(Left) Celeste O’Connor in ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’. Photo: Columbia Pictures. (Right) Isabel May in ‘Run Hide Fight’. Photo: The Daily Wire.
Preview:
- Isabel May and Celeste O’Connor are the latest recruits for the ‘Scream’ franchise.
- Original writer Kevin Williamson is on board to direct.
- Neve Campbell is returning to star as Sidney Prescott.
It appears the ‘Scream’ franchise might finally be back on track after a patch of chaos (more on that below.)
With original writer Kevin Williamson on board to direct the next movie –– that would be ‘Scream VII,’ though all the current reports are writing the title as ‘Scream 7’ –– we now know at least two of the people who will be joining a returning Neve Campbell (who famously declined to appear in the last entry over a low pay offer).
The seventh installment in the ‘Scream’ franchise. Plot TBA. Read the Plot
Isabel May and Celeste O’Connor are the latest new recruits for the franchise.
May, per Variety, is playing Sidney’s daughter, but O’Connor’s role is unknown for now.
Related Article: Courteney Cox in Talks to Return as Gale Weathers in ‘Scream 7’
What’s the story of ‘Scream 7’?
Neve Campbell (“Sidney Prescott”) stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s “Scream.”
There are no details yet on what Williamson’s film will feature, though given that Campbell is back as Prescott and May is playing her daughter, you know it’ll factor into the Prescott family.
This also opens the door up for a potential return from Detective Mark Kincaid, played by Patrick Dempsey, who met Sidney when he was investigating the murders that happen in ‘Scream 3’ and ended up married with a family.
Kincaid has not been glimpsed since that movie, but Sidney does call him on the phone in one of the more recent entries. Dempsey has yet to be confirmed as coming back.
What has happened with ‘Scream 7’ so far?
Ghostface in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Scream VI.’ © 2022 Paramount Pictures. Ghost Face is a Registered Trademark of Fun World Div., Easter Unlimited, Inc. ©1999. All Rights Reserved.
To this point, the development of the next ‘Scream’ installment has been more trouble than a scorned lover throwing on a cloak and a Ghostface mask to hunt their friends.
Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett effectively rebooted the ‘Scream’ franchise with 2002’s ‘Scream’ and followed it up with this year’s ‘Scream VI’, opted to move on after their second effort, choosing instead to make vampire movie ‘Abigail’, which arrived this year.
Production company Spyglass Media Group found a suitable replacement in Christopher Landon, who previously directed the ‘Happy Death Day’ movies and ‘Freaky’, but then things started to go wrong.
Melissa Barrera fired from ‘Scream VII’
(L to R) Melissa Barrera (Sam Carpenter) and Jenna Ortega (Tara Carpenter) stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Scream VI.’
Melissa Barrera was dropped from the franchise for social media posts supporting Palestine in the tragic, ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
‘Scream’ production company Spyglass issued a statement on the situation:
“Spyglass’ stance is unequivocally clear: We have zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion or anything that flagrantly crosses the line into hate speech.”
That was followed by word that her co-star, Jenna Ortega, would not then be returning fir the new movie. Ortega’s departure was chalked up to schedule clashes with Season 2 of Netflix hit series ‘Wednesday’, and indeed the decision was reportedly made months before Barrera’s statement and subsequent firing. The timing, though, remains somewhat suspicious.
With his main stars absent, Landon also quit the movie, citing that it had become a nightmare in development.
Neve Campbell talks ‘Scream’ return
Neve Campbell (“Sidney Prescott”) stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s “Scream.”
Here’s what Campbell had to say on the news of her return:
“I’m very happy and proud to say I’ve been asked, in the most respectful way, to bring Sidney back to the screen and I couldn’t be more thrilled!!! Well actually I could. While I’ve been so incredibly lucky to make these films with both the master of horror Wes Craven and the wonderfully talented Matt and Tyler team, I’ve dreamt for many years of how amazing it would be to make one of these movies with Kevin Williamson at the helm. And now it’s happening, Kevin Williamson is going to direct ‘Scream 7’! This was his baby and it’s his brilliant mind that dreamt up this world. Kevin is not just an inspiration as an artist but has been a dear friend for many years.”
You can read her full Instagram post here:
Where else have I seen Isabel May and Celeste O’Connor?
(L to R) Lucky (Celeste O’Connor), Nadeem Razmaadi (Kumail Nanjiani), Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) and Lars Pinfield (James Acaster) in Columbia Pictures’ ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.’ Photo By Jaap Buitendijk. © 2023 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
May is probably best known right now for playing Elsa Dutton in the ‘Yellowstone’ prequels ‘1883’ and ‘1923.’
She has also appeared in Netflix sitcom ‘Alexa & Katie’ and movies including ‘Let’s Scare Julie,’ ‘Run Hide Fight’ and ‘I Want You Back.’
Coming up, she’ll be seen in sci-fi horror ‘Menace,’ romantic comedy ‘Love Language’ and romantic drama ‘Falling.’
O’Connor played Lucky in the two recent ‘Ghostbusters’ films (‘Afterlife’ and ‘Frozen Empire’), and they were also seen in Sony/Marvel’s ‘Madame Web,’ the Zach Braff-directed drama ‘A Good Person,’ body swap slasher ‘Freaky,’ (ironically, had Christopher Landon stayed, this would have marked a reunion) and the Sundance drama ‘Selah and the Spades.’
They’re currently at work on sci-fi pic ‘UAP.’
When will ‘Scream 7’ be in theaters?
‘Scream 7’ will release in theaters worldwide via Paramount Pictures on February 27th, 2026.
Ghostface in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Scream VI.’