Just an idea: What if we stopped making Ghostface masks? Would that help? It feels like it might help!
After coping with all sorts of behind-the-scenes and also very-much-in-the-public-eye drama, the seventh entry in the venerable “Scream” franchise today offers its first trailer. And while there are things to celebrate here, like original Finals Girl Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), original screenwriter Kevin Williamson behind the cameraand a little small-town chill, a lot of this first look feels a little been-there, done-that.
Per it films official synopsis: “When a new Ghostface killer appears in the quiet town where Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) has built a new life, her darkest fears are realized when her daughter (Isabel May) becomes the next target. Determined to protect her family, Sidney must face the horrors of her past to end the bloodshed once and for all.”
The film stars Campbell, Courteney Cox, Isabel May, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Anna Camp, Joel McHale, Mckenna Grace, Michelle Randolph, Jimmy Tatro, Asa Germann, Celeste O’Connor, Sam Rechner, Ethan Embry, Tim Simons and Mark Consuelos. “Scream 7” marks the first time original screenwriter Kevin Williamson will direct a franchise outing, this time with a story by James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick, with the final script from Williamson and Busick.
The seventh film in the franchise was originally going to look a lot different, but after both stars Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega (who lead the revamped franchise in the fifth and sixth installments) and director Christopher Landon have left, we’re guessing this new ‘Scream’ is a whole new monster.
Landon told Vanity Fair last year that he and his family endured death threats and “assaults” after the “Scream” franchise actress Melissa Barrera where fired by production company Spyglass for her pro-Palestine comments. According to Landon, fans confused Spyglass’ decision with his own personal politics; at the time, Landon wrote on Twitter in a since deleted statement on Barrera’s firing, “Everything sucks. Stop yelling. This was not my decision to make.” Landon left the project in 2023.
After Barrera’s release, her “Scream” co-star Jenna Ortega decided to leave the franchise as well. That was it originally reported that “Scream VII” conflicted with Ortega’s “Wednesday” Season 2 taping following the SAG-AFTRA strike; Ortega recently clarified to The Cut that her exit had “nothing to do with salary or scheduling” and that it was Barrera’s firing that was the reason for her decision to leave.
“Scream 7” hits theaters on Friday, February 27. Check out the film’s first trailer below.
