The Scream franchise was originally created by Kevin Williamson, who penned the scripts for the first two and the fourth films. To date, the series includes six installments, beginning with the inaugural movie released in 1996. This iconic franchise has been under the guidance of several talented directors throughout its history.
Wes Craven directed the first four films, while Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett took the reins for the fifth and sixth entries. Now, Kevin Williamson is preparing to make his directorial debut with a Scream movie.
Scream VI, which premiered in March 2023, received a generally positive reception. The film featured notable performances from Jenna Ortega, Melissa Barrera, Mason Gooding, and Courteney Cox, grossing an impressive $169 million against a production budget of $33-35 million.
With several actors reprising their roles in the latest addition, fans can anticipate similar returns in the seventh installment. As reported by Variety, Scream 7 is officially in the pipeline, currently scheduled for release on February 27, 2026.
Scream 7 officially enters production, with Kevin Williamson set to direct
While Williamson is the franchise’s creator and primary storyteller, he has not yet directed any of the Scream films. This is set to change, as the creator of The Vampire Diaries will helm his first installment of Scream.
Fans are certainly excited by these recent developments, especially given the numerous challenges Scream 7 faced during its pre-production. Originally, a seventh film was anticipated to commence production immediately following Scream VI. However, Melissa Barrera faced dismissal after her comments regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Additionally, Jenna Ortega, known for her role as Tara Carpenter in Scream VI, withdrew due to her commitments to Netflix’s Wednesday series. Initially set to be directed by Christopher Landon, who later stepped back from the project, he cited the situation as one that shifted from his “dream job to a nightmare.”
Delays due to the SAG-AFTRA strikes further complicated matters, but with the new direction under Kevin Williamson, production appears to be back on course. Moreover, Neve Campbell is anticipated to reprise her beloved role as Sidney Prescott in the forthcoming film.
Guy Busick is also returning as the screenwriter, with the narrative expected to center on Sidney Prescott as she confronts Ghostface once more. Rumors about Patrick Dempsey’s return as Detective Mark Kincaid continue to circulate, as noted by Variety.
Furthermore, the potential return of Courteney Cox as Gale Weathers has been hinted at. Although no official confirmations regarding Cox or Dempsey have been made, Neve Campbell expressed her gratitude about her return:
“I was really grateful that they came back to me in a respectful way. I think that means a lot to women and to society.”
Regardless, Scream 7 is poised to become a significant milestone for this long-standing franchise. So far, the series has amassed over $910 million globally and could surpass the $1 billion mark with the release of the upcoming seventh installment.
Scream 7 is currently slated to premiere on February 26, 2026.
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