When will ‘Scream 7’ release? Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott returns to defend daughter in new trailer
Brace yourself, as the 'Scream' franchise is all set to give goosebumps to its fans once again. Slated for a Friday, February 27, release, the iconic horror franchise is gearing up for a comeback as 'Scream' 7 recently released its trailer. Directed by Kevin Williamson, the film brings back several franchise favorites along with new faces, and honestly, we've never been more ready to be spooked!
Paramount Pictures has unveiled the new trailer for 'Scream 7,' with Neve Campbell returning as Sidney Prescott, who must confront a new Ghostface killer intent on terrorising her and her daughter. Campbell, who sat out 'Scream' 6 due to a pay dispute, rejoins the franchise after helping revive it with 'Scream' 5, as per Variety. Alongside her, franchise favorites Courteney Cox and David Arquette return as Gale Weathers and Dewey Riley, while Matthew Lillard and Scott Foley make surprising returns as their previously deceased characters, adding twists and nostalgic callbacks for longtime fans.
With its mix of fresh faces and classic characters, 'Scream' 7 promises scares, and a celebration of the franchise's enduring legacy. Notably, Mason Gooding and Jasmin Savoy Brown also return for 'Scream' 7, joined by newcomers including Isabel May, Celeste O'Connor, Asa Germann, McKenna Grace, and others. While the first four 'Scream' films were directed by the late Wes Craven, Williamson, creator of the series and writer of multiple installments, returns to write and direct the seventh film, which is produced by William Sherak, James Vanderbilt, and Paul Neinstein.
Production of 'Scream' 7 also faced delays due to SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, creative changes, and cast departures. Melissa Barrera, who played Sam Carpenter, was removed over her social media comments on the Israel conflict, while Jenna Ortega, her onscreen sister Tara Carpenter, left due to scheduling conflicts with Netflix's 'Wednesday.' Notably, 'Scream' 7 has also faced legal issues, with Spyglass and Paramount Pictures suing Alterian Ghost Factory over ownership of the iconic Ghostface mask.
The lawsuit seeks to prevent the studio from filing copyright infringement claims, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Alterian claims that Spyglass and Paramount "intentionally slept on its purported rights in the iconic 'Ghostface' mask used throughout the Scream franchise for thirty years," as per the complaint. Brian Wheeler, a lawyer for Alterian, said, "We will be filing our complaint later today, which speaks for itself."
The mask, discovered by a producer in a Northern California home, was licensed from Fun World and has been used in every 'Scream' film for 30 years. The original four 'Scream' movies (1996–2011) were directed by the late horror legend Wes Craven. Alterian claims it originally created the Ghostface mask and Fun World had no right to license it. On the other hand, Paramount argues the dispute is between Fun World and Alterian, and that latter forfeited any ownership claims by not acting for decades.