.
Roman engineered a voice changer that allowed him to sound like several particular person, dwelling or lifeless, so there’s the possibility they may all have voice cameos. I would not be against that model of twist.
With the Scream sequence’ continued push into tech, it is sensible that we’d even see AI variations of previous characters. The concept of AI deepfakes hitting the net to suggest that Stu did not die or one thing, to toy with Sidney’s sanity, is sensible.
Matthew Lillard’s elation at having the ability to return was captured at a current con occasion, the place he confirmed he is again and jokingly referenced coming again as ‘a fairy godmother’. He went on to debate engaged on set with each Williamson and Campbell– which might counsel he does have scenes with Sidney.
Likewise, Foley appeared on Kelly and Mark Reside and confirmed he IS enjoying Roman.
So this implies that they’re enjoying their unique characters (no sneaky little cameos within the background like Lillard did in Scream 2?) . I wasn’t the most important fan of the spectre of Billy Loomis showing to his daughter – for a lot of causes – so I might relatively not have a de-aged Skeet Ulrich scenario once more.
What if as an alternative, the ghosts of Sidney’s previous are actually haunting her? Talking of…
2. Let’s get supernatural
Alright, hear me out. Am I the one one who preferred Sid’s mother getting back from the grave in Scream 3? I get it; it was Sid’s thoughts enjoying methods on her mixed together with her brother’s shenanigans. So, not precisely a return from the grave. However nonetheless, it hinted on the thought of an otherworldly aspect.
We’re getting into the late-stages of a slasher franchise– if there’s ever a time to push the boat out, it is now. Jason actually pushed the boat out when he went to Manhattan. Freddy’s backstory grew uncontrolled within the latter parts by incorporating dream demons into his complete schtick. Michael Myers turned out to be… properly there was a cult and a summoning ritual concerned.
I can see why followers would detest this method– it is leaping the shark, it is doing one thing not one of the different motion pictures have finished. However at this level? Why not increase Scream into the final frontier it’s but to discover? We have repeated the identical components time and again for the earlier 5 sequels. If dealt with proper, the thought of a complete slew of Ghostfaces from the previous coming to hang-out Sidney may actually be fairly terrifying. Which segues properly into my subsequent level!
3. Extra scary set items!
Arguably one factor all Scream followers can agree on – as a result of rating the Scream motion pictures shouldn’t be considered one of them – is that the sooner entries knew the way to execute really scary setpieces. Naturally, the opening of the 1996 unique is the highest shelf instance, adopted by Cici’s loss of life and Gale within the AV room, each superior moments from Scream 2.
The newest sequels failed to actually crank up the strain, and explored the motion and gore over real fear-building. Granted, I do like some gore – Scream 4 wins the award for nastiest entry – however not on the expense of a rattling good nerve-jangling. I need that hold-your-breath, peek-behind-your-hand type of feeling. A few of these elements had been hinted at, actually, however by no means explored in depth.
To place it plainly – the Scream sequels have a woody for Woodsboro.
Whereas the primary movie and its quick successor handled eviscerating each harmless teenagers *and* style tropes, the next movies have careened into the quagmire of their very own making. It is the type of metatextuality that lacks depth and endurance. Scream thrives when it skewers the horror style and fashionable cultural mores as a complete; not merely the Scream in-universe of Woodsboro and Stab.
However this is the rub: how can we try this when the horror style barely has time to evolve between sequels? Properly, this is what I am hoping is in retailer for Scream 7. What if Williamson and author Man Busick dive into the late-stage franchise slashers for inspiration. Sure, positive, Scream 6 kinda did that, with Mindy’s “guidelines speech”, however it was the weakest a part of the movie and never notably memorable. Let’s discover these wacky Chucky, Freddy, Michael and Jason sequels and rip ’em aside. (And sure, this may tie in properly to my earlier thought to usher in supernatural components!)
5. Give Sidney a contented ending
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Whereas the open again door of Scream 3‘s closing photographs hinted at an ideal ending for Sidney– she’s been yanked out of peace and again into the mayhem solely a Ghostface can carry over and over. How can we inform a brand new story?
From the seems of leaked set footage, this sequel takes place in a completely new location– the fictional Pine Grove, Indiana. Sidney is married (to not Mark Kincaid, alas) to Joel McHale’s character, Mark. We all know there is a time bounce; Sidney’s daughter is at an age the place she’s performed by a 24 year-old, so that implies she’s portraying a teen. This complete setup would trace that Sid’s had some time out of the highlight. Presumably we have had no extra killings between 6 and this one.
Scream 5 alluded to the torch being handed in fairly a comical second and it type of occurred? However with Melissa Barerra and Jenna Ortega sadly each leaving the franchise, that shot that concept within the foot. This new forged is totally stacked – so why not have somebody new anchor the sequence?
I need Sidney to have a contented ending that does not contain an armoured fortress a la Laurie Strode in Halloween 2018 or a life on the run like The Terminator’s Sarah Connor. She deserves a really peaceable life, sure, however that does not imply it will possibly’t be attention-grabbing or therapeutic for her.
She’s offered counselling providers for girls experiencing trauma (Scream 3), she wrote a guide about her personal wranglings (Scream 4), and he or she flat-out left city (Scream 5 and 6). What if she sticks round and makes peace in a brand new means?
We’ll discover out when Scream 7 opens in theaters on February 27, 2026. Within the meantime, you’ll be able to stream the Scream motion pictures on Max within the US, Paramount+ within the UK and Netflix in Australia.
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