Spoiler warning: I’m about to get into some major Scream VII details. If you haven’t seen it yet and want to go in fresh, now’s your chance to bail.

For years, fans have been begging for Matthew Lillard’s Stu Macher to somehow claw his way back into the Scream franchise. Yes, he had a television dropped on his head in Scream (1996), but I’ve always argued passionately that he could have survived. Even the best Horror villains have come back from far worse. Stu was even rumored to return in Scream 3 before that idea was scrapped, and ever since, the “Stu lives” truthers have refused to let it go. Now, nearly 30 years later, that long-running wish has been granted… sort of. Apparently, Stu’s ultimate fate can be blamed on Scream VII test audiences.

Stu does appear in Scream VII, but only through AI, because canonically, he’s still dead. And here’s the kicker: they actually filmed a version for the 2026 movie release where he was alive. In a recent interview with Esquire, director and longtime franchise writer Kevin Williamson revealed they shot an alternate ending that left the door open, only to scrap it after test audiences weighed in. As Williamson explained:

Thanks a lot, test audiences. You’re apparently the reason we got, and this is purely my personal take, the slightly groan-inducing reveal that all the returning Ghostface killers were the result of AI deepfakes. Cue the collective eye roll.

When pressed on the decision, Kevin Williamson explained that keeping Stu alive would have pushed believability a little too far, even for Scream. As much as fans love the idea, he argued that faking someone’s image with AI feels more plausible in today’s world than revealing Stu somehow survived a television to the skull. When asked directly whether audiences preferred Stu to stay dead, Williamson responded:

Not to belabor the point, but I feel compelled to gently remind Mr. Williamson that the last two Scream films featured full-blown hallucinations — or ghostly visions, depending on your interpretation- of Billy Loomis guiding his daughter around like a morally compromised Obi-Wan Kenobi. Was that the most grounded storytelling choice? Debatable. But if we could collectively suspend disbelief for that, I’m fairly confident audiences could’ve handled Stu limping back into the franchise.

Instead, we got an AI twist that — again, just my take — didn’t quite land. And if the alternative was Matthew Lillard chewing scenery one more time in the real world? I know which version I’d pick.

What makes it even more fascinating is that Scream VII managed to power through some of the roughest reviews in franchise history and still delivered the biggest opening weekend the series has ever seen. That’s no small feat. The real question is whether that momentum holds once word of mouth fully kicks in. From the fans I’ve talked to, I’m far from alone in feeling underwhelmed by how this chapter handled its big reveals.

CinemaBlend’s own Eric Eisenberg handed the film a one-and-a-half-star review, and early critical reactions were fairly brutal across the board. Which raises an interesting possibility: did the film’s massive debut have anything to do with the buzz surrounding Matthew Lillard’s involvement? If that curiosity factor drove ticket sales, it’ll be very telling to see how the rest of the theatrical run shakes out once audiences discover exactly how Stu is — and isn’t — used in this latest installment of the long-running horror saga.

If you’d rather decide for yourself how Matthew Lillard’s fan-favorite killer is handled, Scream VII is still playing in theaters. Check your local listings and see it firsthand. And while you’re at it, take a look at our roundup of new and upcoming horror movies to map out your next big-screen scare.

When director Wes Craven and screenwriter Kevin Williamson first launched the Scream franchise back in the mid-1990s, the horror genre was in a bad place. While some good movies were still being made, the 1980s was a decade that was partially defined cinematically by its glut of slasher franchises that long outlived their welcome, and Scream came together as a post-modern commentary on how rote and formulaic the storytelling had become.

It was perhaps a touch hypocritical when sequels started to get quickly produced, but what set the movies apart was a continued meta awareness to go along with all of Ghostface’s nasty business. Some of the titles are stronger in this respect than others, but that element has long been viewed as a staple element as the franchise and survived two long production gaps: the 11 years between Scream 3 and Scream 4, and the 11 years between Scream 4 and 2022’s Scream. Through six films, the series dynamically set itself apart as fun and gory satire. But that era is now over.

With Scream 7, the franchise has become exactly what the original set out to parody – and the fact that the movie has Kevin Williamson at the helm comes across as a cruel irony.

The film had a controversial and complicated path through production, with the firing of Melissa Barrera causing uproar from fans, and co-star Jenna Ortega and hired director Christopher Landon departing the project in the aftermath. In retrospect, it would have been much better had Scream 7 simply be shelved instead of plowing forward. It boasts a number of returning stars from the original movie – most notably Neve Campbell, back as Sidney Prescott after being absent from Scream 6 – but it does nothing but poison a remarkable big screen legacy with its terrible and obvious plotting, contributing nothing as a fresh franchise entry beyond continuing to torture its principal scream queen.

(Out of respect for the movie-going experience, I won’t provide any spoilers in this review, but I feel compelled to say that any curiosity I may inspire in the film is involuntary, as I can’t recommend strongly enough staying away and just imagining that the horror series concluded with the previous installment.)

In Scream 7, the aforementioned Sidney Prescott is actually now Sidney Prescott-Evans, living in the small town of Pine Grove, Indiana, married the local chief of police (Joel McHale), running a coffee shop, and parenting a teenager named Tatum (Isabel May). (She has younger kids as well, but the movie awkwardly shuttles them away via expository video chat in Act I). While going about her daily business, she gets a call from somebody using the Ghostface voice changer (Roger L. Jackson), and while she initially thinks it's nothing more than a typical hoax, things take a turn for the strange when the conversation switches to video and she sees the face of an older and scarred Stu Macher (Matthew Lillard) – who is supposed to be long dead.

A new rash of local Ghostface killings follow with Sidney and her daughter at the epicenter of the chaos, and when Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) arrives in town with Mindy Meeks-Martin (Jasmin Savoy Brown) and Chad Meeks-Martin (Mason Gooding) in tow, an investigation begins into whether or not Stu could possibly still be alive.

The writing and construction of Scream 7 swings between obvious and baffling.

While keeping possibility that one of the original Ghostface killers has been resurrected in doubt, the movie goes through the motions establishing a collection of potential alternate suspects (mostly consisting of Tatum’s teenage friends/boyfriend); creates mother/daughter tension because of the former opting to stay mum in discussions about her past; and it broaches the subject of artificial intelligence/deepfakes as a threat. And it all feels tired and uninspired. Despite the presence of talented actors, there are zero interesting personalities within the ensemble of suspects; the “closed off parent” angle feels like the least creative way to yet again explore Sidney’s trauma; and the inclusion of A.I. in the plot is essentially just the next step after the use of ridiculous magic voice changer in Scream 3 that could imitate anyone in the world.

The only thing even vaguely resembling a meta reference is an off-handed line from Mindy about “nostalgia,” and it isn’t explored in any way beyond a bunch of purely fan service cameos that fans already know are coming because of leaks during production.

It also needs to be bluntly said: while the Scream movies haven’t always featured the most intricate mysteries in cinema, Scream 7 is the first title in the franchise that had me solving half of the plot in the second act – and the only reason I didn’t put the pieces together for the second half of the mystery is because it is complete nonsense.

The upped gore factor is one of the few things enjoyable about Scream 7.

The one credit that I’m willing to give Scream 7 is its functionality when it comes to scares – but even this is praise that comes with reservations. Without saying too much, there is one sequence that I would consider an all-timer Ghostface kill, and I’ll even go as far as to give Williamson credit for willing to incorporate some legitimate splatter. And there are a couple of clever misdirects, including one in the opening scene with a classic “What’s your favorite scary movie?” phone call.

But those are fleeting bits surrounded by bad choices and questions ultimately left unanswered, like “Why do Sidney and Tatum at one point flee into a panic room only to immediately leave it two seconds later?” and “Why doesn’t the opening kill have any correlation with anything else going on in the plot?” This is the kind of bad writing and sequencing that one expects from a typical late-in-a-series slasher sequel, but not in Scream.

And that’s apparently where we are now. After decades of standing apart within the pool of horror franchises, Scream 7 sees the series become what the original was designed to parody. It’s not the first bad movie in the canon, as that credit goes to Scream 3, but it is the first to betray its purpose and play as little more than a cash grab taking advantage of beloved a intellectual property.

It’s been three years since we last checked in with one of the best horror franchises, and it definitely hasn’t been an easy road. Scream 7 lost Jenna Ortega and Melissa Barrera as the Carpenter sisters, changed directors and experienced filming delays. But at long last, here we are, with Neve Campbell making her triumphant return to the Scream franchise. Critics saw the flick ahead of its February 27 release, so let’s see what they’re saying about it.

Sidney Prescott will once again be at the forefront of all the stabby action when Scream 7 premieres on the 2026 movie calendar, but she’s far from the only familiar face we’ll see. In addition to Courteney Cox, Mason Gooding, Jasmin Savoy Brown and others reprising their roles, we’ll get the return of previous Ghostface killers Matthew Lillard and Scott Foley, as well as plenty of new characters. Pete Hammond of Deadline celebrates Kevin Williamson’s direction, saying the horror movie is “wickedly entertaining and sweetly nostalgic.” The critic writes:

Other critics, however, are less than enthusiastic about the upcoming horror movie. Rating the film 3 stars out of 5, NME’s Lou Thomas says Scream 7 is still worth the watch with its references, looping circumstances and tricks. However, when it comes to franchise’s seventh movies — like Wes Craven’s New Nightmare, which was basically a Scream forerunner — this film isn’t anywhere near as noteworthy. Thomas continues:

Owen Gleiberman of Variety says Scream 7 gets back to the basics — emphasis on “basic” — as he wonders if anyone even cares who Ghostface is? The critic points out that the movie largely drops the franchise’s signature meta commentary, explaining:

William Bibbiani of The Wrap also says Kevin Williamson seems desperate to get back to the basics, as if the previous two “pretty darn good” movies had whiffed it. It ends up feeling like more of a feature-length celebration of (and apology to) Neve Campbell in what the critic says is a competent but uninspired sequel. Bibbiani writes:

Frank Scheck of THR says to put a knife in this franchise, because it’s done — if not commercially than definitely creatively. The mechanics of the franchise have become “numbingly familiar,” and regardless of who ends up behind the Ghostface mask (or if the trailers give any hints), it’s a letdown. Scheck continues:

While the critics aren’t jumping to call the seventh Scream film the best of the bunch, even many of those who have complaints are still saying the movie’s worth seeing — especially if you’ve already invested in the first six. If you’re pumped about Scream 7’s mix of legacy characters and new cast members, you can check this one out starting Friday, February 27.

The horror genre has been experiencing a renaissance for years, and it's been a joy for fans like me. Some of the best horror movies returned to theaters with new sequels, including Wes Craven's Scream. The seventh movie will be in theaters shortly, and is one of the most highly anticipated upcoming horror movies of the year. Scream 7 will be directed by Kevin Williamson, who wrote the first few movies. And he just revealed a major change to the franchise as a whole that I'm not really loving.

What we know about Scream 7 is limited, likely in order to guard its twists against spoilers. Neve Campbell is returning as Sidney Prescott, after being noticeably absent from the last movie (which is streaming with a Paramount+ subscription). In an interview with Empire Magazine (via our sister site Games Radar+), Williamson revealed a huge change to the property: the new movie apparently won't have the typical meta commentary on the horror genre. In his words:

Honestly, I'm shocked. This has been an essential part of every single Scream film, starting from the 1996 original. The commentary about the horror genre and its trends have not only been fodder for the franchise's comedic beats, but also a nod to the moviegoers who consistently see scary movies. And dropping it altogether is a HUGE change that I'm not sure fans are going to appreciate.

Horror is always changing, so it's been fun to see the way Scream movies address the genre's trends. Jamie Kennedy's Randy laid out the "rules" to surviving a horror movie i the first two films. Then Scream 3 literally took the franchise to a movie set. In the last two movies, Jasmin Savoy Brown's Mindy Meeks-Martin followed in her late uncle's foot steps, and laid out the rules of modern horror projects. So suddenly dropping this from the seventh movie is a huge swing.

The trailer for Scream 7 showed how focused the movie will be on Sidney Prescott and her family, but I still expected to see the meta aspect included. Mindy is even included in the movie's cast, so we got another horror nerd who could help bring this commentary to the story. And it's doubly surprising that this is being dropped since Kevin Williamson's screenplay for the first two movies is hat established this essential part of the slasher franchise. We'll just have to see how this all plays out.

Scream 7 will hit theaters on February 27th as part of the 2026 movie release list. I'll be there with my popcorn... even if I'll be missing the meta aspect of my favorite horror franchise.

“How the hell is Stu Macher back?”

If that’s a question that you’ve asked once if not repeatedly in the last year, you are most definitely not alone. There are a lot of big unknowns about director Kevin Williamson’s Scream 7, but that one sits right at the top of the list, as the Matthew Lillard character very clearly died in the original Scream. Now, we are less than one month away from finally getting an answer to the big mystery – and while that’s tremendously exciting, the actor admits that the whole enterprise has filled him with plenty of agita.

Lillard has been working very hard in recent months to keep all of Scream 7’s secrets, going as far as to not even tell his family what happens in the upcoming horror movie, and while there has been plenty of excitement, he also tells Entertainment Weekly that there has been a fair amount of stress as well. Stu Macher, the original Ghostface along with Skeet Ulrich’s Billy Loomis from Wes Craven’s Scream, is one of the standout roles that the man has played in his career, and he knows that he is potentially messing with his legacy by being involved. He explained,

When we last saw Stu, he was in the living room of his house… and he wasn’t doing so hot. Case in point: we couldn’t even see his face, as Neve Campell’s Sidney Prescott smashed his head open with a television. Technically it’s true that Matthew Lillard is also in Scream 2, but he is merely featured as an uncredited extra, and Scream 7 promises to be something totally different.

For what it’s worth, while Matthew Lillard’s return as Stu has earned a lot of buzz, he’s not the only legacy star who is said to be coming back from the dead for the next installment in the slasher franchise, as there have also been reports that the movie will feature David Arquette as Dewey Riley (who died in Scream VI) and Scott Foley as Roman Bridger (who met his maker in Scream 3). The context of their respective returns is being kept secret for now, but in the case of Lillard at the very least, he was willing to do anything that Kevin Williamson – the screenwriter behind the original film – asked him to do. Lillard told EW,

Also featuring franchise stars Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding, Scream 7 is just a few weeks away from spilling all of its secrets and is set to arrive in theaters on February 27.

The horror genre's renaissance is showing no signs of slowing, to the delight of fans like me. Some of the best horror movies returned to theaters recently, including Scream. The seventh installment is one of the most highly anticipated upcoming horror movies, and Chad Meeks-Martin actor Mason Gooding recently teased that it's "the closest to the original." And somehow now I'm even more hyped for it to arrive in February.

What we know about Scream 7 is limited, as the slasher property is known for trying to protect against spoilers ruining the theatrical experience. Mason Gooding starred as Chad in the last two installments (which are streaming with a Paramount+ subscription), and he'll once again be reprising his role for the seventh movie. While speaking with Deadline at Sundance, he teased what's coming, saying:

Honestly, take my money at this point. Wes Craven's 1996 original Scream is one of my favorite movies of all time, and influenced countless slashers that followed over the years. OG writer Kevin Williamson is in the director's chair for the first time in Scream 7, and it sounds like he's created a tone that'll be reminiscent of the one that started it all. At least, if Mason Gooding's comments are to be believed.

The trailer for Scream 7 teased what's to come, including Neve Campbell's return as Sidney Prescott. While she was noticeably missing from Scream VI and had a supporting role in the 2022 film, it seems like the iconic final girl is finally stepping back onto center stage. Which may be a big reason why Gooding thinks it feels so similar to the original.

Personally, I'm a bit worried about whether or not Chad and Mindy Meeks-Martin will survive Scream 7. They're very briefly shown in the trailer, seemingly attacked by Ghostface while at a bar. Mason Gooding's character particularly feels like he's on borrowed time. Because after living through the 2022 movie, Scream VI saw two different killers taking turns stabbing him enough that he looked like a pin cushion. Yet miraculously Scream VI's ending featured him not only alive, but conscious and joking around.

Then again, with the Carpenter Sisters not returning for the seventh movie, Chad and Mindy are the lone representatives of the Core Four that led the last two title. So maybe they'll be spared in the end.

All will be revealed when Scream 7 hits theaters on February 27th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Marketing for the movie should be picking up as a result, but hopefully nothing gets spoiled ahead of its release.

The horror genre has been thriving for years, and is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon. The best horror movies have returned for new installments, including Wes Craven's Scream (which is streaming with a Paramount+ subscription). The seventh movie is one of the most highly anticipated upcoming horror movies, especially thanks to the return of various legacy characters. Scott Foley recently gushes about returning as Roman Bridger... even though he's pretty clueless about what's happening in the movie.

What we know about Scream 7 is limited, but it seems like that sentiment also extends to some of its cast. While fans are hyped that Neve Campbell is back as Sidney, there are a ton of questions about the dead legacy characters that will somehow also appear. In a conversation with Us Weekly, Foley spoke about stepping back into the slasher franchise, offering:

Seriously, I need Scream 7 to get here ASAP. Foley seems totally thrilled with his first return to the franchise since Scream 3, where his character Roman went down as history as the only Ghostface to not have any associates/partners. He did the killing all by himself, plus he helped to start the entire series by encouraging Billy Loomis and Stu Macher to target Sidney in the first film. He's also Sidney's half-brother, which likely why he's making a mysterious appearance in the next film.

Foley mentioned not only reuniting with Neve Campbell and writer/director Kevin Williamson, but also David Arquette. Dewey's death in the 2022 Scream devastated fans, and meant that he couldn't return for Scream VI. But a number of dead characters will be back for Scream 7, allowing the OG to (somehow) appear again.

In the same interview, the Grey's Anatomy alum was asked what to expect from the movie as a whole, but it turns out that he's largely in the dark. As he put it:

While Marvel is known for its tight security, the same can also be said for Wes Craven's slasher property. Even the first Scream movie tried to guard against spoilers, and that was before the internet and social media as we know it. So perhaps it shouldn't be a surprise that Foley wasn't given the script for the seventh movie. Luckily we're getting closer to our questions being answered.

All will be revealed when Scream 7 hits theaters on February 27th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Hopefully we get some more footage to hold us over sooner rather than later.

After a turbulent stretch for the Scream franchise, director swaps, cast exits, and debates over the series’ direction, the upcoming Scream 7 is shaping up to be something of a reset. The movie marks Kevin Williamson’s long-awaited return to the director’s chair, and if you ask Matthew Lillard, the upcoming horror movie is leaning heavily into that old-school Woodsboro DNA. In a recent interview, the actor weighed in on how the latest chapter will differ from the franchise’s newer entries.

Lillard, who’s reprising one half of the original Ghostface Killers, under circumstances that remain extremely mysterious, recently spoke with ComicBookMovie about the tone of the film and how it compares to the franchise’s recent entries. And according to him, Williamson’s approach is precisely what long-time fans have been hoping for. The SLC Punk! actor emphasized that the energy behind the movie felt instantly right the moment he heard the pitch:

Scream 7 arrives after the recent revival films put a modern, meta spin on the slasher, with a new cast at the center and Radio Silence behind the camera. Lillard made it clear he thought that team did strong work, and praised Melissa Barrera and the young ensemble, as well as the directing duo’s vision, but this chapter hits a different register.

He went on to describe his reaction to Williamson’s initial pitch, reflecting on how surreal it was to be asked back after decades of speculation about Stu’s fate:

It’s a thoughtful and surprisingly diplomatic stance to acknowledge the strength of the recent films while making it clear that the seventh entry is operating with a distinctly nostalgic compass. And based on the Without A Paddle star’s comments, audiences responding at early test screenings seem to agree.

Recently, I rewatched the entire series, and several things still hold up, including Lillard's incredible performance as Stu. But it, of course, left me with one of the biggest lingering questions: How is Stu returning at all, given the very clear 'TV to the head' situation back in 1996? But with multiple legacy actors returning—including Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox—and several actors whose characters are not canonically alive, such as David Arquette (Deputy Dewey) and Scott Foley, those questions may be part of the fun.

Whether this next installment answers all of fandom’s long-running theories or throws even more chaos into the mix, Lillard’s enthusiasm makes me think Scream 7 is steering directly into that tone and style that made the series iconic in the first place. And that has this long-running horror movie fan beyond excited.

Ghostface returns when Scream 7 hits the 2026 movie schedule and theaters on February 27, 2026. As for Matthew Lillard, he returns on the 2025 movie release calendar, starring in the Five Nights At Freddy’s 2, hitting theaters on December 5.

Scream VI saw Ghostface carving up the Big Apple (and the franchise’s future thrown into uncertainty with cast departures and behind-the-scenes shakeups), so it’s fair to say the fanbase was on edge about whether the upcoming horror movie would even happen. But then came the bombshell news that Scream creator Kevin Williamson would direct Scream 7 in his first time ever behind the camera for the series. Now, David Arquette is finally opening up about his return, and honestly, what he says has me believing this could be the respectful, satisfying comeback Dewey Riley deserves.

Speaking to Men’s Journal, Arquette revealed that the chance to work with Williamson again sealed the deal for his return. The two go all the way back to 1996's original film, and their creative chemistry has been a core part of the series' DNA. Dewey may have died in Scream 5 (pour one out), but Arquette’s wording leaves the door wide open for… something. As he explained:

Arquette’s affection for the series and its original screenwriter is exciting. It also shows just how well he understands what makes Scream tick. In the same interview, he explains what sets the franchise apart from the countless other slasher franchises, and it knew what fans wanted before they did. He continued:

I couldn’t have put it better myself. That self-awareness, mixed with real stakes and emotionally layered characters, is why Scream has stayed relevant for nearly three decades. And it’s also why the idea of Kevin Williamson stepping behind the camera, with Arquette in any capacity, feels genuinely exciting, not like a cheap stunt. With all the legacy casting announcements, this doesn’t seem like a gimmick. If anything, it feels like Williamson is building toward something that could actually surprise and satisfy longtime fans in equal measure.

Scream 7 is currently slated to hit the 2026 movie schedule on February 27, 2026, and while it’s still unclear exactly how Dewey’s return will be handled, what we do know is this: this isn’t just any sequel. It’s a reunion between the series creator and a long list of legacy characters who helped define the franchise’s golden era. And they just might be ready to do it again.

Arquette may be keeping details close to the vest, but his enthusiasm and unwavering trust in Williamson speak volumes. If this really is a full-circle moment, then Scream 7 might not just give fans a thrill. It could deliver the franchise's most emotional twist yet.

Fans can revisit the one that started it all, Scream (1996), streaming with a Peacock subscription.

One of the upcoming horror movies we’re most looking forward to next year is the next Scream installment, which will officially feature a mix of legacy and new stars. On top of word that Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott, Courteney Cox’s Gale Weathers and David Arquette’s Dewey Riley are back in the scary movie series, Matthew Lillard's Stu is another big return. When the actor recalled getting the call to reprise his role, he shared the funny answer why the character has been benched so many Scream movies.

Why Did It Take So Long For Matthew Lillard To Return To Scream?

In a new interview with Us Magazine, Lillard happily reported that Scream 7 is “smart” and has a "familiarity" to the original film because the first movie’s writer, Kevin Williamson, is directing it. The actor also revealed this funny story:

Now this is too good. If you’ve been following the Scream franchise over the years, you probably know that there have been a lot of theories pointing to Lillard’s Stu being alive, but another Scream movie has yet to explore it. How hilarious is it that Lillard and the fans actually wanting him to come back actually might have hurt his chances?

Matthew Lillard Has Been Claiming Stu Is Alive For Ages

See, Lillard has always been a fan-favorite in the Scream films. The actor said earlier this year that he’s been asked “literally 1,000 times a day since the first movie” if his character might return. And, oftentimes the actor has publicly said over the years that he thinks Stu has been alive all along and never actually died at the end of the first movie. Finally, three decades after the first movie came out, fans will finally get an answer. Here’s what Lillard said about his reaction to finally being asked back:

Scream 7 is the third movie in the franchise from Radio Silence Productions, which has had James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick penning the scripts and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett directing. This time Busick is behind the script and Kevin Williamson is directing after writing the original movie and the fourth film.

Along with original Scream cast members Campbell, Cox, Arquette and Lillard being in the movie, Mason Gooding, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Scott Foley are returning. Joel McHale, Anna Camp, Mckenna Grace and Celeste O’Connor are among the new cast members who have been announced. The movie hits theaters on February 26, 2026.

Netflix has a history of cancelling shows after just one or two seasons, and now another entry from the 2025 Netflix release schedule has gotten the axe from the streaming giant. The Waterfront, which released back in June as Dawson's Creek creator Kevin Williamson's latest venture on the small screen, has been cancelled after just one season.

Unsurprisingly, fans wasted no time in sharing their thoughts, although with a lot less acceptance than FUBAR viewers did when Arnold Schwarzenegger's series was cancelled. As for Williamson, he had a surprising amount of gratitude to the streamer despite his series coming to an early end.

Fans Aren’t Happy About The Waterfront’s Cancellation

The decision from Netflix to cancel The Waterfront was reported after Kevin Williamson was able to tell the cast and crew that a second season would not be happening, according to Deadline. The cast was comprised of Holt McCallany, Supergirl's Melissa Benoist, Jake Weary, 9-1-1: Lone Star's Rafael Silver, Humberlez González, and Maria Bello, among others.

The family story was inspired by true events and focused on the Buckley family and their attempts to maintain power in the town of Havenport, North Carolina. When their fishing empire begins to fall apart, lines are crossed as the family tries to hold onto what they had. Just hours after news of the cancellation broke, fans were already out on X (formerly known as Twitter) to express how they really feel about the Buckley story coming to an end. (Comments edited for clarity.)

• @ClaydenBeauty18: "Netflix cancelling the Waterfront is a crime. I mean it deserves another season."
• @PoisonKeyblade: "Not Netflix cancelling another show I loved. Absolute BS considering how good the ratings were. Justice for The Waterfront."
• @evetessmacher: "I feel so bad for Melissa and The Waterfront cast, this makes no sense."
• @Impossiblebye: "The Waterfront may have been cancelled but Sean Buckley you will always be loved."

At the time of writing, The Waterfront fans don't seem to be campaigning for a renewal like how Dexter: Original Sin fans reacted to that drama's recent cancellation. Kevin Williamson's venture was far from Netflix's first cancelled series this year, with both Pulse and The Residence ending after one season. FUBAR made it to two seasons before getting the axe, as did Noah Centinteo's The Recruit. (The star got candid after why so many Netflix shows are cancelled following the bad news about his action series.)

Kevin Williamson’s Message About The Cancellation

Kevin Williamson had a list of popular shows to his name before The Waterfront premiered, including Dawson's Creek, Scream: The TV Series, and The Vampire Diaries, but it's not fated for the same multi-season runs that those series got. He didn't express any bitterness or hint at any bad blood towards Netflix when he addressed the cancellation via Instagram Story, writing:

Williamson expressed gratitude to plenty of people before getting to Netflix, but I found it quite sweet that he specifically named getting to tell a "very personal story" as a reason why he's thankful to the streamer despite the cancellation. Even though he'd hinted about what The Waterfront Season 2 could be about, he doesn't seem so angry that he'd post any harsh words on his public social media account.

If you want to watch The Waterfront for yourself, you can find the full first (and now only) season streaming with a Netflix subscription now. As for other upcoming viewing options, be sure to check out our 2025 TV schedule.

A few days ago, I wasn’t sure if I was going to stick with The Waterfront. Despite the popularity of the Netflix series and a reasonably strong critics and audience score, I really had trouble getting into the first few episodes. But a coworker told me to hang with the show through Episode 4, and I did, and it did get increasingly more interesting. Which means I am now champing at the bit to know whether or not the show will be renewed for Season 2?

Thankfully, I’m not the only curious person on the Internet. While Sullivan’s Crossing has taken over the No. 1 slot for those with a Netflix subscription and Squid Games remains strong at No. 2, The Waterfront is still chugging along at No.5 on Netflix’s Top 10 (in the U.S.) list. As people continue to binge, there’s been curiosity about whether or not there will be more to come, and it’s something Kevin Williamson absolutely told THR the creative team is hoping for. Not only that–but they already have plans for a new big baddie.

It’s rare that one might hear a TV creative say a show was envisioned as a one and done, so I’m not surprised Williamson and co. have already considered what they might do next if The Waterfront returns to the Netflix schedule. However, as we know Netflix is fond of killing off first season shows, so it’s still a big “if.”

The bigger question – well, at least the bigger question outside of the renewal question – will The Waterfront have a new big baddie every season? That's a question that's still up in the air but Williamson does already have a plan for Season 2 if the show gets the greenlight from its streaming parent.

I'm actively avoiding some major spoilers for the first season here! Obviously, though, if you’ve seen The Waterfront, Topher Grace’s unnerving big baddie, Grady, will not be back for another season, which is a bit of a shame because he added the much-needed oomph (in my opinion) that Season 1 needed. But I’m interested to see the show be able to reset again in Season 2, and the idea of two families fighting for prominence is intriguing to me. I do hope we get to see if the show can really grow from its foundation, here, as there are still a lot of family dynamics to unfold, particularly given what happened during the Season 1 finale.

Kevin Williamson is infamously the brain behind Dawson’s Creek (and the Dawson's spinoff that nearly was), so I know he has a good nose for plot, and I’m hoping The Waterfront won't land on our list of canceled shows in 2025 and will nab that second season order soon. We'll keep you posted either way.

The horror genre's renaissance is showing no signs of slowing, to the joy of fans like me. Some of the best horror movies returned to theaters with new sequels, including the legendary slasher Scream. Following two recent sequels (which are streaming with a Paramount+ subscription) a seventh movie is on its way. And newcomer Anna Camp recently explained what it was like seeing Neve Campbell work with director/OG Scream writer Kevin Williamson.

What we know about about Scream 7 is limited, as the studio is keeping its cards close to the chest. But fans are pleased that Campbell is back as Sidney, after being noticeably absent from Scream VI. She helped encourage Williamson to direct his first Scream movie, after writing and being an EP for a number of previous entries including the original. In an interview with THR, Camp spoke about what it's been like seeing the House of Cards alum film, sharing:

I mean, you can't argue with the evidence. Campbell filmed the original Scream movie back in 1996, so she's spent decades playing beloved Scream Queen Sidney Prescott on and off. As such, she understands her signature character's voice better than anyone... especially since so many writers have worked on the franchise.

Later in the same interview, Anna Camp (You, Pitch Perfect, True Blood) spoke more about what it's been like on the set of Scream 7. Specifically, seeing the way Campbell and Williamson are able to collaborate after their years-long relationship. As she shared:

It certainly sounds like Neve Campbell and Kevin Williamson are enjoying working together within the Scream franchise together. They were there from the beginning, so obviously have a great deal of care and affection for the slasher property. I personally can't wait to see what they'e got planned,

While I was originally bummed about Scream 7 changing directors from the previous two entries, Williamson's involvement is definitely exciting. And hearing how well he's working with Campbell is getting me really hyped for the upcoming horror movie. But we'll have to be patient ahead of the movie's release.

Scream 7 is currently expected to hit theaters on February 27th, so it's not part of the 2025 movie release list. But hopefully we get more information about that slasher sooner rather than later.

The next Scream sequel is among upcoming horror movies set to come out in 2026, but before the film came together with a long list of new and legacy stars led by Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott, a lot of drama happened behind the scenes. Scream 7’s director Kevin Williamson has spoken about how the project came together for him, and it feels right that the Scream Queen herself had a lot to do with helping put the pieces of the project back together.

If you haven’t been following the saga of Scream 7, back in late 2023, Melissa Barrera was fired from the original iteration of the movie after she made pro-Palestinian comments on social media that were deemed antisemitic by the movie’s production company. Not long after, Jenna Ortega left with her because “it was all kind of falling apart,” and after original director Christopher Landon left after receiving serious “threats” (even though he was not involved in her firing), Scream 7 was back to square one. Williamson apparently didn’t want to take over until one key person changed his mind. In his words:

In an interview with ScreenRant, Kevin Williamson (who penned the script for the original 1996 movie) shared that once the Carpenter sisters were no longer involved, he was just as disappointed about their exit as us. But then a new idea started to take shape. He continued,

The upcoming Scream movie was written by James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick, who helped bring back the franchise from the dead with 2022’s Scream and the 2023 follow-up Scream VI. Once the writers started to come up with the mysterious idea that would heavily involve Sidney Prescott, the film started to come together again. Williamson also said this:

It’s kind of perfect that Neve Campbell was the one to ask Williamson, right? I mean if Sidney Prescott asks you to make a Scream sequel with her, how do you say no? While we have no idea what this “great” story is, Busick has remarked that she’s in the movie this time for a “really cool reason.”

Plus, the upcoming film is set to somehow bring back to life Matthew Lillard’s Stu, Scott Foley’s Roman Bridger and David Arquette’s Dewey, so you just know it’s going to be good. Other cast members include Courteney Cox, Mason Gooding, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Anna Camp, McKenna Grace and Joel McHale, and it’s coming out February 27, 2026.

Obviously, at the end of Scream, Billy Loomis gets shot in the head by Sidney, and he’s 100% dead. However, his co-killer’s fate is a bit more ambiguous. While Stu Macher did get stabbed and a TV dropped on him, I couldn’t help but ponder if he’s actually dead after I re-watched this great horror movie.

So, that query sent me down a rabbit hole about whether Matthew Lillard’s character really died or not that we need to break down.

I Can’t Believe I Didn’t Give Stu's Fate A Second Thought After Watching Scream The First Time

I watched Scream for the first time about a year ago, and my friends and I decided to stream it with a Max subscription this fall seeing as it’s spooky season. This time around, I wasn’t in shock about the film’s twists and turns the whole time, so I actually had the critical thinking skills needed to take in everything with a more analytical eye.

This meant that at the end of the film, I couldn’t help but notice that Stu’s fate was never fully confirmed. You know what they say: in a mystery or a horror movie, if you don’t see the dead body for yourself, there’s always a chance they’re alive.

It’s not really on-brand for a Ghostface killer to return or live through their film, though. However, I know I’d love to see Matthew Lillard’s unhinged character come back, and upon re-watch, I thought it’d be possible.

Little did I know, there’s actually a massive debate and many theories about the fate of Stu that the actor who played him and the screenwriter who wrote him have thoughts about.

Matthew Lillard Thinks Stu Is Still Alive, And There Are Theories Floating Around That He Is

Over the years, there have been a lot of theories and speculation that Stu survived the events of the very first Scream. In fact, the ongoing debate about his fate was even addressed in Scream 6 when Kirby looked at the TV that was smashed on his head, and she brought up his death, to which Mindy said, “If you believe he’s dead.”

There certainly are people who don’t think he died. At one point, per Dialy Beast, there was an idea to bring Stu back as the mastermind behind the cult of killers in Scream 3. Plus, the actor who plays him had a small cameo in Scream 2, where he appeared in the background of a scene. So, some fans believe he survived and has been in hiding for all these years. While far-fetched, I wouldn’t put it past the franchise to do something like this. Plus, Matthew Lillard has fun playing into it all too.

The actor has been asked about returning as Stu many, many times over the years. Recently, he made a bold statement about his character too, by telling Drew Barrymore on her talk show (via Bloody Disgusting) that he “definitely” thinks he is alive, noting that he’d be down to come back if it made sense for the franchise.

He’s held that stance for a long time as well. Back in 2020, the actor humorously took to X to post:

Now, my colleague Ryan LaBee is convinced Stu will return as part of the Scream 7 cast. While there are claims that seemingly confirm his death, he wrote that amid the setbacks the sequel has faced, adding another legacy cast member would be a good move. Plus, while speaking to Game Spot about this idea, Lillard joked about returning and then said:

So, is he lying? Or is Stu really dead? Honestly, it’s hard to say; actors lie about their roles all the time to keep secrets, so anything is possible. However, while I like to believe this iconic character could return, there’s also convincing evidence that he did, in fact, die decades ago.

However, Many, Including Kevin Williamson, Believe Stu Is Dead

Amid all this hubbub and Matthew Lillard playing into the fun theories about his character, Scream’s screenwriter Kevin Williamson put his foot down in 2022. He confirmed that Stu is for sure dead, saying:

Well, that feels like confirmation to me. Plus, the killer surviving being stabbed and electrocuted by a TV is not exactly helping the "he’s alive" theory. But wait, there’s more proof. According to Game Rant, there’s a “lingering shot” in Scream 6 that shows photos, and it includes one of Stu that says he died in 1996.

Plus, there are a whole bunch of folks on Reddit who are convinced this character is dead, as Ghostface215 passionately wrote:

Not to be a downer, but all this is very logical. It seems more likely that Stu died that night rather than survived. Theories point to everything that went down in the original Scream. Plus, the photo in Scream 6 alludes to the franchise also clarifying that this character is dead.

However…stranger things have happened. Even if he is dead, he could still come back. We all remember the fact that Billy came back as a ghost in 2022's Scream and Scream VI. So, ultimately, whether you believe Matthew Lillard’s character is alive or not, there’s no denying the possibility that he could reprise his role either way.

Personally, after re-watching Scream, and being even more entertained by Lillard’s performance, I hope we see Stu back in this franchise somehow. Plus, it’d be extra exciting if he came back in Scream 7 – which Kevin Williamson is notably directing. However, as the actor said, it needs to be done in a way that serves the franchise well.

Stu went out with a bang back in 1996, so if he comes back it needs to be just as iconic as the original film.

The horror genre has been experiencing a renaissance for a number of years now, to the delight of fans like me. Some of the best horror movies returned to theaters with new sequels, including Wes Craven's Scream. The last two installments were both wildly successful, although fans lamented that Neve Campbell dropped out of Scream VI due to a pay dispute. But she's back for Scream 7, with fans now aware of when that upcoming horror movie will reportedly begin filming. Spoiler alert: it's soon.

What we know about Scream 7 is super limited, but fans are psyched that it'll be directed by Kevin Williamson, aka the writer of the 1996 original and the first sequel. And according to Production Weekly, filming on the new sequel will begin in September, and is planned to continue through December. Alexa, play "Red Right Hand."

If true, this report is super exciting, and makes the upcoming Scream movie feel all the more real. And since there were some major hiccups in the movie's development, fans will be thrilled that production is set to begin in just a few short months. And for now, they'll be able to re-watch the last two installments with a Paramount+ subscription. 

The details of Scream 7's story is a mystery at the time of writing, although there are a number of rumors swirling. One claims that the movie will feature a time jump, allowing Sidney's children to facto more heavily into the story. Fans like myself are hoping that Scream 3's Patrick Dempsey returns as Mark Kincaid, as he and Sidney are married in-universe. But that remains to be seen.

Fans are definitely curious about the cast of Scream 7, which will reportedly gather in September to film the slasher flick. With both Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega no longer attached to the film, the focus should pivot away from the Carpenter sisters. But we'll have to see if the two remaining Core Four members Mindy and Chad Meeks-Martin (played by Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding) are factored in or not. Brown's schedule might be key to this, as she's been filming Yellowjackets Season 3. 

There are a number of Scream legacy characters who could return for the seventh movie, depending on what Kevin Williamson has in store for the story. Some popular choices include Heather Matarazzo's Martha Meeks, who briefly returned for the 2022 Scream movie. She's got horror experience like in Hostel, and I'd love to see her face off against Ghostface... possibly as the opening kill of the new movie. But at this point I'm just throwing out ideas as a hardcore fan of the franchise. 

Scream 7 doesn't currently have a release date, but the last two movies can be streamed on Paramount+. For now, check the 2025 movie release dates. 

The horror genre's renaissance is showing no signs of slowing down, with some of the best horror movies returning to theaters with new sequels or reboots. The Scream franchise released two wildly successful movies, although franchise favorite Neve Campbell was noticeably missing from Scream VI. Well fear not horror fans, as Campbell recently confirmed she'll be back as Sidney Prescott in Scream 7. And she celebrated by revealing the film's new director.

While Scream VI made a ton of money, longtime fans had a hard time watching the movie without the franchise's leading lady. The upcoming horror movie was seemingly in jeopardy after director Christopher Landon dropped out, in addition to actresses Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega. But the movie is still happening, and Neve Campbell's announcement on Instagram also revealed that OG Scream writer/ executive producer Kevin Williamson will be behind the camera as director. Check out her post below:

Do you hear that sound? It's generations of Scream fans cheering that final girl Sidney Prescott will return for the next installment of the beloved a slasher series. Not only is Scream 7 still happening but Kevin Williamson aka the writer of the original two movies will be directing. 

While Williamson served as an executive producer for the last two movies (which can be streamed with a Paramount+ subscription), Scream 7 will be his first time directing an installment of the property. In her caption, Campbell revealed she's been hoping to see him in this role for years.

While the Radio Silence team aren't directing this time around, they'll be staying on as executive producers of the new sequel. This will also be exciting for fans like me, who were bummed when it was revealed they wouldn't be directing Scream 7.

This update is super exciting, although it will likely only increase rumors and theories about what might be coming with the next Scream movie. With Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega no longer expected to appear, there are a number of Scream legacy characters who fans would like to see return. Chief among them is Patrick Dempsey's Mark Kincaid, as he and Sidney are married and have a family in-universe. And since Dempsey returned to horror with Thanksgiving, it seems like the perfect time for him to finally return to Scream.

While we wait for more information about Scream 7's cast, there's a few other survivors that seem like obvious choices to appear in the new movie. Courteney Cox comes to mind first, as does Hayden Panettiere's Kirby Reed. And while the Core Four might be gone, fans would be shocked Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding didn't also return as Mindy and Chad Meeks-Martin.

Scream 7 doesn't currently have a release date. In the meantime, check out the 2024 movie release dates. 

More to come...

When Scream VI hit theaters earlier this year, it marked the first time in Scream movie history that Ghostface and Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott did not share the screen. The absence of the famed final girl in the 2023 installment was due to the actress declining the offer to join the movie due to pay disputes. With a seventh Scream movie on the way, the franchise’s creator, Kevin Williamson, recently shared his thoughts on Campbell’s decision. 

Kevin Williamson wrote the script for 1996’s Scream, along with the 1997 and 2011 sequels, and has often served as a producer throughout the franchise, including taking up the role of executive producer in 2023’s Scream VI. When the screenwriter guested on the Happy Horror Time podcast, he shared that he would like to see Neve Campbell return to play Sidney Prescott under one condition. In his words: 

While on the podcast, Williamson threw in his support for Campbell for standing her ground when it came to her expectations for pay for the sixth Scream movie. Neve Campbell reprised Sidney Prescott alongside a few original Scream co-stars for the first time since Wes Craven’s death for 2022’s Scream. However, after what would become this year’s Scream VI was greenlit by Paramount, Campbell shared she wouldn’t be involved because she felt the offer presented to her “did not equate to the value” she has brought to the franchise.

Ultimately, Williamson sounds like he totally agrees that Neve Campbell simply deserves to be paid what she asks for and suggests that the movie studio does exactly that when it comes to future installments of Scream. We don’t know what numbers were on the table for Campbell when she left the money on the table, but Scream VI filmmakers Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett did share interest in bringing back Sidney “down the road,” so perhaps one day the lead of the franchise will come back! 

Following 2023’s Scream VI, a seventh film in the franchise is currently in development with a new director taking over the job. Christopher Landon of the Happy Death Day movies and Freaky fame is helming the project. The cast has yet to be revealed for the next Scream movie, but here’s hoping Neve Campbell does strike a deal with Paramount this time that she’s comfortable with should the franchise want to bring back the original leading character once again. 

Until we learn more about it, check out what upcoming horror movies are coming our way this spooky season. 

It’s a great time to be a horror fan. The genre has been thriving for a number of years, and its renaissance is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Some of the best horror movies have returned with new sequels, including Wes Craven’s Scream. The slasher property released two new movies in quick succession, and a seventh movie is currently in development. Scream 7 will be helmed by filmmaker Christopher Landon, who recently revealed how he got the job. And it involves a beloved franchise icon.

Scream fans like myself were shocked when it was revealed that Landon was directing Scream 7, taking on the mantle from the filmmakers at Radio Silence. Like his predecessors, he’s a huge fan of both the genre and specifically the slasher property. And while appearing on the Jess Cagle Show (via ComicBook) he explained how he got the gig, and how OG writer Kevin Williamson helped make it happen. As he put it,

How cool is that? While Landon might have some big shoes to fill for Scream 7 he got the thumbs up from one of the people who helped create the beloved franchise: Kevin Williamson. Between that and his acclaimed work on the campy horror franchise Happy Death Day, it seems like he’s the perfect person to bring Ghostface’s next massacre to life.

While there's going to be a new filmmaker behind the camera for Scream 7, fans might be used to this changing of the guard. Matt Betinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett arguably had even more pressure, as they were the first director to get behind the camera since Wes Craven’s death. Landon’s resume speaks for itself, including a connection to Craven’s original Scream.  

Not much is known about what’s going to be included in Scream 7, so there are countless questions about the developing slasher. Fans are wondering if Neve Campbell will be included, after Sidney Prescott was noticeably missing from Scream VI. There are also rumors swirling that Jenna Ortega might not be back as Tara Carpenter due to a scheduling conflict. 

It’s currently unclear when Scream 7 will arrive in theaters, especially given the ongoing strikes. Be sure to check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

The horror genre was built on long-running franchises, which are never truly dead. Wes Craven’s Scream is definitely in that category, with two new sequels recently coming from directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. That duo admirably took on the mantle and honored the late filmmaker’s legacy in the process. Given the wild popularity of the IP, there are countless fan theories about what might happen in Scream VI and beyond. That includes moviegoers who want to see Matthew Lillard somehow return as Stu Macher. And original writer/creator Kevin Williamson recently explained how Stu might be able to pop up again, despite his death in the first movie.

The original 1996 Scream movie changed the genre forever, and is a beloved project for many horror fans out there. The performances are all killer in Craven’s original movie, including the original Ghostfaces played by Skeet Ulrich and Matthew Lillard. Since Billy recently returned to Scream thanks to Sam’s visions, fans are hoping to see the return of Stu as well. Kevin Williamson recently spoke to this ongoing fan campaign, offering one way it could work out. As he told ET Online in a recent interview, 

Wait, WHAT theory? It looks like Kevin Williamson isn’t ruling out the possibility of Matthew Lillard returning for a major role in a future Scream movie. Because while Stu was killed by Sidney when she dropped a TV on his head, there’s a fan theory that he might have actually been a twin. And that chatter has gotten so loud that even the franchise creator has acknowledged it.

Kevin Williamson’s comments about Stu Macher are sure to turn the heads of Scream fans out there. After all, he’s still involved in the franchise and was an executive producer on Radio Silence’s last two movies. And if he thinks that Matthew Lillard could actually return, then it feels like just about anything is possible. Bring on the twin!

Technically Matthew Lillard did rently appear in the Scream franchise, although I wouldn’t blame you for not catching it. He actually portrayed Ghostface in a faux trailer for Stab 8 which was seen in the 2022 Scream movie. Additionally, his voice can be heard along with other alumni who honor Wes Craven’s character in a toast. Still, that wasn’t enough for fans who want more of Stu. 

New Scream directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett are giant fans of the first four movies, which was evident in their work in the last two sequels. On top of introducing new survivors, they’ve also shown a penchant for bringing back legacy characters like Judy Hicks and Hayden Panettiere’s Kirby Reed. And with Skeet Ulrich also back as ghost Billy, it seems like just about anything is possible.

Scream VI hits theaters on March 10th. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

The original Scream trilogy successfully inspired a brand new wave of slasher films at the tail end of the 20th century, but things slowed down quickly in the aftermath of Scream 3, and the franchise went into hibernation for nearly a full decade. The horror genre, of course, continued to evolve without its presence… but while doing so, it incidentally inspired fresh commentary that got screenwriter Kevin Williamson’s creative gears spinning again, and the result was The Weinstein Company giving the green light to Scream 4.

According to Williamson, there wasn’t any kind of ramp-up or request for development of the sequel; he was simply struck one day with an idea that excited him. Speaking with Entertainment Weekly in 2011, the filmmaker explained,

In an ideal world, Kevin Williamson would have been given all the time in the world to develop his script for Scream 4 and create a fully-formed vision much like his screenplay for the original Scream – but Hollywood is far from an ideal world. Instead, the studio’s urgency to get the film into production created conflict, and circumstances emerged that was very familiar to those who know the behind-the-scenes stories of Scream 2 and Scream 3: Williamson knew what he wanted to do with the sequel, but at the time he was being pulled in multiple directions that prevented him from fully committing himself to the project.

In the midst of principal photography on Scream 4, the screenwriter was working on a television series, The Vampire Diaries, and that job ended up creating a clash between him and producer Bob Weinstein. Prior to the 2011 film’s release, Williamson told EW,

Much to the concern of fans, Scream 3 writer Ehren Kruger was hired by the production to do additional work on the script, and additional issues cropped up during filming as stars Lake Bell and Lauren Graham exited the movie due to what were reported to be scheduling conflicts and script changes. Despite the important presences of series veterans Wes Craven, Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette, concern was abound.

The attempt to fully rejuvenate the franchise didn’t work, as Scream 4 performed far below expectations for a series that had previously been a box office juggernaut. But its story has been rewritten over time, with fans now fully embracing the movie and seeing it as a key part of Scream’s History And Legacy.

Why Scream 4 Is The Second Best Movie The Scream Franchise

I liked Scream 4 when it first came out. Twelve years later, I now love Scream 4.

What makes the movie superior to every other sequel in the franchise is the way in which it manages to not only make important, out-loud observations about the state of horror at the time, but layer them into the narrative as well. Scream 4 directly points to a key lacking in originality that existed in the genre through the aughts, playing with the different tropes of remakes, and those elements brilliantly create expectations that are then inversed by the amazing twists in the third act.

Through the majority of its runtime, the film operates like it is trying to be a reboot for a new generation. While the key legacy characters return, you get the sense that the story is working to establish a new start for Scream, albeit in the same canon. Jill Roberts (Emma Roberts) seems to be lined up as the new Sidney Prescott; Charlie Walker (Rory Culkin) appears to be the new Randy Meeks; Trevor Sheldon (Nico Tortorella) has the vibe of a new Billy Loomis; Kirby Reed (Hayden Panettiere) has the energy of a new Tatum Riley; and Judy Hicks (Marley Shelton) registers as the new Deputy Dewey. Even as the structure of the original is given a shuffle, with the Stab-a-Thon party in the second act instead of being the grand finale, the movie still seems to be holding up a mirror… but then everything blows up in the best way possible as all of the young characters gather together for the after party at Kirby’s house.

The twist that the Sidney and Randy analogues are the killers behind the Ghostface mask is my favorite in the Scream franchise to date – both because you never see it coming and because of how beautifully it works on a meta level. As things turn out, Jill doesn’t just seem like she’s being set up to be the new Sidney; it’s actually the motive behind the murder spree that she orchestrates. The script is perfectly tuned into our celebrity-obsessed culture, and it adds an amazing level of surprise verisimilitude to the character’s behavior.

Prior to 2022, my biggest gripes with Scream 4 were that A) all of the legacy characters survive, and B) that it didn’t go for the ultra-dark ending where Jill is victorious in her scheme. I would still have those complaints if the movie continued to exist as the final film in the franchise, but everything is now different thanks to Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett’s Scream. Now fans can appreciate the doors that the 2011 sequel keeps open instead of wondering why they weren’t closed and love it as the stellar middle chapter for the franchise that it is. To paraphrase Sidney, it doesn’t fuck with the original, and instead builds on its legacy in fascinating fashion – arguably better than any other chapter in the series so far.

How Scream 4 Fits Into The History Of Horror

Where Scream 4 fits into the history of horror can really be fully summed up in this amazing exchange from the film:

Ghostface: Alright, Kirby, then it's time for your last-chance question. Name the remake of the groundbreaking horror movie in which the villain...
Kirby Reed: Halloween! Texas Chainsaw! Dawn of the Dead! The Hills Have Eyes! Amityville Horror! Last House on the Left! Friday the 13th! A Nightmare On Elm Street! My Bloody Valentine! When A Stranger Calls! Prom Night! Black Christmas! House of Wax! The Fog! Piranha! It's one of those, right? Right!?

That’s 15 studio-produced remakes that all came out in the decade between the release of Scream 3 and the production of Scream 4. While they aren’t all bad movies, the trend in horror of the era was not about creating fresh ideas, but cashing in on the familiarity of classics. Kevin Williamson recognized this trend, and found a way to manipulate it to advance the franchise he created with his work on the third sequel. In its DNA, the 2011 movie is part sequel, but it’s melded with meta commentary that transforms it into something new.

Of course, Hollywood wasn’t solely producing remakes; that trend was paired with a couple others: so-called “Torture Porn,” executed by franchises such as Saw and Hostel, and found footage, which was popularized by the blockbuster success of Paranormal Activity. The former, while referenced in Scream 4, wasn’t much of an influence on the Wes Craven film, but the movie did find a way to incorporate the latter… albeit not to extreme degrees.

The idea of Ghostface recording and live-streaming their murders is an idea that seems to come straight out of that particular filmmaking school – with Jill and Charlie inviting an audience into their terror campaign with a first person perspective. Had Scream 5 been made immediately in the aftermath of Scream 4, it feels like the in-world Stab 8 could have potentially been made with the found footage aesthetic, but the fad didn’t remain relevant enough going into the 2020s to be a part of Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett’s movie (2022’s Scream ultimately found its own special way to incorporate Stab 8 into its narrative with commentary about toxic fanhood).

How Scream 4 Sets Up Its Franchise’s Future

Despite its hinted inclinations, Scream 4 doesn’t actually reboot the Scream franchise and establish a brand new cast of characters to follow for the future, but that doesn’t mean that it is wholly lacking in big picture contributions. The film has certainly been embraced in the post-Wes Craven era as a key part of the canon, and two of the survivors have lived on in sequels: Judy Hicks and Kirby Reed.

In Scream 4, the Marley Shelton character initially seems like a prime Ghostface suspect given her high school history with Sidney Prescott, her crush on Dewey Riley, and her antagonistic relationship with Gale Weathers, but she instead proves to be a competent officer of the law by the end of the film – not only saving Gale from getting shot by Jill, but saving herself by wearing a bulletproof vest. A decade later, her competence earns her the job of becoming the new sheriff of Woodsboro… though that’s a story that concludes with tragedy.

At present, what’s going on with Kirby is a bit more up in the air, but she definitely is a holdover in the series following her ambiguous final scene in Scream 4 where she is stabbed by Charlie Walker but not actually shown dying. Per the commentary track for the movie, the death of the horror-loving best friend of Jill Roberts was specifically not confirmed so that she could potentially appear in future sequels, and now that potential is being realized. An Easter egg in 2022’s Scream specifically notes that Kirby is still alive (featured in a YouTube video titled “Interview With Woodsboro Survivor Kirby Reed”), and fans will see Hayden Panettiere back in Scream VI – though we don’t yet know what the full extent of her role will be.

Is Scream 4 A Good Horror Movie In General?

This should go without saying: if it’s a great Scream movie, it’s a great horror movie.

Like all of the best examples of the genre, Scream 4 is built on the two pillars of excellent character development and seriously scary thrills. In addition to making us continue to care about all of the great legacy protagonists, the new batch of protagonists and antagonists are charismatic, smart, funny, and engaging, and they drive the mystery of who is behind the mask – which is full of red herrings, false leads, and clever twists.

Appreciating these characters means caring when they are being stalked and killed, and Wes Craven, with his final film, delivers bloody goodness, with the top highlights being the slaughter of Olivia Morris (Marielle Jaffe), the slayings of Deputy Hoss (Adam Brody) and Deputy Perkins (Anthony Anderson), and the horrifying fall of Rebecca Walters (Alison Brie).

How To Watch Scream 4

When it comes to streaming Scream 4, the film is kind of an odd duck. All of the other movies in the franchise – including Scream, Scream 2, Scream 3, and 2022’s Scream – are available to watch with a Paramount+ subscription, but watching the 2011 installment of the series via subscription service requires signing up for Netflix. That being said, there are other screening options as well. The excellent sequel can be digitally rented/purchased from all major online outlets, including Amazing Prime, Google Play, Apple, and Vudu, and physical media collectors can pick up a copy of it on Blu-ray.

As we continue to get closer and closer to the theatrical debut of Scream VI on March 10, next week’s column will be changing things up a bit. I’ll be doing a deep dive into the three seasons of Scream: The TV Series, which aired on MTV when the big screen franchise appeared to be dead. Look out for the feature next Thursday in the CinemaBlend Television section.

By the mid-1990s, screenwriter Kevin Williamson was in serious trouble. He had been living in Los Angeles for a few years trying to sell his scripts, but he was primarily interested in making horror films, and studios weren’t interested. According to an interview with Williamson in Inside Story: Scream, he was three months behind on his rent, and he couldn’t pay his bills or his car payment. He was, in his own words, desperate.

Needing money, he took on a housesitting gig, and one night in the dark and lonely home ultimately changed his life forever. Watching television, Williamson channel surfed to a news special about Danny Rolling: a man perhaps better known as the Gainesville Ripper. Rolling was a monstrous serial killer known for breaking into dormitories and sexually assaulting, murdering, and mutilating college students, and learning the details sufficiently freaked out the screenwriter. Seeking some sense of security, Williamson made a call to a friend, but they didn’t talk about puppies and rainbows; they talked about their favorite scary movies.

Kevin Williamson came away from the experience inspired. Channeling his love for his favorite film, John Carpenter’s Halloween, he went off to Palm Springs for some isolation and to focus on working. He locked himself in a room and let his mind pour out on the page, and we walked away with a new, original screenplay for a feature that he dubbed simply… Scary Movie.

That title wouldn’t stick (it was eventually changed to Scream late in production), but it was instantly clear to anyone who read the script that Williamson had created something special. While the genre was seen as being dead at the time, Scary Movie’s quality nonetheless inspired an intense bidding war that was ultimately won by Dimension Films – a new division of Miramax founded by Bob Weinstein. As things turned out, the interest and investment was wholly justified. Scream, with legendary director Wes Craven at the helm, ended up saving horror cinema.

With its smart and captivating post-modern perspective, Scream became a game-changer when it was released in December 1996. Critics didn’t get it at first, but audiences did, and they turned it into the industry’s first massive horror box office win in years. The genre wouldn’t be what it is today without it, and I’ll be taking a close look at its impact in this first installment of a new weekly column: Scream’s History And Legacy.

Why Scream Is The Best Movie In The Scream Franchise

In any film franchise, it’s hard to top the original. Simply put, the whole reason any franchise exists is because of the high quality of the movie that kick started it, and the seminal chapter is typically the high bar to which all of the later installments are eventually compared. Expectations are set, and hard to top. This isn’t true in every case – but it is true when it comes to Scream.

For reasons I’ll get into deeper in this column, Wes Craven’s Scream is a movie that was very much of its time – built specifically to reflect on what had become of the horror genre after the slasher and sequel happy 1980s – and yet, like a great piece of film criticism, it is timeless because of the sharpness and intelligence of its commentary, and it’s elite in the legacy of the series.

Like any mystery, Scream is a different experience on rewatch when you know the identity of the killers, but the way in which the movie is layered is better than what’s featured in any of the sequels thus far, particularly because of the observable ways in which clues and false leads are unfurled – from the black boots that come down in the bathroom stall when Sidney is at school, to the suggestions that perhaps David Arquette’s goofy Deputy Dewey Riley or Henry Winkler’s Principal Himbry could be the man behind the Ghostface mask.

While every sequel has tried, the opening sequence with the murder of Drew Barrymore’s Casey Becker will never be topped, nor we will ever be able to forget the introductions of the icons of the franchise – including Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott, Dewey Riley, Courteney Cox’s Gale Weathers, Jamie Kennedy’s Randy Meeks. And while there have been some great killers in this franchise, there is no topping the duo of Skeet Ulrich’s Billy Loomis and Matthew Lillard’s Stu Macher.

How Scream Fits Into The History Of Horror

In 1984, Wes Craven made an outsized impact on the film world with A Nightmare On Elm Street: a movie that introduced the terror of Robert Englund’s Freddy Kruger and put New Line Cinema on the map (the studio dubbed with the nickname “The House That Freddy Built.”) Twelve years later, Craven outdid that by saving the horror genre as a whole.

As alluded to, horror was in a dismal place at the start of the 1990s. While the 1980s was a boom time thanks to the dominance of the slasher subgenre, studios exploiting brands like Halloween, Friday The 13th, and A Nightmare On Elm Street with endless, quickly produced, and bad sequels had the effect of exhausting the audience. Scary movies became box office poison, and studios became reticent to invest in them. A shake-up was desperately needed, and that’s what Scream provided.

Not only was the film a wakeup call to the industry demanding for new creative energy in the field, the box office performance was a loud expression of support for change from audiences. It was an unconventional release coming out during the holiday season in 1996, and while it didn’t have an amazing opening weekend (taking fourth place and making $6.4 million), it shocked the cinema world by having a more successful second weekend (earning $9.1 million), and then an even more successful third weekend (bringing in another $10 million). By the time it left theaters around the Memorial Day holiday in May 1997, it made $103 million domestically, and was crowned the highest grossing horror movie of all time.

What also can’t be ignored is that Scream reinvigorated the spirit of a horror legend. When Dimension Films acquired the project, Wes Craven was considered the number one choice to take the helm… but he turned it down multiple times. The filmmaker never really stopped making horror movies, but in the early 1990s his personal issues with the genre were weighing on him. He explains in Inside Story: Scream,

He got more intrigued by Scream when he learned that Drew Barrymore was interested in playing Sidney Prescott, but Craven gives most of the credit for his eventual “yes” to a pre-teen he met during an autograph session:

The rest is horror history.

How Scream Sets Up Its Franchise’s Future

After four sequels and a TV show (with Scream VI soon on the way), the staples of the Scream franchise are all well-established, and all of them have their origins in the original film.

First and foremost, there is Ghostface. While creatives were struggling in Scream’s pre-production to nail down a look for the movie’s slasher, the mask was first discovered by producer Marianne Maddalena while scouting potential filming locations – finding it hanging on a bedpost. The great minds at KNB EFX attempted to create a legally safe knockoff, but nothing they came up with had the impact of what had been found. Wes Craven actually ended up using the mask during filming before proper rights were acquired, but fortunately any legal crisis was averted when the company that owned the mask, Fun World, was discovered, and a deal was made to use the design in exchange for mention in the end credits and $100 (per the 2011 documentary Still Screaming: The Ultimate Scary Movie Retrospective).

It should go without saying that Scream wouldn’t be Scream without Ghostface – but Scream also wouldn’t be Scream without Ghostface’s voice. Roger L. Jackson was initially hired by the production simply to perform opposite Drew Barrymore on set, the thought being that the voice would later be dubbed… but nobody in the world could deliver the line, “You hang up on me again and I’ll gut you like a fish” like he can, and Jackson has been an integral part of the franchise ever since.

Just below the significance of the killer’s look and sound is the big opening scare. As noted, Drew Barrymore was initially cast in the role of Sidney Prescott, but it was her last minute idea for her to play Casey Becker instead. In the tradition of Janet Leigh in Psycho, audiences were shocked that an A-list, heavily promoted talent would be killed off in the first 15 minutes, and an attempt at recreating that magic is present in every sequel.

Of course, genre self-awareness is a huge part of the formula – with characters not just being aware of horror movies, but of the "rules" that govern them – and there is always the slasher-centric mystery, which usually is resolved with the reveal of not just one killer, but two. (I’ll be digging more into that “usually” a couple weeks from now).

Is Scream A Good Horror Movie In General?

Context is not needed to justify the quality of Scream. It is not just a great Scream movie, or even just one of the best horror movies of all time; it’s a phenomenal cinematic achievement with vital importance in the history of genre filmmaking.

There was no shortage of issues in the making of Scream – the effort including Wes Craven nearly being fired early into filming, a conflict with the Santa Rosa City School District Governing Board robbing the production of a key shooting location, and battles with the MPAA to avoid an NC-17 rating for the final cut. And yet through it all, the movie is a masterpiece that is as smart and funny as it is scary.

And Scream truly is brilliantly scary. The meta commentary is pointed, Randy Meeks’ geekdom is hilarious, and we can always “aww” at the budding romance between Dewey and Gale, but when it’s slasher time, there are no laughs or smiles. Whether you are watching the film for the first time or the hundredth, there is no dismissing the pure terror of Casey Becker’s murder, the tragic end of Rose McGowan’s Tatum Riley, or Sidney Prescott’s fight for survival at Stu Macher’s party.

The brilliance of Kevin Williamson’s script, the genius of Wes Craven’s direction, and a perfect ensemble cast permanently cements Scream’s important place in horror and cinema history.

How To Watch Scream

At present, Wes Craven’s Scream is not available on any of the subscription streaming services, but it is nonetheless very accessible online. Digital purchase and rental options are available from the major online outlets – including Amazon Prime, Google Play, Vudu, and Apple. If you’re a physical media collector, a beautiful 4K edition hit stores in 2021, but you can also get it on standard Blu-ray.

Be on the lookout on CinemaBlend next Thursday for the second edition of Scream’s History And Legacy, which, naturally, will be taking a close look at everything that Scream 2 has to offer both to the franchise of which it is a part and the horror genre at large.

Following the cancellation of Legacies, Julie Plec had The CW in her rearview mirror and moved forward with projects not in the Vampire Diaries TV universe. The creator of the fan-favorite supernatural franchise has had her hands quite full lately, with new shows either airing or in development. Unfortunately, one of those shows just got some bad news, even after it received a full series order.

Just days after Peacock cancelled Plec’s newest vampire drama Vampire Academy, the streamer has now cancelled the adaptation of comic book Dead Day, which she was working on with TVD co-creator Kevin Williamson, according to Variety. The platform is reportedly looking for more comedies and “event-series” type dramas, meaning Dead Day was… dead. 

Dead Day was initially announced just over a year ago, with it getting a straight-to-series order from Peacock. The series was supposed to be an adaptation of the comic book of the same name by Ryan Parrott, with Plec and Williamson serving as co-showrunners and writers. It was set to follow a group of characters who go through Dead Day, where the dead come back for only one night.  

While the supernatural series was definitely right up the duo’s alley, the same evidently can't be said for Peacock. It’s unknown whether Julie Plec and Kevin Williamson will shop the series to other platforms, but it’s just the latest to be cancelled despite a full series order or renewal.

Even without Dead Day, Julie Plec and Kevin Williamson are both staying busy. Plec has other projects in development, including an adaptation of another super-popular YA novel, We Were Liars, with Roswell, New Mexico co-creator Carina Adly MacKenzie for Amazon Prime Video. Williamson, meanwhile, is sticking to his horror roots with the Scream franchise, as he’s an executive producer on the upcoming Scream VI.

So although Dead Day will no longer be moving forward, at least Plec and Williamson have projects moving forward for now. Hopefully, another show can bring the duo back together, after their success with The Vampire Diaries. Maybe they could take another trip to Mystic Falls? Plec is hopeful to return to the TVD Universe at some point, so you never know what could happen.

Fingers crossed that Julie Plec and Kevin Williamson don’t get any more bad news with their future projects because fans have already had enough heartbreak. At least there’s always The Vampire Diaries, which can be streamed in full if you have an HBO Max subscription! You can also find spinoffs Legacies and The Originals streaming with a Netflix subscription. Be sure to check out CinemaBlend’s 2023 TV schedule to see what shows are coming out this year and that will hopefully remain in the lineup with their season/series orders. 

The horror genre has been thriving for a number of years now, to the delight of the generations of fans out there. Some of the best horror movies have returned to theaters in the process, including Wes Craven’s Scream. After the fifth movie was released in early 2022, another sequel was prompty ordered and filmed. And original Scream writer/producer Kevin Willimson recently offered some high praise for Scream VI’s contents.

The upcoming Scream sequel is going to be breaking new ground, moving the story from Woodsboro to New York City. It’ll also be the first movie without Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott, to the dismay of the generations of fans. But Kevin Williamson seems to be impressed with what directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett brought to the table for their sophomore effort in the franchise. As he told Syfy during a recent interview:

Well, I’m definitely intrigued. While the fifth Scream movie very much played by the rules of Wes Craven’s original, it seems that things are going in a new direction for Scream VI. And for Kevin Willimson, it’s a game changer for the franchise as a whole. Is it March yet?

Kevin Williamson’s comments to Syfy might help to quell the fears of countless Scream fans out there. It’s almost impossible to imagine the slasher property without Neve Campbell, who departed the project due to a pay dispute. Moviegoers are cautiously optimistic about the upcoming slasher, and hopefully the new setting will help to sell a movie that’s missing the franchise’s leading lady. Fingers crossed.

Not much is known about the contents of Scream VI, but the vague comments from those involved indicated that the new setting of New York City will greatly factor into the movie’s action sequences. The Big Apple is known for having locals that don’t look up when something crazy is happening, which might add to the Ghostface chases. The teaser trailer also showed a tense scene of the characters riding in the subway on Halloween, before noticing various other riders who were dressed up as Ghostface. As a reminder, you can check it out below:

While this brief teaser helped to buoy anticipation for Scream VI, moviegoers are definitely anxious to get a full trailer for the upcoming horror movie. The movie’s contents have been kept under wraps so far, but the synopsis revealed that the story will focus on the two surviving sets of siblings from the fifth movie. Namely Sam and Tara Carpenter (played by Melissa Barrera and Wednesday’s Jenna Ortega respectively), and Mindy and Chad Meeks-Martin (Yellowjackets’ Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding). 

Part of the reason why fans are so eager to see a full trailer for Scream VI is because the movie will mark the first time that Hayden Panettiere has reprised her role as Kirby Reed from Scream 4. She was confirmed to be alive thanks to an easter egg from the last movie, but she’s finally back on the big screen. And while fans will be sad about missing Neve Campbell and David Arquette (whose character was killed off), at least another fan favorite character is returning.

Scream VI is currently expected to arrive in theaters on March 10th. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. We’ll just have to see if more sequels are ordered, and if Neve Campbell might return sometime in the future. 

The horror genre has been thriving for years now, as fans enjoy a renaissance of new and exciting projects. Some of the best horror movies returned to theaters over the last few years thanks to long-awaited sequels, including Scream. And franchise creator/writer Kevin Williamson recently explained how Neve Campbell helped guide Sidney’s story in the third movie. Although now I’m even more sad she’s gone and won’t be in the upcoming Scream VI.

Generations of Scream fans were disappointed when it was revealed that the upcoming sixth movie would be the first without franchise hero Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott thanks to a pay dispute. Franchise creator Kevin Williamson is an executive producer on the new movies by Radio Silence, and recently opened up to Collider about the process behind Scream 3. And it turns out it was Campbell’s idea to have Sidney act as a crisis counselor over the phone. As he shared:

How cool is that? Neve Campbell has always given super emotional and nuanced performances as Sidney Prescott, but it’s fun to hear how she contributed to her backstory behind the scenes. Campbell obviously knows her signature character well, which is why so many of us will be missing her when Scream VI hits theaters in the spring.

Kevin Williamson’s comments to Collider are sure to inspire strong feelings from hardcore Scream fans out there, who are still having trouble even picturing an installment of the movie without the franchise’s hero. While Neve Campbell had limited screen time in the last movie, she was a welcomed presence that got to be badass in the final battle at Stu Macher’s house. 

Later in that same interview, Kevin Williamson further explained why Neve Campbell thought it was important for Sidney to advocate for others in Scream 3. While this movie showed the character at her most isolated, she was still trying to help people in her own way. As Williamson explained:

In the end we won’t see Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott in Scream VI, despite rumors about a new deal being made. But fans are hoping this might change in any future sequels; it certainly seems like Paramount is all in on Wes Craven’s beloved slasher property.

The new Scream movie is going from Woodsboro to NYC, and focusing on the two sets of surviving siblings from the last sequel. While Campbell won’t be present, Courteney Cox will again appear as Gale Weathers. And fans are also psyched that Hayden Panettiere will be back as Kirby Reed, reprising her role for the first time since Scream 4.

Scream VI is currently expected to arrive in theaters on March 10th. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your trips to the theater in the New Year. 

The horror genre is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon, as its renaissance continues through new and returning properties. Some of the best horror movies returned to theaters as a result of this trend, including Wes Craven’s Scream. The original films were written by Kevin Williamson, who is an executive producer in the last two movies from Radio Silence. And he recently got honest about theories claiming Matthew Lillard’s Stu Macher was still alive.

Stu was one of the two Ghostface killers from the original 1996 Scream movie, offering a truly iconic performance that oscillated between hilarious and creepy. While Neve Campbell’s Sidney killed him in the final battle by crushing his head with a TV set. But fans have long been hoping he’d somehow return, possibly in the new movies being produced by Paramount and Spyglass Media Group. Kevin Williamson reacted to this rumor in an interview with Collider, saying frankly:

Well, there you have it. Kevin Williamson represents both the past and present of the Scream franchise, so he’s definitely the right person to clear up any lingering rumors about Stu Macher still being alive in-universe. But the character is often still referenced, with the 2022 Scream movie even having its final confrontation in his house. What’s more, Lillard and other franchise alumni were able to have brief, subtle cameos in the last movie– honoring Wes Craven in the process. 

Kevin Williamson’s comments to Collider shut down the rumor that Stu is alive, and also gives some context as to how the fan theory got started back in the day. It turns out it all comes down to eagle-eyed fans who spotted him in the background of a Scream 2 scene. But Stu is going to stay dead, despite the many calls for Matthew Lillard to reprise his role.

The calls for Matthew Lillard to return to Scream obviously come as a result of the recent fifth movie, and the upcoming release of Scream VI. On top of the trio of original Scream heroes, fans were delighted to see the return of Skeet Ulrich as Billy Loomis. While he remained dead like Stu, new protagonist Sam (Melissa Barrera) has visions of a young Billy ala the original movie. And this macguffin is expected to be used again in the next slasher. As a reminder, you can check out the first trailer for that movie below:

Pretty chilling, right? Not all that much is known about the contents of Scream VI, but it will make history as the first movie without Neve Campbell’s final girl Sidney Prescott. But the change of settings from Woodsboro to New York City looks like it’s going to raise the stakes of Ghostface sequences in an intriguing way. We’ll just have to wait and see which of the two sets of siblings that survived the last movie end up making it out alive. They’ll be joined by familiar faces like Courteney Cox’s Gale Weathers and Scream 4’s Hayden Panettiere as Kirby Reed.

Scream VI is currently expected to arrive in theaters on March 10th. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your trips to the theater in the New Year. 

The horror genre has been experiencing a renaissance for years now, but that wasn’t always the case. Indeed, slashers got new life thanks to Wes Craven’s original Scream movie, which was a massive hit and started a beloved franchise. And it turns out that pop star/businesswoman Jessica Simpson totally auditioned for a role opposite the villainous Ghostface. Here’s the story.

Shortly after the huge box office success of Scream, the studio quickly greenlit a sequel from Wes Craven and writer Kevin Williamson. Scream 2 was cast and shot at a brisk pace in order to get it released less than a year after the original, and included some tragic deaths. Williamson recently spoke to THR about working on that first sequel, revealing that Jessica Simpson actually auditioned for a role. In his words,

Talk about FOMO. Landing a role in the Scream franchise is a dream for many actors out there, and it looks like Jessica Simpson was one of the many hopefuls who were hoping to get in on the bloody fun for the 1997 sequel. This would come years before she actually got to appear in any movie roles, and I have to wonder how her career might have changed if she was cast. 

Kevin Williamson’s comments to THR come as he celebrated the 25th anniversary of Scream 2’s release. News of Jessica Simpson’s audition is sure to turn a few heads, especially considering just how iconic the characters and performances ended up being. Of course, the question is: who exactly could the “Public Affair” singer have played in the beloved slasher flick?

Given Jessica Simpson’s look, many Scream fans might assume that she got to audition for the role of Cece Cooper. The character was famously played by scream queen Sarah Michelle Gellar, who signed onto the project without even reading its script. But luckily Kevin Williamson shared some more insider information, revealing:

Scream 2 fans will know that Williamson is referencing the character Hallie, played to pitch perfection by actress Elise Neal. It turns out that Wes Craven could have brought a bonafide pop star into his sophomore entry into the Scream franchise, but for one reason or another she didn’t get the gig. Although at this point it’s hard to imagine anyone besides Neal playing the role. 

In the end it would take years before Jessica Simpson took movie roles in projects like Dukes of Hazzard and The Love Guru– although she reportedly was offered in the lead of The Notebook. But that doesn’t mean she’s been struggling, as she’s a wildly successful businesswoman, with her clothing brand earning over $1 billion. And hey, with the Scream franchise back in theaters from the filmmakers at Radio Silence, maybe she could end up having a role in a future project. Stranger things have happened.

The upcoming sixth Scream movie is currently expected to arrive in theaters on March 10th (and it’s going to be bloody). In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your trips to the theater in the New Year. And hardcore fans will be pleased to know that Kevin Williamson is once again involved, serving as an executive producer. 

There are few names more synonymous with mid to late-90s horror than Kevin Williamson. He forever changed the face of horror movies and slasher genre history when he wrote 1996’s Scream. After the box-office juggernaut that was the first film in the Wes Craven-directed franchise, the writer was in high demand. In quick succession, he penned I Know What You Did Last Summer, rewrote the screenplay for the cult classic (and one of director Robert Rodriguez’s best films) The Faculty, and launched the TV show Dawson’s Creek. On the set of Creek, the writer began penning the fast-tracked sequel, Scream 2. In a new interview celebrating the slasher sequel’s 25th anniversary, the writer reveals why he never considered a romance between fan favorites Sidney Prescott and Randy Meeks while writing the successful sequel. 

In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Kevin Williamson recounts the making of Scream 2 and why he never even considered paring Neve Campell and Jamie Kennedy’s characters up romantically after the first movie. The writer reveals that both the actors asked about their character’s potential romance, but he believed it would work better for the characters and the sequel if the two remained friends. 

In the first movie, Jamie Kennedy’s Randy is a horror-obsessed movie geek and fellow Woodsboro High School student on the periphery of Sidney’s friend group. He remains a suspect until the closing moment of the first film when Sidney’s boyfriend, and one-half of the Ghostface killing duo, Billy Loomis, attack him. Randy, along with Sidney, Gale, and Dewey, are the only four main characters to live past the first film’s closing credit. Williamson said that Randy and Sidney were closer to family than love interests after the first film’s gruesome events. He told EW:

Scream 2 sees Randy attending the same college as Sidney, and the two become closer friends. After bonding over the traumatic events of the first film, Randy’s flirting with Sidney is toned down in the second movie, and the two read closer to brother and sister than love interests. One major criticism of the second movie was the death of Kennedy’s Randy Meeks. Williamson has responded to critics about why he shockingly killed Randy off so early in the follow-up. The writer said the death of the fan-favorite character gave the series stakes moving forward. If you die in a Scream film, it’s for good.

Now, all these years later, the Scream saga continues, and while we don’t know much about Scream 6, what we do know is that it has a stacked cast and will continue the horror franchises’ legacy that Kevin Williamson and Wes Craven started. Long-time fans of the Scream franchise might be interested in our list of 10 behind-the-scenes facts about the hit horror franchise. For all upcoming horror movies coming to the 2023 schedule, stay tuned to CinemaBlend. 

In the first Scream, Jamie Kennedy's Randy Meeks warned Sidney Prescott, "This is the moment when the supposedly dead killer comes back to life, for one last scare." And though the final girl assured us it wouldn't happen in her movie, the franchise refuses to die. The series has endured, cranking out rather high-caliber sequels since 1996 (except for part 3. We don't talk about that one or Roman). But how long can the franchise keep refreshing itself and stay relevant? According to the original film's writer, Kevin Williamson, potentially forever. 

While attending the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival, Kevin Williamson sat down for an interview with Collider to discuss his latest horror film, Sick. Talk then turned to the beloved franchise he helped launch with horror icon Wes Craven. The screenwriter had this to say when asked if the series could go on forever:

Kevin Williamson is right. Ghostface's ability to change from movie to movie allows the series a sort of freedom to evolve and adapt over time in a way that other slashers don't have the space to do. Halloween has had to reboot its timeline no less than three times to refresh the franchise, shake off decades worth of bad sequels and justify the return of Michael Myers to keep fans interested -- and the series profitable. Halloween Ends (the thirteenth film in the series) had to take some big and polarizing swings to tell a new story. But the Scream franchise has positioned itself to continue for as long as fans are willing to keep showing up in theaters to see masked iller taunt teens, without having to reset any timelines.

Besides its often meta-commentary, the whodunit mystery aspect of the films also sets the Scream franchise apart from other movies in its genre. Whereas other slashers rely on filmmakers concocting convoluted reasons to revive their movie's big bad, often getting wilder and more paranormal with each outing, this series changes the identity of the iconic Ghostface mask in every installment. With an ever-changing villain, the horror juggernaut has been able to stay relatively fresh, making it one of the best horror movie series of all time. This year saw the release of the critically well-received fifth slasher installment, with the sixth movie already greenlit and filmed.

Let's hope Kevin Williamson remains as "thrilled" with the series as he was working on the fifth installment. It's always awesome to see the creator still having an active hand in his creation. 

As of right now, the are some quick things we know about Scream 6, which you can catch in theaters on March 31, 2023. Fans might also be interested in CinemaBlend's list of upcoming horror movies. And for all of your other film-going plans in the coming months, you can look at our 2022 movie release schedule.

The horror genre has been experiencing a renaissance for years now, to the joy of fans. As a result, some of the best horror movies have returned to theaters with new sequels, including Wes Craven’s Scream. Yet another sequel was quickly greenlit, although it’ll be the first without franchise hero Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott. And Scream’s creator Kevin Williamson recently explained why the slasher franchise can continue after the upcoming sixth movie.

Kevin Williamson was the writer and creator of the original Scream movie, working with the great Wes Craven to bring new life into the slasher genre. He’s an executive producer on the latest two movies including Scream 6, and recently spoke to the franchise’s potential future in an interview with Collider. When asked if he thought the property could live in forever, he said:

Points were made. Because while the Scream movies always have a killer or two rocking the Ghostface mask, there’s always different people in that costume. Each has their own motivations, which offers the opportunity for filmmakers to innovate. And as such, Kevin Williamson doesn’t think that the franchise is going anywhere.

Kevin Williamson’s comments come from his recent appearance at the Toronto International Film Festival promoting his upcoming new slasher movie Sick. Eventually the conversation turned to the beloved Scream movies, which he continues to be involved with. And while he admits he wasn’t originally sure about how long Scream could go on, he now thinks it’s got a seemingly endless life in theaters. 

This update is sure to be thrilling for the generations of Scream fans out there. The 1996 original movie changed the horror genre forever, and the property remains deeply connected to pop culture as a whole. While there’s been years without a new Ghostface massacre, the metatheatrical nature of the property should allow it to thrive regardless. And as such, the property should be able to change as the genre as a whole does. Plus he seems to have faith in the filmmaker duo Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett who are the directors behind the two most recent movies.

The upcoming sixth Scream movie is certainly breaking new ground, as it won’t include Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott. The movie is also moving from Woodsboro to New York City, so there’s plenty of intriguing firsts. Luckily Courteney Cox will be back as Gale, and Scream 4’s Hayden Panettiere is finally returning as Kirby Reed. 

Scream 6 is currently expected to arrive in theaters on March 31st, 2022. In the meantime, check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Horror fans out there are currently re-watching their favorite movies to celebrate spooky season. And for many (including myself) that honor goes to Wes Craven’s 1996 classic Scream. We’re coming up on the movie’s 25th anniversary, and writer Kevin Williamson recently spoke to the pushback from the MPAA on violence, including Drew Barrymore’s iconic opening sequence.

In honor of Scream’s 25th Anniversary, the beloved slasher was re-released on 4k. The cast and crew have also been sharing memories from the set, including prolific screenwriter Kevin Williamson. When discussing the violence of the movie, he spoke about how the MPAA pushed back during the finale at Stu’s party. Specifically when the two killers stab each other in order to provide an alibi. Williamson recalled this give and take, saying:

It’s wild to see how the sausage gets made. Scream was groundbreaking in a number of ways, including how Wes Craven shot the movie’s violence. Ultimately some compromises were made, while others like the death of Drew Barrymore’s Casey Becker were able to remain intact.

Kevin Williamson’s comments to THR come from a long oral history about Wes Craven’s original Scream movie. The violence and gore of the slasher are still chilling today, especially that opening sequence with Drew Barrymore. But it turns out the grisly party scene could have been way worse if the MPAA hadn’t pushed back against Craven and company.

After Billy and Stu reveal themselves as Ghostface in the original Scream, the two set the scene to ultimately get away with the massacre. By injuring themselves they’d pin the crimes on Sidney’s father, a strategy that was repeated in Scream 4. You can check out the sequence below, but know that it could have been way harder to watch.

Is anyone else also “feeling a little woozy here?” This scene from Scream plays out pretty gruesomely, particularly for Matthew Lillard’s Stu. I can only imagine the bloody footage that ultimately landed on the cutting room floor. 

Luckily for fans, the Scream franchise will soon return to theaters. The upcoming filth movie will arrive in January, and will mark the first installment not helmed by the late Wes Craven. But the original trio of heroes are returning: Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette. You can re-watch the trailer here:

Scream is currently expected to arrive in theaters on January 14th, 2022, and the 4k re-master of Wes Craven’s original is out now. Be sure to check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Scream is one of the most famous and popular horror franchises of all time. After the surprise success of the original 1996 film, four sequels have followed, including the 2022 installment. This latest film follows many of the traditions set by its predecessors, yet it is breaking from the other films when it comes to its title. According to one of Scream’s producers, there was a specific reason they went in that direction. 

The first trailer for the fifth Scream film arrived just as spooky season is kicking into high gear. While it doesn’t give away too many of the movie’s inevitable twists and turns, it does give us a good idea of what we can expect -- including a 21st century homage to the iconic opening scene of the original Scream. 

What might have caused a bit of confusion is the fact that the film shares the same title as the original Scream, even though it is clearly not a remake. Kevin Williamson wrote the screenplay for the first, second and fourth films -- so it’s safe to say he knows a bit about the franchise’s history. As executive producer, he played a role in many of the important decisions regarding this latest film -- and he told Us Magazine there was a clear strategy behind dropping the ‘5’ from its title: 

In that context, the decision to not to give it that name does make sense. Even with the three core original stars returning to face off with Ghostface again, they’re clearly entering a new era for the series. If it’s serving as a reboot, in a way that none of the other sequels did, then giving it the same name as the original is understandable. 

What remains to be seen is whether we’ll get a follow-up to this new flick and, if we do, how many of this film’s characters will survive to appear in it? Scream hits theaters on January 14, 2022. 

With the fall season upon us, many moviegoers will take the time to watch some iconic horror movies. And as far as modern franchises go, there are few quite as beloved as Wes Craven’s Scream. Kevin Williamson created the franchise and wrote 3 out of the four movies, recently explaining why they killed off Jamie Kennedy’s Randy back in the day.

Randy was one of the only survivors in the original Scream movie, appearing with the trio of heroes in the first sequel. But he was shockingly killed off early in Scream 2, which definitely helped to give the film stakes. Kevin Williamson recently explained why they made this narrative choice for the 1997 flick, saying:

Mission accomplished. Randy’s death early in the runtime of Scream 2 definitely threw audiences for a loop when Wes Craven’s sequel originally hit theaters. What’s more, there were even fan theories that he might have actually survived his fateful encounter with Ghostface 2.0. I guess fandom hasn’t changed that much after all.

Kevin Williamson’s comments to ComicBook come as horror fans are preparing for the upcoming release of the fifth Scream movie. His work on the slasher movies forever changed the horror genre, and countless movies have tried to nail the same mixture of comedy and terror. Part of that magic was by surprisingly killing off famous actors like Drew Barrymore, Jamie Kennedy, and Sarah Michelle Gellar.

In the end, Scream fans were treated to one more scene featuring Jamie Kennedy’s character Randy. In the third movie he delivers a message of warning to the trio of heroes from beyond the grave. Randy recorded said video before his death, allowing Kennedy to have a brief but memorable role in the Scream 3. But smart money says we shouldn’t expect him to appear in the upcoming fifth movie.

The fifth Scream movie, aptly titled Scream, is the first installment in the beloved franchise produced since the death of Wes Craven. Kevin Williamson isn’t writing this new installment, but he is involved as an executive producer. That project will arrive this coming January, so the marketing is no doubt about to kick into gear. For instance, fans can stay overnight at Stu’s house from the original movie for a limited time this October.

Scream will return to theaters on January 14th. In the meantime, check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

When The Vampire Diaries premiered on The CW over ten years ago, plenty of fans fell in love with bad boy vampire Damon Salvatore, played by Ian Somerhalder. While the character’s quick wit and brooding and sarcastic personality won over fans, it started to cause some issues for the show’s creators early on in the series.

In a new interview for EW's podcast “EW Binge,” TVD co-creators Julie Plec and Kevin Williamson discussed all things The Vampire Diaries Season 1, and the two shared what it was like having Damon as such a fan-favorite character when the series first started. While it was great that he was so loved, both Plec and Williamson admitted that they ran into some issues with the storyline, saying:

Damon Salvatore's villainous introduction didn't stop him from quickly becoming a fan-favorite, despite Paul Wesley's Stefan clearly being set up as the tortured but heroic Salvatore brother. The fan reaction surprised Julie Plec, as she thought they had created a villain, when in truth they created someone who Damon fans felt was simply misunderstood.

It's not surprising that fans immediately fell for Damon, as the “bad boy trope” has been used everywhere in shows and movies. However, recently, Julie Plec brought up the whole “bad boy” scenario and how different The Vampire Diaries would be if it were made today because of it. Even though fans fawned over Damon, his personality and relationship with Elena were toxic, and not healthy. Though that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s not a good guy deep down, as Elena changed him for the better. But it is pretty hilarious knowing how distraught the creators were when they realized just how popular Damon was when he was supposed to be an unpopular character. It’s always the villains that some fans have a soft spot for!

Damon Salvatore will always be a fan-favorite, and Ian Somerhalder is probably the only guy who can do it, but it does make you wonder just how different Damon would be had he not been a villain. If the roles were reversed for Damon and Stefan and Paul Wesley played Damon, would fans feel the same? Team Damon vs. Team Stefan might still be a thing!

The horror genre is a unique one, as iconic franchises are never truly dead. A variety of beloved properties recently returned to theaters like Halloween and Child's Play, and this trend has continued with Scream 5. Directed by Ready or Not filmmakers Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, the highly anticipated slasher sequel will unite the original trio of heroes with a cast of newcomers. Principal photography for the project has already wrapped, and to celebrate executive producer Kevin Williamson has shared photos from the set, while also revealing the movie's official title.

Kevin Williamson worked with late horror legend Wes Craven when writing the original Scream movie, and he went on to write three of the sequels. He's serving as executive producer on the upcoming fifth movie, which was jut revealed to be simply titled Scream. Williamson took to social media to celebrate wrapping principal photography, confirming the movie's title and even showing off a set photo with Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox. Check it out below.

Pretty exciting stuff, huh? Suddenly the fifth Scream movie feels all the more real, as principal photography has officially wrapped in Woodsboro. This will no doubt delight the generations of fans out there, who can't wait to see Ghostface's next rampage through the town. And rather than being title Scream 5 or 5Cream, the upcoming slasher's title is surprisingly simple. Because just like 2018's Halloween sequel, the movie is being titled after the original movie.

In addition to revealing this news about Scream, Kevin Williamson also used Twitter to share the first glimpse of Neve Campbell and Courtney Cox on set. The pair of actresses will once again be reprising their roles as Sidney Prescott and Gale Weathers respectively, and fans are hoping that they manage to survive yet another attack by Ghostface. You can check out the photo below.

Is it just me, or does the house in the background of the above set photo really look like Stu's house from the first Scream? Only time will tell when them horror sequel arrives in 2022, but it's previously been teased that directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett adore Wes Craven's movies, particularly the 1996 original. In fact, that reverence for Craven's work is exactly what convinced Neve Campbell to once again play the role of final girl Sidney Prescott.

The official title for the fifth Scream movie has the potential to confuse both casual and hardcore fans of the franchise, but certainly proves how much the pair of new directors love the original movie. While the movie's plot is being kept under wraps, it'll be interesting to see what visual homages of lines of dialogue ultimately pay respect to Wes Craven's legacy.

Scream (as its now titled) is currently expected to hit theaters on January 14th, 2022. In the meantime, check out our 2020 release list to plan your next movie experience.

The horror renaissance has been in full swing for years now, and is showing no signs of slowing down. And in addition to the new projects coming to theaters, some beloved franchises have also been given new life. To the joy of horror fans, Scream 5 is currently in production, with the trio of original heroes returning to reprise their roles in another bloody adventure in Woodsboro. And now original writer Kevin Williamson has revealed what he loves about the upcoming sequel.

Writer Kevin Williamson's work was key to the Scream franchise becoming as iconic as it is. He wrote 3/4 of the previous movies, balancing horror with meta comedy to delightful results. Williamson isn't writing the screenplay for Scream 5, but he recently reunited with the cast of the original movie, while also teasing the contents of the next installment. When speaking about the mysterious contents of the fifth movie, Williamson said:

Well, that was honest. While Kevin Williamson's voice was critical to Scream's success, he seems confident in the work being done on the upcoming fifth movie. While that movie isn't expected to hit theaters until 2022, the OG writer's approval is sure to please any naysayers who might not be sold on Scream 5.

Kevin Williamson's comments come from his recent participation in Looped's virtual Scream reunion. The cast and crew of the original 1996 movie got together from the safety of their own homes, and were able to reminisce about working on the iconic slasher. Eventually the conversation turned to Scream 5, which will once again star Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette. And it turns out that Williamson is a fan of the work currently being done on set.

Scream 5 will mark the first installment not helmed by Wes Craven, as horror visionary passed away back in 2015. Instead Ready or Not directors

Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett are helming the new installment, and they've obviously got some big shoes to fill. But despite this pressure, it seems the pair of filmmakers has managed to win over the original cast, and as well as Kevin Williamson himself.

The contents of Scream 5 remain a mystery, but Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett have assembled a strong cast to bring the mysterious story to life. Alongside the OG trio of actors, Marley Shelton is reprising her Scream 4 role as Judy Hicks. A ton of newcomers will also be making their Scream debut, including The Boys' Jack Quaid, 13 Reasons Why star Dylan Minnette, Jasmin Savoy Brown (The Leftovers), Jenna Ortega (You), and Melissa Barrera (Vida).

Scream 5 is currently set to arrive in theaters on January 14th, 2022. In the meantime, check out our 2020 release list to plan your next movie experience.

The horror genre has been experiencing an exciting renaissance over the past few years, with plenty of original projects hitting theaters and resulting in both critical and box office success. Plenty of classic properties have also been kickstarted, including the iconic slasher Scream. The franchise will continue with Scream 5, which will be helmed by Ready or Not directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. And now original writer Kevin Williamson has reacted to this pair of filmmakers getting the gig.

All four previous installments of the Scream franchise were directed by horror legend Wes Craven. But the filmmaker passed away in 2015, so Scream 5 will mark the first time another filmmaker(s) will be in the director's chair. Kevin Williamson helmed 3/4 of the previous Scream movies, and opened up about Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett continuing Craven's legacy with the highly anticipated fifth movie. As he put it,

Well, that's certainly a hopeful message. Because while Kevin Williamson isn't involved in the writing of Scream 5, he seems to have faith in the duo of Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. Considering Wes Craven's legacy and the writer's own relationship with the late director, this is high praise from a key collaborator. We'll just have to wait until the next movie arrives in 2022.

Kevin Williamson's comments come from a recent virtual Scream reunion courtesy of Variety. The cast and crew of the beloved 1996 slasher swapped stories about their time on set, and eventually the conversation turned to Scream 5. The mysterious slasher sequel is currently in the midst of filming, with Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette all returning to reprise their roles for another bloody adventure in Woodsboro.

Obviously the pressure is on for Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett to deliver with Scream 5, as they've got some very big shoes to fill. But the pair of filmmakers seems to have won over iconic names from the slasher franchise, with both Kevin Williamson and Neve Campbell teasing just how much they adore Wes Craven's work on the first four movies.

The Scream franchise helped to breathe new life to slashers in the '90s, as the meta-theatrical franchise poked fun at horror tropes, while also providing plenty of terrifying sequences. Kevin Williamson's signature dialogue helped establish the movies as something unique, and that mixture of comedy and horror is expected for Scream 5. Even if Williamson isn't involved in the screenplay.

Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett's work in Ready or Not has proven their ability to balance comedy and horror, which should lend itself well to their mysterious work on Scream 5. The upcoming Scream sequel was written by James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick, with the latter writer previously collaborating with the directors on that previous slasher. We'll just have to wait to see how it all shakes down, and which characters survive Ghostface's return to Woodsboro.

Scream 5 is currently set to arrive in theaters on January 14th, 2022. In the meantime, check out our 2020 release list to plan your next movie experience.

The horror genre has been in a renaissance for the past few years, and now some of the classic franchises are being brought back to theaters. It was recently announced that Scream 5 is in the works, with Ready or Not writers Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett helming the project and some members of the original cast already set to reprise their roles. And now original Scream writer Kevin Williamson has explained why he's so excited about the upcoming fifth movie.

Fans have been hoping that Scream would return to theaters with a fifth movie, although Wes Craven's death in 2015 seemed to dash any dreams of that becoming a reality. But Scream 5 is making some major steps forward, breaking the internet in the process. Kevin Williamson wrote the original Scream and most of their sequels, so he knows the property well. Williamson will be an executive producer on Scream 5, and expressed his excitement about the upcoming sequel, saying:

Well, this is certainly a hopeful message. It looks like Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett's vision for Scream 5 has impressed people. Because despite the very big shoes they have to fill in order to write for the next slasher in the beloved franchise, OG players like Kevin Williamson have given the upcoming project his support.

Kevin Williamson's statement (via The Wrap) may help to relieve the concerns of certain Scream fans out there. Moviegoers are eager to catch up with Sidney Prescott and her friends in another murderous romp through Woodsboro, although it was unclear exactly how that could happen after Wes Craven's passing. But Williamson and Neve Campbell have both praised Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett's work on Scream 5, so it looks like they understand the franchise's specific tone.

Exactly what Scream 5 might contain is a total mystery, as the movie's cast and crew are still being assembled by the folks at Spyglass Media Group. It was previously reported that Neve Campbell was in talks to play Sidney Prescott, but David Arquette was the first official cast member to be announced. Arquette's Dewey is one of the trio of main characters to appear in every movie so far, and he'll hopefully be joined by Campbell and Courteney Cox.

I'm eager to see where the trio of protagonists landed after surviving the events of Scream 4. Did Sidney go back into hiding, or has she continued to reclaim her power? Additionally, I'm not convinced that Hayden Panettiere's Kirby died in the fourth movie.

CinemaBlend will keep you updated on all things Scream 5 as details become public. In the meantime, check out our 2020 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

A little over a year after The Vampire Diaries sunk its fangs into viewers for the final time, Paul Wesley reteamed with TVD co-creator Kevin Williamson for another dark, though different, kind of series with the fairy tale drama-thriller Tell Me a Story. After streaming for two seasons on the genre-friendly CBS All Access, the digital service's execs decided against a "happily ever after" conclusion and cancelled Tell Me a Story. It's obviously bad news for fans of the show and its stars, but may be a silver lining.

The news of Tell Me a Story's cancellation at CBS All Access more or less coincided with the announcement that the Paul Wesley series is one of four recent TV shows picked up for second-run airings by The CW. (More on the other three projects below.) The network aims to bring the shows not only to its primetime linear TV schedule, but also to its streaming site.

For one thing, landing a second home at The CW will almost definitely give Tell Me a Story a boost in its average viewership. Granted, The CW's shows regularly fare worse than shows on the other broadcast networks, but its more popular series presumably draw bigger weekly audiences than a variety of more niche streaming shows. And more eyeballs obviously means more people will be talking about the show in the future, which could potentially convince CW execs to take a chance on a third season. It's a long shot, sure, but not the most outlandish idea.

CBS All Access hasn't been very forthcoming with its subscriber numbers, nor its original programming stats, at least beyond touting the increased subscriptions whenever new Star Trek series debut, so it's not exactly clear how well Tell Me a Story did, but its cancellation after two seasons doesn't speak too highly of the totals.

However, The CW has a long history with Paul Wesley and Kevin Williamson (not to mention some other cast and crew members), thanks to The Vampire Diaries and The Originals, so the network's core audience might very well flock to the new show when it debuts. If only the network could also secure the rights to Ian Somerhalder's shortlived Netflix horror thriller V Wars. Interestingly enough, Wesley returned to The CW earlier this year to direct an episode of Batwoman, though there's no sign yet of him joining the Arrowverse proper. (But cross those fingers anyway.)

At this point, it's not known if The CW will choose to debut Tell Me a Story Season 1 during the summer, or if it will wait until the fall. Season 2 will remain a CBS All Access exclusive until the final months of 2020, so it will likely get used as a midseason entry, though that obviously hasn't been confirmed yet.

Beyond Tell Me a Story, arguably The CW's biggest acquirement is the criminally short-lived horror-drama Swamp Thing, which lasted for one truncated season on DC Universe, and was cancelled the week after it premiered. The comic book series is definitely darker and more polished than The CW's other DC-related properties in the Arrowverse, so it will be interesting to see if and how the content gets edited for linear TV airings.

The CW also secured the rights to the Canadian detective drama Coroner, starring Chicago Fire and Inhumans vet Serinda Swan as a recently widowed coroner who uses her wits and uncanny intuition to investigate a plethora of mysterious deaths around the city of Toronto. Finally, The CW also scooped up the UK comedy Dead Pixels, which stars Alexa Davies (Detectorists), Will Merrick (Skins) and Sargon Yelda (Close) as three friends whose lives are upended by their collective obsession with the MMORPG video game Kingdom Scrolls. It will be the first time either Coroner or Dead Pixels will air in the U.S.

While TV series jumping from streaming services to TV networks is not the most traditional approach, there has definitely been precedents set in the past, such as Netflix's BoJack Horseman making its linear TV debut a few years ago. CBS All Access actually tested that kind of model in 2019 by allowing the first season of its spinoff drama The Good Fight to air weekly on CBS.

It's currently unclear when Tell Me a Story will bring Paul Wesley back to his former home on The CW, as well as what its future may be. But stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more updates as they become available. For those wondering what else is hitting the small screen soon, be sure and bookmark our Summer 2020 TV premiere schedule.

The co-creator of The Vampire Diaries has explained why Damon’s story got complicated for the writers. Kevin Williamson dished the behind-the-scenes happenings that went into writing Ian Somerhalder’s fan-favorite character, and doing so proved trickier to navigate than you may have thought. When The Vampire Diaries began, Stefan’s brother was a villain before he took center stage in the love triangle that helped define the series.

Walking the line between villain, redeemed hero, and perpetual rogue proved a tempestuous one. Fans’ reaction to the wild Salvatore brother ended up influencing things quite a bit as The Vampire Diaries progressed. Trying to turn the audience against Damon became an insurmountable obstacle for the writers. Discussing the situation at New York Comic Con, Kevin Williamson said (via Digital Spy):

As The Vampire Diaries progressed, fans could not be swayed into turning against Damon. The Salvatore brother had come in with a huge amount of devil-may-care abandon before redemptive arcs began to reform him. Then, countless storylines attempted to bring Damon back to his bad boy days, only for them to have no impact with fans who loved him.

As a viewer, it was tough to forget the character development in lieu of a twist that saw him return to his former life as an edgy antagonist. Did The Vampire Diaries go there too quickly? Fans will probably debate that for the countless years beyond its 10th anniversary. After Damon turned into an anti-hero of sorts, Kevin Williamson acknowledges it was hard to turn back the clock. Williamson said:

The Vampire Diaries was one of the first shows to have its audience’s reaction right at its fingertips. It is interesting to contemplate how much of a role that played into shaping the story. The battle between “Delena” (Damon/Elena) and “Stelena” (Stefan/Elena) was always impacted by Damon taking a step backward in his redemption.

As a viewer, you could feel Vampire Diaries trying to reverse Damon’s moral progress, but it was too late. You could not undo what had already been done. Damon either had to get redeemed or risk going beyond redemption, which would have meant not being able to root for him and Elena.

Damon’s legacy continues to live on. The Vampire Diaries’ spinoff is introducing a new vampire for Season 2, and one of the series’ stars has said he is Ian Somerhalder 2.0. Please take a moment to imagine that Somerhalder had not been able to overcome that rough process to get cast as Damon. Would the character have had the same impact without him? It seems doubtful.

The Vampire Diaries lives on with its spinoff series, Legacies. It has its Season 2 premiere tonight, October 10, at 9 p.m. ET on The CW. The series’ return is one of this fall’s many premieres. You can relive Damon’s drama on The Vampire Diaries via Netflix, along with newly arriving content.

The Vampire Diaries alum Paul Wesley is ready for a tale as old as time. Or a date with a sleeping beauty. Or a glass slipper?

Paul Wesley is returning for Season 2 of the CBS All Access series Tell Me A Story. The show was co-created by Kevin Williamson, who also co-created The Vampire Diaries for The CW. Tell Me A Story re-imagines fairy tales as dark psychological thrillers.

Tell Me A Story Season 1 took on The Three Little Pigs, Little Red Riding Hood, and Hansel and Gretel. Season 2 is giving a dark twist to three princess stories that originated elsewhere but became iconic as Disney favorites -- Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella.

In Tell Me A Story Season 1, Paul Wesley played bartender/drug dealer Eddie, with a fairy tale tie to Three Little Pigs. In Season 2, Wesley will play Tucker.

According to Deadline, Tucker is a struggling novelist who spends his sleepless nights toiling away in a secluded cabin in the woods and his days trying to prove he’s good enough for his beautiful fiancée. But it’s all about to come crashing down as a dark secret threatens to destroy his world.

To TV Guide, that sounded like a hint to Beauty and the Beast. Maybe so. But I could also see it being Sleeping Beauty (the cabin in the woods, per the animated classic?) or Cinderella (toiling away?). We'll have to see. The dark secret secretly hints to something beastly, or it could be the kind of curse that befell Sleeping Beauty.

I'm excited to see how this turns out. Tell Me A Story Season 1 aired 10 episodes from Halloween day 2018 to January 2019. There's no word yet on the premiere date for Season 2.

Paul Wesley is definitely moving on from The Vampire Diaries, which ran from 2009 to 2017. He had a main role as Stefan Salvatore, and apparently he had a rough start with co-star Nina Dobrev (Elena Gilbert). They are friends now, though.

Paul Wesley is still part of The Vampire Diaries Universe family, and returned last year to direct an episode of the spinoff Legacies. He also recently shared a new photo with his former TVD brother Ian Somerhalder (Damon Salvatore), proving they are still close friends.

Fans would love for Paul Wesley to return to direct another episode in Legacies Season 2, which starts filming in late July for a premiere in October on The CW. Wesley even sounded possibly open to playing a monster-of-the-week on the show. But Stefan is gone, although clearly not forgotten, so he would not return in that role on screen.

Stay tuned for CBS All Access to reveal the premiere date for Tell Me A Story Season 2. Here's what we know so far about Legacies Season 2.

With The Vampire Diaries officially over and ABC's Time After Time fizzling out rather quickly, Kevin Williamson has some free time on his hands for a new series. Luckily, the co-creator of The CW's long-running series didn't waste too much time getting attached to a new project, and he's looking into retelling some fairy tales in a dark way in a new series coming to CBS All Access. Titled Tell Me A Story, the series promises to present twisted takes on some of the fairy tales audiences know and love in a way that's sure to excite.

Season 1 of Tell Me A Story already sets the bar high for expectations as it teases a serialized drama intertwining some of the juggernauts of fairy tales. Somehow, this series is going to take The Three Little Pigs, Little Red Riding Hood and Jack and the Beanstalk and spin that into a cohesive story set in modern New York City that features loss, greed, love, and murder. Technically, all three of those tales already have those elements embedded in them, but likely not at the level to which Tell Me A Story is wishing to portray. Kevin Williamson will serve as a writer on the series, and will also be an executive producer.

The concept for Tell Me A Story is based on a foreign series by Marcos Osorio Vidal titled Cuéntame un cuento, which is the title of the series in Spanish. The Spanish version of the series covered 2 of the 3 tales that Kevin Williamson wishes to take on in his CBS All Access series, although it appears there are differences between the two products. While the Spanish version does offer modern and dark representations of fairy tales, it does not appear that the stories told are interlaced in the same way that Williamson is wishing to use in Tell Me A Story.

Tell Me A Story adds to the growing library of titles coming to CBS All Access and sounds like yet another series that CBS wouldn't typically air on their network. In addition to the already renewed Star Trek: Discovery, the upcoming series joins No Activity, The Twilight Zone reboot, The Good Fight, and a couple others to further flesh out the original content for CBS' streaming service. With other streaming services are investing big bucks on original content, it looks like CBS is doing its best to catch up with competitors and continuing to explore unique content not typical of modern CBS programming.

Tell Me A Story will come to CBS All Access eventually, but there is no official release date at this time. For more on upcoming programming, be sure to visit our fall premiere guide to see what's left in 2017 for television audiences to dive into. For a look ahead at 2018, CinemaBlend's midseason premiere guide is a great resource for all shows coming in the new year. For a look at some shows that didn't make it out of 2017, visit our cancellation guide.

Headed to Wednesday night on CBS is Kevin Williamson's new series Stalker, a new CBS drama, which will have Nikita's Maggie Q teamed up with Hostages Dylan McDermott as they investigate stalking incidents. That includes anything from voyeurism, cyber harassment and romantic fixation. The trailer gives us an introduction to the all-business Lt. Beth Davis (Maggie Q) and Dylan McDermott's Jack Larsen, the latter of whom seems to take a lighter approach to things, which could make for an interesting pairing as I don't think we ever see Beth crack a smile.

Beyond the crime-solving duo, the trailer focuses a lot of attention on violence and stalkings, as we see one victim set ablaze by her stalker. More violence and creepy moments ensue from there.

The Following's Kevin Williamson is producing Stalker. Here's CBS's full description for the drama.

Talk of voyeurism and romantic fixation gives me a bizarre Silk Stalkings flashback, especially when taking into account the attractive pairing that is Maggie Q and Dylan McDermott. But looking at the trailer, those familiar with The Following may feel compelled to compare the violence and drama to Kevin Williamson's Fox series. Stalkers may aim for a more procedural pace, however, if the series follows along with the traditional CBS hour-long structure. We'll have to wait and see.

CBS has Stalker lined up to air on Wednesday night after Criminal Minds starting this Fall. Check out the full 2014-2015 lineup for CBS here.

Fox has been busy picking up new pilots lately; two more drama pilots have been given the green light, both produced by Warner Bros. TV. Pilots have been ordered for a serial killer series as well as a new legal drama. Fox may be looking to replace some of the series that are potentially on the chopping block at the end of the season according to rumor.

Deadline reported that Fox picked up both a yet untitled Kevin Williamson (The Vampire Diaries, Scream) serial killer project and a Greg Berlanti and Marc Guggenheim legal drama entitled Guilty. Both series had put pilot commitments from the network. After recent TCA discussions regarding the future of Fox series Fringe and Terra Nova as well as the questionable future of the long-running medical drama House, Fox may have some holes to fill in the drama area.

Williamson’s serial killer plotline apparently follows a mastermind of a serial killer who makes Dexter seem like a slacker – creating his own serial killer cult through some as-yet undescribed technology. Certainly Dexter has proved that there is no lack of interest in the secret world of serial killers. This drama also promises an FBI agent caught up in the mix. How it will all come together is a little unclear at the moment.

Meanwhile, Guilty will follow a defense attorney who loses his license after a false fraud conviction but attempts to solve crimes on the side aided by a loose moral code and some interesting methods. His ultimate goal is to bring down the people who were behind his conviction.

Which of these new pilots makes it into the Fox lineup, if either, may well depend on the final fate of those series facing low ratings and cancellation rumors.

It has been over a decade since Scream 3 came out. That's a decade of new horror clichés and conventions to spoof. There was a new crop of fresh-faced hotties for Ghost Face to eviscerate. And, most importantly, it was just about long enough for everybody to forget how crappy Scream 3 was. Cue Scream 4!

Fortunately, all those years away from the franchise seemed to be good for director Wes Craven and writer Kevin Williamson, because by many accounts Scream 4 was a fun and clever revival of the moldering franchise. I personally would have liked a sequel where Ghost Face reappears and is then butchered by a new Saw-style murderer, but that might be too on the nose. Or, er, nose hole.

Scream 4 sends long-suffering protagonist Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) back to her home town of Woodsboro as part of her book tour. Yes, Sidney is now a published author. Presumably of a book about surviving pop-culture-obsessed serial killers, which is a surprisingly crowded market. She runs into familiar faces in the form of Sheriff Dewey and Gale Weathers, now married. Naturally, soon a new killer takes up the Ghost Face mantle and begins killing improbably attractive local youths. Filling out the cast of disposable cleavage/sacks of meat and blood are Anna Paquin, Kristen Bell, Alison Brie, Aimee Teegarden, and several other actresses whose phone numbers I would like.

Anchor Bay Entertainment and Dimension Films have slated Scream 4 for an October 4th release on Blu-ray and DVD. What, you guys couldn't get it closer to Halloween? That's just sloppy marketing. You'll be able to choose between a Blu-ray Combo Pack for $39.99 or a regular DVD for $29.98. Here's the trailer:

Given that Wes Craven never seemed all that enthusiastic about making Scream 4 to begin with, it was a little surprising when Harvey Weinstein started enthusiastically talking not just about a Scream 5 and Scream 6, but that Craven would be directing both films. Sure he's the name most closely associated with the project, and one of the few horror directors with an identifiable name in the genre, but Craven'ts an old, rich man who probably has better things to do than continually exhume the corpse of a franchise he seems done with. Right?

Well, probably not. Talking to Entertainment Weekly Craven insisted that he's "taking the summer off," going "someplace nice" with his wife and "not thinking about film for a while." But he also acknowledged that the Weinstein company is contractually obligated to give him "first dibs" on the next sequel, and admitted it's "entirely possible" that he'll return. He used the same wishy-washy excuse many directors use when not clear on whether or not they'll do a project: "if they get a script I’m interested in directing. The best situation would be if Kevin (Williamson, longtime Scream scribe) would come back.” Williamson has been public about the fights with the studio that led to Ehren Kruger stepping in midway through production and rewriting the script. But apparently neither Williamson or Craven can stay away from the franchise that keeps tormenting them, and both have ideas they wouldn't mind bringing back.

I admire Craven for refusing to engage any further in the rumor machine, insisting on his well-earned vacation and presumably waiting for Bob Weinstein to come to him with a hell of an offer before he considers returning to the Scream set. Much as I enjoyed Scream 4 I'd be pretty happy if all of them stayed away for good, but if a delay is the best we can hope for at this point, I'll take it.

When I was 10 years old I sat next to my mother and watched Casey Becker, sans insides, hang from a tree. Yes, the image made it tough to sleep at night for quite a bit, but Scream also left a long-lasting impression in the best way possible. Just a year later, my grandparents were kind enough to take me for not one, but two viewings of Scream 2 and finally, by 2000, I found ways to sneak into R-rated movies so I could enjoy the third film minus a guardian. Having grown up with this franchise, getting to speak with Wes Craven about resurrecting the franchise with Scream 4 is honestly a dream come true.

On the other hand, the pressure is on for Craven. I’m not the only moviegoer who’s a dedicated franchise fan, meaning that in Scream 4 Craven doesn't just have to do the original films justice, but he’s got to offer something new. No, the general story of Scream 4 or the decision to make another Scream film for that matter didn’t come from Craven, but the director certainly had a strong impact on the project from the moment Bob Weinstein offered him the gig.

Check out everything Craven had to say about bringing the franchise back to life, summoning the old, adding some new and where we can expect the series to go from here.

When did you decide to resurrect the franchise? Did you just wake up one morning and decide now is the time?

No, that’s actually pretty far off the mark. The way it worked is that Bob Weinstein called me and said that he was going to remake it or do a Scream 4. Kevin [Williamson] was working on an idea that Bob thought was really good and was I interested and would I like to talk to Kevin about it? That’s really how I came into the picture. I had dinner with Kevin; he didn’t have a script yet, but he had a very coherent outline of the film. I found it fascinating. But I didn’t commit to the film until some months later when the first of the real big chunks started coming. I think it’s a matter of Bob Weinstein deciding this. He told us, there was not going to be a Scream 4 for a long period mostly because of Scary Movie and because he didn’t want us just making it because we could, so I think it was smart of him to wait until we could comment on an entire decade and a decade that was the 21st century; that’s a significant landscape to set your picture on.

Considering Kevin only had that outline when you met, did that give you the opportunity to work with him on developing the actual script?

Yeah, the moment I signed on I’m writing notes, outlines, whatever I can to help the process. Kevin and I collaborated a great deal with Bob also on the script until Kevin left. So sure, I’m a very hands-on director in so far as notes and things like that, not demands, just, “I think this works,” or, “I think this maybe doesn’t work.”

And how about your returning cast? Did you approach it as though they’d come if you called or did you have to choose your words wisely?

No and again, the man who controls the circus is Bob Weinstein. He owns the franchise and he pulled the trigger on doing this film so by the time I came in he had already spoken to Courteney [Cox] and David [Arquette] and Neve [Campbell]. I can’t remember whether people had fully committed or not, I think maybe one had and the two others had not yet, but as soon as it was known that I was going to be directing or considering directing seriously, we all talked and made sure that we were going to be there for each other. I think we all feel very much that we depend on each other to keep the quality good and keep the franchise, whatever iteration of it that it is, strong and powerful and based in the original journey of Sidney Prescott.

And then how’d you go about choosing your new cast members? A lot of them bear similarities to previous characters, so did you have your eye on certain actors who reminded you of the original casts?

Within the structure of Scream 4 there is the film within a film, but that’s been part of the Scream franchise since Scream 2 when you had the Stab franchise. In our film, Stab is up to Stab number seven and the kids talk a great deal about that because we established that the first three Stabs basically were based on the life of Sidney Prescott. So then she sued them for using her story and for starting making up crazy qualms and making the one sequel after another. So that’s kind of our poking fun at people who just make endless sequels of the film that was originally original. Within the context there is the evil version of people, let’s just say, that are aware of original them, a certain emulation of them, a certain copying of them in a way to get at Sid’s arriving in town. She thinks having dealt with all the ghosts and perhaps even living in a town in a peaceful way that could put the stuff behind her. So that’s part of what those traces are doing; they’re saying it’s not over.

Once you had your stars, how’d you go about preparing them? For those newcomers, I assume they were all very familiar with the franchise.

Yeah, I think a lot of them have watched my films, several of the actors that used to watch it through fingers over their eyes, and they were familiar with the Scream franchise and a lot of them went back and watched them again to get refreshed on it. You just find the best actors that you can. There’s an inherent drama within the framework of scares and killings and all that. In Scream there is very real drama that would be in almost any drama. In this iteration [Sidney’s] mother’s sister is part of the cast and Sid’s cousin, played by Emma Roberts. So there were those family ties. That’s straight drama. There’s a thousand ways you could do it as a director to guide them, help them, whatever, but this was a very very experienced cast, really, even though they’re young. Emma Roberts, for instance, has been making movies for quite a long time. Hayden Panettiere same thing. Rory [Culkin] comes from a filmmaking family. A lot of them came with a great amount of professional accomplishment already, so then it was just a matter of approaching it as real life drama and not, “I need to hear you scream.” It’s never ever like that at all even though I constantly get asked, “Do you make them scream first?” It has nothing to do with that; it just has to do with people who can really act.

So how would you compare your directing style overall now to ten years ago? Times have changed, so have your methods – script breakdown, exercises?

Nothing like that. In general, I don’t even have the luxury of rehearsal time on most films that I make. It is just a scene-by-scene full cast read through. It’s very much just doing the rehearsal sometimes the day before, at the end of the day, but just on the spot as the scene unfolds. After a take is over going up to them and talking to them and giving my observations, my ideas and working with the thing as a progressive has been the way I’ve approached it ever since the beginning. The reason we’ve probably done very temporaneously in some ways, it’s done on practical locations where you’re not shooting on sets where things are much more conventional; you just don’t even have that trust to the set until the day the owners who have it move out. It is much more in-flow at the time talking about directing.

What’s the plan from here? When we first heard about Scream 4 there was a 5 and 6 there as well. Is that still the case?

No, there is no Scream 5 script. Kevin [Williamson], when I first talked to him about this project before there was a script, he had an idea for a trilogy, so we’ll have to see what comes out of that. I’m sure Bob Weinstein is open to it if the script or ideas are to his pleasure. He has very high standards. I don’t think he’s in any rush to do it particularly, but on the other hand, I think he’s open to the idea of a trilogy, so at the point when there is an idea that he’s really excited about I’m sure he will begin launching that next film.

Ready to rehash some old news? In true Hollywood spirit, it’s time to talk sequels before the first film even comes out, or, in this case, the fourth. Right when word of Scream 4 got out, so did news of Scream 5 and 6. Ever since, there hasn’t been much talk about turning this reboot into a trilogy. However, just the other day, Shock Till You Drop posted a report that stated they’ve “learned Dimension Films still has a Scream 5 writing assignment on the table for a potential writer.”

Earlier today I had the pleasure of talking to Wes Craven himself about bringing back Ghostface. You’ll have to wait a bit to read the full conversation, but here’s something that might hold you over; there was no ending our chat without bringing up the potential of additional films and Craven was kind enough to put in his two cents. Here’s what the director had to say:

What should we take from this? It’s tough to be sure, but it seems as though Weinstein is the man in charge here. Should Scream 4 do well and should someone produce an idea for subsequent films that are up to his standards, there’s really no reason to think Craven wouldn’t have another trilogy on his hands. The question is, what are these “high standards” Craven speaks of? There’s just about no doubt Scream 4 will post some pretty high numbers at the box office, but the concern lies in how the film will fare with critics and fans. I’ve certainly got faith in Craven. Do you?

Though the vampire craze will eventually fade (yes, I promise it will), there's really no lack of appetite for the fantastical on TV. We've been taking trips into the paranormal on television since the days of The Twilight Zone, and even with Fringe, V and The Event all going (relatively) strong on the networks, there's still plenty of room for more strange occurrences on TV. Kevin Williamson, who's never let a good trend go by without cashing in, is apparently working for a partner show for his current CW offering The Vampire DIaries, and is not working on a project described as "The X-Files meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

According to Deadline the supernatural drama project is still in the early stages, but it will focus on a group of people who investigate paranormal happenings-- a storyline the creators of Fringe will probably be very interested to hear about. There's no deal with the CW yet, but if the pilot turns out even marginally good they'll probably be happy to pair it with the successful Vampire Diaries. It's unclear what that would mean for the show's current follow-up Nikita though; it's not the buzziest of new fall shows, but it got picked up for a full season earlier this year, so it seems at least somewhat healthy.

Let the Scream 4 casting rumors begin, and begin with a bang at that. According to THR, Lake Bell is in the midst of negotiations and offers have been sent Ashley Greene, Hayden Panettiere and Rory Culkin’s way. But that’s not all--the article reveals the roles they’re going for, and they reveal some juicy plot details.

Much of the team from the first film--Wes Craven, Kevin Williamson, Neve Campbell, David Arquette and Courteney Cox-- are returning, which means the newcomers have to be tied into the characters we know. If all goes to plan, Bell will play a police officer who knew Campbell's Sidney, while Greene gets a juicier role as Sidney’s cousin, Jill, and the series’ new leading lady.

It’s thrilling to hear they’ve decided to keep the Scream films in the family and not ditch the original characters completely in this passing-of-the-torch effort. Yes, we need some hot young stars for a fresh look, but cutting off ties to the original films, minus Mr. Ghostface of course, would have been devastating.

As for the remaining two potentials, Panettiere will play Jill’s film geek friend and Culkin Greene’s love interest. Do we have a new Randy and Billy in the making? Maybe, but we won’t know for quite some time. Craven is being super sneaky with plot details and isn’t even releasing the script to agencies. He’s certainly doing a fine job keeping the story under wraps, but the situation is making it harder for the talent to decide to sign on the dotted line.

I’ll admit, I’m a major sucker for the Scream movies, but I’m also confident this is a serious step in the right direction. Craven is aiming high, leaving the no-names to the reboot realm and sticking with quality actors. Hopefully his taste in talent represents the production’s quality.