In a dramatic turn of events, Neve Campbell is returning to the world of Scream, the latest twist for a franchise that just several months ago appeared to be on the ropes. Campbell’s return is particularly noteworthy, as she sat out Scream VI over a salary dispute with producer Spyglass.
Campbell announced that in addition to her return, franchise godfather Kevin Williamson will direct. The seventh installment of Scream has faced multiple setbacks, including losing star Jenna Ortega, the firing of star Melissa Barrera, and the exit of director Christopher Landon.
Filmmaking trio Radio Silence revitalized the franchise with 2022’s Scream, and 14 months later released Scream VI, which broke series’ record for biggest opening weekend with a $44.5 million opening. Scream VI starred Scream survivors Melissa Barrera, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding and Jenna Ortega, along with returning franchise stars Hayden Panettiere and Courteney Cox.
Late filmmaker Wes Craven directed the first four Scream features, with the first debuting in 1996 and skewering some of the same horror genre tropes Craven helped introduce during his storied career. Kevin Williamson penned the first, second and fourth installments.
The fifth installment in 2022 picked up the baton as the first Scream movie since Craven’s death in 2015 and proving it could thrive for a new generation of viewers.