Scream 7: Will It Ruin the Most Hated Movie in the Franchise Forever?

by

Summary

  • Scream 7 marks the return of familiar faces like Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott and Courteney Cox as Gale Weathers.
  • Matthew Lillard and Scott Foley join the cast as OG Ghostface Stu Macher and Scream 3’s Roman Bridger.
  • Scream 7 aims to redeem Scream 3’s controversial Roman twist while adding new layers to the Ghostface mystery.

2026 signifies a significant achievement for the Scream series, as Scream 7 is set to release, making it 30 years since Wes Craven’s initial installment. From the beginning, Kevin Williamson has been involved with the franchise, and this time, he steps up as director, having previously served as writer or producer on all previous films. The production of Scream 7 has had its challenges, but as we move forward, a talented ensemble of new and returning actors are gearing up to confront one or more Ghostface(s).

Previously involved actress Neve Campbell had a dispute with Paramount about her salary and didn’t participate in Scream 6 in 2023. However, she’s now returning to play Sidney Prescott, aiming to bring the series back to its original essence. Additionally, Courteney Cox will reclaim her role as Gale Weathers, while other previous Scream cast members such as Mason Gooding, Jasmin Savoy Brown, and Roger L. Jackson are set to return. Sidney is expected to grapple with spirits from her past, but a notable casting choice references the most contentious Scream film ever produced.

Scream 7 Brings Back Scream 3’s Ghostface

In a surprising turn of events, Matthew Lillard, famed for his role as Ghostface’s Stu Macher in the original “Scream,” was recently confirmed to rejoin the cast for “Scream 7.” This announcement has garnered significant attention, overshadowing Scott Foley’s return as Roman Bridger from “Scream 3.” The popularity of Lillard and theories about Macher’s possible survival have caused quite a stir. However, the addition of Foley to the cast should not be overlooked.

The original series creator, Wes Craven, moved the story from Woodsboro to Hollywood for “Scream 3,” but this wasn’t the only controversy the film faced.

In contrast to other Scream films that featured multiple Ghostfaces, Scream 3 presented a unique twist: Roman was the sole killer, revealed to be Sidney’s illegitimate half-brother who became mentally unstable upon learning his mother enjoyed a fulfilling life in Woodsboro. Despite establishing a moderately successful career as a director in Hollywood, Roman used the production of Stab 3: Return To Woodsboro as an opportunity to vent his anger towards Sidney. The intricate plotline incorporated elements such as Sidney’s mother being raped by John Milton (Lance Henriksen), and awkwardly integrated Roman into the original Scream from 1996, positioning him as the mastermind behind Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich) and Stu’s plot.

The introduction of Lillard implies that Foley may reappear in a flashback, where it’s likely we’ll see Roman meeting with Billy and Stu to initiate the initial killings. Another possibility, potentially stirring more debate, is that Sidney could experience actual hauntings by spirits. The third installment faced criticism for delving into the supernatural, as Sidney encountered her deceased mother’s ghostly figure. This was further criticized when Sam (Melissa Barrera) was tormented by her father, Billy Loomis, with both the 2022 and upcoming Scream 6 utilizing subpar CGI to de-age Skeet Ulrich. It was widely believed that with Barrera departing from Scream 7, the use of poor de-aging to manifest ghosts would no longer be a concern.

To identify who the Ghostface in Scream 7 could be, it might be helpful to revisit Scream 3. In a similar fashion to how Richie (played by Jack Quaid) mirrored Billy’s Ghostface role as the MVP’s boyfriend, Scream 6 featured Dermot Mulroney’s Wayne Bailey, a vengeful parent seeking revenge like Debbie Loomis (Laurie Metcalf) in Scream 2. Given that not much is known about Roman, it’s doubtful that there’s another secret sibling of Sidney lurking in the shadows for Scream 7. During his conversation with Sidney, Roman implied that he and she are Maureen Prescott’s only children.

Maureen Prescott was her fresh start, the one child she called Sidney. I was frozen out for good. It was her own son, Roman Bridger, who made this film and shared the same blood.

Currently, the widely-accepted hypothesis revolves around the possibility that Joel McHale’s character, Mark Evans, might be Ghostface. Alternatively, it’s speculated that Mark could serve as an initial gruesome murder that entices Sidney to emerge from her peaceful life and confront a new wave of copycat killings. However, this theory doesn’t clarify the role of Foley in this scenario.

What Went Wrong With Scream 3?

Although many people criticize “Scream 4”, there’s a reason why “Scream 3” has the lowest rating and is the only ‘rotten’ film in the series on Rotten Tomatoes. Most fans agree that Roman, as Ghostface, was the weakest killer, and the plot of “Scream 3” failed to meet expectations. The fact that “Scream 3” was the first installment not written by Williamson may be why he chose to reference it in “Scream 7”, perhaps as an attempt to make up for its shortcomings.

In my perspective, it’s crucial to acknowledge that many challenges faced by “Scream 3” were beyond Wes Craven’s control. The Columbine High School tragedy sparked an uproar in Hollywood, resulting in significant reductions of violence in the movie. Moreover, the original intention to resurrect Stu Macher, played by Matthew Lillard, was unfortunately abandoned. In a 2009 interview, Lillard himself confirmed that he was supposed to return as Stu, who miraculously survived having a TV dropped on his head in “Scream,” and would have been orchestrating a cult of young Ghostfaces from behind bars. Even when the storyline was eventually refined with the Roman idea, there was nearly another twist revealing that Angelina Tyler (Emily Mortimer) might have been the second Ghostface. This twist would have made sense, as ‘Angie’ could have been a former classmate of Sidney, admiring her and later portraying her in the new “Stab” series.

As a dedicated fan of horror films, I must confess my disappointment with the portrayal of the Roman character in “Scream 3.” Despite promising performances from Lillard and Ulrich in the original “Scream,” the trilogy’s final installment didn’t quite live up to its potential. Compared to Debbie Loomis, played by Metcalf, who had significantly less screen time, it seems unfair to criticize Roman so harshly. Yet, despite her limited appearances, Metcalf delivered a captivating performance when she was on-screen, making her one of the most memorable Ghostfaces in the series. Moreover, “Scream 2” cleverly reimagined the iconic Pamela Voorhees reveal from “Friday the 13th,” adding another layer to Debbie Loomis’s enigmatic character.

While the newer Scream films haven’t explicitly brought back Scream 3, they have paid tribute to Roman in various ways. Scream 4 showcased Stab 3: Hollywood Horror, which mirrored the events of Scream 3, and Roman’s mask and voice changer made an appearance in Scream VI. If writer Kevin Williamson chooses to embrace fan theories, he could give Foley a more significant role in Scream 7. After the original Scream from 1996, there was speculation that the Ghostface chasing Sidney outside her home might have been Roman. An alternate ending of Scream 2 hinted at a third killer watching Sidney from the Windsor College rooftop, leading fans to believe it could’ve been Roman, although this is not considered canon. What Williamson has planned for Scream 7 remains to be seen, but let’s hope Foley gets more than just a brief cameo as a de-aged Roman, urging Billy and Stu to terrorize Sidney once again.

Read More

2025-01-31 19:34