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David Arquette Returning for ‘Scream 7’
David Arquette in Paramount Pictures “Scream.” Photo: Paramount Pictures.

Preview:
- David Arquette will be back as Dewey Riley ‘Scream 7.’
- He is returning in a “surprise” way.
- Original writer Kevin Williamson is directing.
From the sounds of it, legacy will be a heavy theme in ‘Scream 7.’ Not that the more recent outings of the franchise haven’t carried that, featuring younger relatives of some of the classic characters.
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But the new entry in the franchise, currently being shot by original writer Kevin Williamson in Georgia, has yet another link to the past, with Deadline reporting that David Arquette is back.

Arquette, of course starred as fan-favorite Deputy Dewey Riley, who first appears in the franchise’s original ‘Scream’ film as the older brother of Tatum Riley (Rose McGowan) and the clumsy police deputy trying to help solve the murders in their town of Woodsboro focused on Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell).

Tatum was the fifth victim of the Woodsboro Murders serial killers, which affected Dewey immensely.

Dewey, who also appeared in the other three original ‘Scream’ movies, eventually got his happy ever after, marrying Courteney Cox’s Gale Weathers, though the pair were revealed to have divorced in the years leading up to 2022’s ‘Scream’ reboot, which continued the story.

Related Article: ‘Scream 7’: Matthew Lillard and Scott Foley to Return for New Movie

(L to R) David Arquette and Courteney Cox in Paramount Pictures “Scream.”

And to add insult to injury (actually, more like fatal stabbing injury to insult), Dewey is slaughtered by Ghostface (in this case, with Amber Freeman, played by Mikey Madison, in the disguise) in that film.

Yet we can now add him to the list of characters who will return in some reportedly “surprise” way following word of Matthew Lillard (Stu) and Scott Foley (Roman Bridger) coming back.

Both Stu and Roman were revealed in their respective films to be lurking under the Ghostface disguise (Stu working with Skeet Ulrich’s Billy Loomis) and trying to off Sidney. And both –– spoiler alert in case this is your introduction to the ‘Scream’ movie series –– are dead, Stu at the hands (and a handy TV to the head) of Sid and Roman shot by Dewey in ‘Scream 3.’

Still, we’ve seen ‘Scream’ characters return before; Billy himself shows up as a ghostly presence advising Melissa Barrera’s Sam Carpenter in ‘Scream VI.’

Campbell is back as Sid alongside fellow stalwart Cox, plus Mason Gooding as Chad Meeks-Martin and Jasmin Savoy Brown as Mindy Meeks-Martin, as well as newcomers Isabel May, Celeste O’Connor, Asa Germann, Mckenna Grace, Sam Rechner and Anna Camp.

What’s the story of ‘Scream 7’?

Neve Campbell (“Sidney Prescott”) stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s “Scream.”

There are no details yet on what the latest film will feature, though given that Campbell is back as Prescott and May is playing her daughter, you know it’ll factor into their family.

One other element of that? The fact that Sidney is now married to a man named Mark Evans, who it was recently revealed, will be played by Joel McHale.

What has happened with ‘Scream 7’ so far?

Ghostface in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Scream VI.’

To this point, the development of the next ‘Scream’ installment has been more trouble than a scorned lover throwing on a cloak and a Ghostface mask to hunt their friends.

Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett effectively rebooted the ‘Scream’ franchise with 2002’s ‘Scream’ and followed it up with this year’s ‘Scream VI’, opted to move on after their second effort, choosing instead to make vampire movie ‘Abigail’, which arrived this year.

Production company Spyglass Media Group found a suitable replacement in Christopher Landon, who previously directed the ‘Happy Death Day’ movies and ‘Freaky’, but then things started to go wrong.

Melissa Barrera fired from ‘Scream VII’

(L to R) Melissa Barrera (Sam Carpenter) and Jenna Ortega (Tara Carpenter) stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Scream VI.’

Melissa Barrera was dropped from the franchise for social media posts supporting Palestine in the tragic, ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

While calling for a cease fire in the conflict might not seem all that controversial, some of the reposts on Barrera’s Instagram account have edged over into potentially troubling opinions.

‘Scream’ production company Spyglass issued a statement on the situation:

“Spyglass’ stance is unequivocally clear: We have zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion or anything that flagrantly crosses the line into hate speech.”

That was followed by word that her co-star, Jenna Ortega, would not then be returning fir the new movie. Ortega’s departure was chalked up to schedule clashes with Season 2 of Netflix hit series ‘Wednesday’, and indeed the decision was reportedly made months before Barrera’s statement and subsequent firing. The timing, though, remains somewhat suspicious.

With his main stars absent, Landon also quit the movie, citing that it had become a nightmare in development.

Neve Campbell talks ‘Scream’ return

Neve Campbell (“Sidney Prescott”) stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s “Scream.”

Here’s what Campbell had to say on the news of her return:

“I’m very happy and proud to say I’ve been asked, in the most respectful way, to bring Sidney back to the screen and I couldn’t be more thrilled!!! Well actually I could. While I’ve been so incredibly lucky to make these films with both the master of horror Wes Craven and the wonderfully talented Matt and Tyler team, I’ve dreamt for many years of how amazing it would be to make one of these movies with Kevin Williamson at the helm. And now it’s happening, Kevin Williamson is going to direct ‘Scream 7’! This was his baby and it’s his brilliant mind that dreamt up this world. Kevin is not just an inspiration as an artist but has been a dear friend for many years.”

You can read her full Instagram post here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Neve Campbell (@nevecampbell)

Where else have we seen David Arquette?

David Arquette in Paramount Pictures “Scream.” Photo: Paramount Pictures.

Arquette has been appearing mostly in indie movies since 2022’s ‘Scream’ outing, including the likes of ‘The Good Half,’ and ‘The Unholy Trinity.’ He has a couple of films awaiting release days, such as ‘Mob Cops’ and ‘Chuck Hank and the San Diego Twins.’

When will ‘Scream 7’ be in theaters?

‘Scream 7’ will release in theaters worldwide via Paramount Pictures on February 27th, 2026.

Ghostface in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Scream VI.’ © 2022 Paramount Pictures. Ghost Face is a Registered Trademark of Fun World Div., Easter Unlimited, Inc. ©1999. All Rights Reserved.

Movies and TV Shows in the ‘Scream’ franchise:
- ‘Scream‘ (1996)
- ‘Scream 2‘ (1997)
- ‘Scream 3‘ (2000)
- ‘Scream 4‘ (2011)
- ‘Scream: The TV Series‘ (2015 – 2019)
- ‘Scream‘ (2022)
- ‘Scream VI‘ (2023)
Buy ‘Scream’ Movies on Amazon
0z9EbEVy
March 5, 2025
Matthew Lillard and Scott Foley Join ‘Scream 7’
(Left) Matthew Lillard in 1996’s ‘Scream’. Photo: Dimension Films. (Right) Scott Foley in ‘Scream 3’. Photo: Dimension Films.

Preview:
- Matthew Lillard and Scott Foley will both appear in ‘Scream 7.’
- Details on their return are a mystery for now.
- Original writer Kevin Williamson is on board to direct.
Looks like Kevin Williamson is ready to invoke some ghost(face)s of ‘Scream’ past for the new movie.

With production having ramped up in Atlanta, Williamson, who of course wrote the first two original ‘Scream’ movies (and ‘Scream 4’) is stepping up to direct this time.

And ‘Scream 7’s script –– from Guy Busick, who wrote the last couple of outings contains return appearances for a franchise stalwart and an actor from the third movie.

Yes, veteran ‘Scream’ fans will no doubt be excited to learn that Matthew Lillard, who played horror movie obsessive Stuart ‘Stu’ Macher in the first film, is back, per Deadline.
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And he’s not the only one, as the trade site also reports that Scott Foley, who played Roman Bridger, the antagonist half-brother of Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) in ‘Scream 3’, is also returning.

Which brings us to our next question… how? Both Stu and Roman were revealed in their respective films to be lurking under the Ghostface disguise (Stu working with Skeet Ulrich’s Billy Loomis) and trying to off Sidney. And both –– spoiler alert in case this is your introduction to the ‘Scream’ movie series –– are dead, Stu at the hands (and a handy TV to the head) of Sid and Roman was shot by Deputy Dewey Riley (David Arquette).

Still, we’ve seen ‘Scream’ characters return before; Billy himself shows up as a ghostly presence advising Melissa Barrera’s Sam Carpenter in ‘Scream VI.’

Plus, Lillard’s Instagram post teasing his return doesn’t hint at some twin twist…

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Matthew Lillard (@matthewlillard)

However they make their return, it’s going to be bad news for Sidney.

Campbell is back as Sid alongside the likes of Courteney Cox (her co-star and fellow ‘Scream’ co-star, who is back as reporter/author Gale Weathers), plus Mason Gooding as Chad Meeks-Martin and Jasmin Savoy Brown as Mindy Meeks-Martin, as reported by Variety, as well as newcomers Isabel May, Celeste O’Connor, Asa Germann, Mckenna Grace, Sam Rechner and Anna Camp.

What’s the story of ‘Scream 7’?

Ghostface in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Scream VI.’ © 2022 Paramount Pictures. Ghost Face is a Registered Trademark of Fun World Div., Easter Unlimited, Inc. ©1999. All Rights Reserved.

There are no details yet on what the latest film will feature, though given that Campbell is back as Prescott and May is playing her daughter, you know it’ll factor into the Prescott family.

One other element of that? The fact that Sidney is now married to a man named Mark Evans, who it was recently revealed, will be played by Joel McHale.

Related Article: ‘Scream 7’: Joel McHale to Play Sidney Prescott’s Husband in the New Movie

What has happened with ‘Scream 7’ so far?

Director Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, left, and Director Tyler Gillett on the set of Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Scream VI.’

To this point, the development of the next ‘Scream’ installment has been more trouble than a scorned lover throwing on a cloak and a Ghostface mask to hunt their friends.

Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett effectively rebooted the ‘Scream’ franchise with 2002’s ‘Scream’ and followed it up with this year’s ‘Scream VI’, opted to move on after their second effort, choosing instead to make vampire movie ‘Abigail’, which arrived this year.

Production company Spyglass Media Group found a suitable replacement in Christopher Landon, who previously directed the ‘Happy Death Day’ movies and ‘Freaky’, but then things started to go wrong.

Melissa Barrera fired from ‘Scream VII’

(L to R) Melissa Barrera (Sam Carpenter) and Jenna Ortega (Tara Carpenter) stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Scream VI.’

Melissa Barrera was dropped from the franchise for social media posts supporting Palestine in the tragic, ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

While calling for a cease fire in the conflict might not seem all that controversial, some of the reposts on Barrera’s Instagram account have edged over into potentially troubling opinions.

‘Scream’ production company Spyglass issued a statement on the situation:

“Spyglass’ stance is unequivocally clear: We have zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion or anything that flagrantly crosses the line into hate speech.”

That was followed by word that her co-star, Jenna Ortega, would not then be returning fir the new movie. Ortega’s departure was chalked up to schedule clashes with Season 2 of Netflix hit series ‘Wednesday’, and indeed the decision was reportedly made months before Barrera’s statement and subsequent firing. The timing, though, remains somewhat suspicious.

With his main stars absent, Landon also quit the movie, citing that it had become a nightmare in development.

Neve Campbell talks ‘Scream’ return

Neve Campbell (“Sidney Prescott”) stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s “Scream.”

Here’s what Campbell had to say on the news of her return:

“I’m very happy and proud to say I’ve been asked, in the most respectful way, to bring Sidney back to the screen and I couldn’t be more thrilled!!! Well actually I could. While I’ve been so incredibly lucky to make these films with both the master of horror Wes Craven and the wonderfully talented Matt and Tyler team, I’ve dreamt for many years of how amazing it would be to make one of these movies with Kevin Williamson at the helm. And now it’s happening, Kevin Williamson is going to direct ‘Scream 7’! This was his baby and it’s his brilliant mind that dreamt up this world. Kevin is not just an inspiration as an artist but has been a dear friend for many years.”

You can read her full Instagram post here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Neve Campbell (@nevecampbell)

What else have Matthew Lillard and Scott Foley been up to?

Matthew Lillard as Norville “Shaggy” Rogers in 2002’s ‘Scooby-Doo’. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.

In the years since their respective ‘Scream’ outings, both actors have seen successful careers.

Lillard’s star rose considerably on the back of his turn as Stu and he went on to the likes of the ‘Scooby Doo’ franchise, ‘She’s All That,’ Alexander Payne‘s ‘The Descendants’ and, more recently on the big screen horror font, a key role in the Blumhouse/Universal movie ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s.’

As for Foley, his career has varied between movies and TV, favoring the latter, with appearances in such shows as ‘Felicity,’ ‘Scrubs,’ ‘True Blood’ and ‘Scandal.’

When will ‘Scream 7’ be in theaters?

‘Scream 7’ will release in theaters worldwide via Paramount Pictures on February 27th, 2026.

Ghostface in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Scream VI.’

Movies and TV Shows in the ‘Scream’ franchise:
- ‘Scream‘ (1996)
- ‘Scream 2‘ (1997)
- ‘Scream 3‘ (2000)
- ‘Scream 4‘ (2011)
- ‘Scream: The TV Series‘ (2015 – 2019)
- ‘Scream‘ (2022)
- ‘Scream VI‘ (2023)
Buy ‘Scream’ Movies on Amazon
0z9EbEVy
January 31, 2025
Joel McHale Joins ‘Scream 7’
Joel McHale as Jeff Winger on NBC’s ‘Community.’ Photo courtesy of NBC.com.

Preview:
- Joel McHale is joining the ‘Scream’ franchise.
- He’ll play Sidney Prescott’s husband.
- Original writer Kevin Williamson is on board to direct.
McDreamy is out. Say hello to… McSnarky?

No, we are not having a stroke. The news has broken via Deadline that Joel McHale is the latest addition to ‘Scream 7.’ And he’s reportedly playing Sidney Prescott’s (Neve Campbell) husband.
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But in this case, it’s not Detective Mark Kincaid, the character that Sidney met in ‘Scream 3,’ and who was played by Patrick Dempsey, and since married. Instead, it seems Sidney will be married to a man named Mark Evans, as that’s who McHale is now on set playing.

With production having ramped up in Atlanta, Campbell is back as Sidney alongside the likes of Courtney Cox (her co-star and fellow ‘Scream’ co-star, who is back as reporter/author Gale Weathers) and Mason Gooding as Chad Meeks-Martin, and Jasmin Savoy Brown as Mindy Meeks-Martin, as reported by Variety, as well as newcomers Isabel May, Celeste O’Connor, Asa Germann, Mckenna Grace, Sam Rechner and Anna Camp.

What’s the story of ‘Scream 7’?

Neve Campbell (“Sidney Prescott”) stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s “Scream.”

There are no details yet on what the latest film will feature, though given that Campbell is back as Prescott and May is playing her daughter, you know it’ll factor into the Prescott family.

Obviously, there has been a change to Sidney’s situation, and she’s now gotten remarried. The stress of having survived so many encounters with Ghostface, perhaps?

Kevin Williamson, who wrote the original ‘Scream’ and some of its sequels, has stepped up to direct this latest installment.

Related Article: Courteney Cox’s Gale Weathers Will be Back to Confront Ghostface for ‘Scream 7’

What has happened with ‘Scream 7’ so far?

Director Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, left, and Director Tyler Gillett on the set of Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Scream VI.’

To this point, the development of the next ‘Scream’ installment has been more trouble than a scorned lover throwing on a cloak and a Ghostface mask to hunt their friends.

Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett effectively rebooted the ‘Scream’ franchise with 2002’s ‘Scream’ and followed it up with 2023’s ‘Scream VI’, opted to move on after their second effort, choosing instead to make vampire movie ‘Abigail’, which arrived last year.

Production company Spyglass Media Group found a suitable replacement in Christopher Landon, who previously directed the ‘Happy Death Day’ movies and ‘Freaky’, but then things started to go wrong.

Melissa Barrera fired from ‘Scream VII’

(L to R) Melissa Barrera (Sam Carpenter) and Jenna Ortega (Tara Carpenter) stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Scream VI.’

Melissa Barrera was dropped from the franchise for social media posts supporting Palestine in the tragic, ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

While calling for a cease fire in the conflict might not seem all that controversial, some of the reposts on Barrera’s Instagram account have edged over into potentially troubling opinions.

‘Scream’ production company Spyglass issued a statement on the situation:

“Spyglass’ stance is unequivocally clear: We have zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion or anything that flagrantly crosses the line into hate speech.”

That was followed by word that her co-star, Jenna Ortega, would not then be returning fir the new movie. Ortega’s departure was chalked up to schedule clashes with Season 2 of Netflix hit series ‘Wednesday’, and indeed the decision was reportedly made months before Barrera’s statement and subsequent firing. The timing, though, remains somewhat suspicious.

With his main stars absent, Landon also quit the movie, citing that it had become a nightmare in development.

Neve Campbell talks ‘Scream’ return

Neve Campbell (“Sidney Prescott”) stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s “Scream.”

Here’s what Campbell had to say on the news of her return:

“I’m very happy and proud to say I’ve been asked, in the most respectful way, to bring Sidney back to the screen and I couldn’t be more thrilled!!! Well actually I could. While I’ve been so incredibly lucky to make these films with both the master of horror Wes Craven and the wonderfully talented Matt and Tyler team, I’ve dreamt for many years of how amazing it would be to make one of these movies with Kevin Williamson at the helm. And now it’s happening, Kevin Williamson is going to direct ‘Scream 7’! This was his baby and it’s his brilliant mind that dreamt up this world. Kevin is not just an inspiration as an artist but has been a dear friend for many years.”

You can read her full Instagram post here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Neve Campbell (@nevecampbell)

Where else have I seen Joel McHale?

Joel McHale hosts ‘Crime Scene Kitchen’. Photo: Fox.

McHale is a recognizable, sarcastic comic presence, having hosted the likes of ‘The Soup’ and more recent shows such as ‘Crime Scene Kitchen’ and ‘House of Villains.’

But he’s enjoyed an eclectic TV and movie career, appearing in shows such as ‘Community,’ ‘Animal Control,’ and ‘The X-Files.’

On the big screen, he’s been seen in ‘The Informant!’ ‘Ted,’ ‘Blended,’ ‘Deliver Us from Evil’ and ‘A Futile and Stupid Gesture.’

He’ll appear in the ‘Community’ movie that keeps being touted by its cast and has an unknown role in the third season of ‘Yellowjackets.’ And he’s most frequently found making fun of former ‘Community’ co-star and good friend Ken Jeong.

When will ‘Scream 7’ be in theaters?

‘Scream 7’ will release in theaters worldwide via Paramount Pictures on February 27th, 2026.

Ghostface in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Scream VI.’

Movies in the ‘Scream’ franchise:
- ‘Scream‘ (1996)
- ‘Scream 2‘ (1997)
- ‘Scream 3‘ (2000)
- ‘Scream 4‘ (2011)
- ‘Scream‘ (2022)
- ‘Scream VI‘ (2023)
Buy ‘Scream’ Movies on Amazon
0z9EbEVy
January 17, 2025
Courteney Cox Confirmed for ‘Scream 7’
(L to R) David Arquette and Courteney Cox in Paramount Pictures “Scream.”

Preview:
- Courteney Cox will be back as Gale Weathers for ‘Scream 7.’
- Original writer Kevin Williamson is on board to direct.
- Neve Campbell is returning to star as Sidney Prescott.
It has apparently ‘Scream 7’ Casting Week this week, as several actors have been added to the latest entry in the horror thriller franchise, which has original ‘Scream’ writer Kevin Williamson aboard direct.

And to round things off, there is news today via Variety that franchise veteran Courteney Cox is joining fellow stalwart Neve Campbell in the new movie.

Courteney Cox (Gale Weathers) stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Scream VI.’

Cox, of course, plays Gale Weathers, the sharp and ambitious news reporter-turned-author who’s often found herself at the center of the Ghostface killings, and has appeared in every instalment to date.

Her return looked less likely back in September, with Cox telling Variety that she was not officially signed on, but seemingly happy with the choice of Williamson to direct, admitting that “it’s going to be fun.” It appears she’s found a good reason to come back (probably several million reasons).

Williamson will be working from a script by Guy Busick and James Vanderbilt, who worked on the most recent outings.
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What’s the story of ‘Scream 7’?

(L to R) Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and Executive Producer Kevin Williamson on the set of Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s 2022’s ‘Scream.’

There are no details yet on what Williamson’s film will feature, but with Campbell’s return as Sidney Prescott and Isabel May playing Sidney’s daughter, chances are the Prescott family will be in the spotlight.

This also opens the door up for a potential return from Detective Mark Kincaid, played by Patrick Dempsey, who met Sidney when he was investigating the murders that happen in ‘Scream 3’ and ended up married with a family.

Kincaid has not been glimpsed since that movie, but Sidney does call him on the phone in one of the more recent entries. Dempsey has yet to be confirmed as coming back.

Who else is in ‘Scream 7’?

Phoebe Spengler (Mckenna Grace) in Columbia Pictures’ ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.’ Photo By Jaap Buitendijk. © 2023 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Earlier this week, we learned that ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ and ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ star McKenna Grace would look to prove that she ain’t afraid of no ghost(face), signing on to the cast alongside fellow new recruit Sam Rechner, previously seen in ‘The Fabelmans.’

Then, Variety brought word that Mason Gooding, who played Chad Meeks-Martin in both 2022’s ‘Scream’ and 2023’s ‘Scream VI,’ would return as the character in the new movie.

There’s no word yet on whether Jasmin Savoy Brown, who appeared as Chad’s sister Mindy in both movies, will join her screen sibling.

Beyond them, we also know that Celeste O’Connor (another current ‘Ghostbusters’ movie veteran), Asa Germann and ‘Pitch Perfect’s Anna Camp are all also aboard in unknown roles.

What has happened with ‘Scream 7’ so far?

Director Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, left, and Director Tyler Gillett on the set of Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Scream VI.’

To this point, the development of the next ‘Scream’ installment has been more trouble than a scorned lover throwing on a cloak and a Ghostface mask to hunt their friends.

Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett effectively rebooted the ‘Scream’ franchise with 2002’s ‘Scream’ and followed it up with this year’s ‘Scream VI’, opted to move on after their second effort, choosing instead to make vampire movie ‘Abigail’, which arrived this year.

Production company Spyglass Media Group found a suitable replacement in Christopher Landon, who previously directed the ‘Happy Death Day’ movies and ‘Freaky’, but then things started to go wrong.

Melissa Barrera fired from ‘Scream VII’

(L to R) Melissa Barrera (Sam Carpenter) and Jenna Ortega (Tara Carpenter) stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Scream VI.’

Melissa Barrera was dropped from the franchise for social media posts supporting Palestine in the tragic, ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

While calling for a cease fire in the conflict might not seem all that controversial, some of the reposts on Barrera’s Instagram account have edged over into potentially troubling opinions.

‘Scream’ production company Spyglass issued a statement on the situation:

“Spyglass’ stance is unequivocally clear: We have zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion or anything that flagrantly crosses the line into hate speech.”

That was followed by word that her co-star, Jenna Ortega, would not then be returning fir the new movie. Ortega’s departure was chalked up to schedule clashes with Season 2 of Netflix hit series ‘Wednesday’, and indeed the decision was reportedly made months before Barrera’s statement and subsequent firing. The timing, though, remains somewhat suspicious.

With his main stars absent, Landon also quit the movie, citing that it had become a nightmare in development.

Neve Campbell talks ‘Scream’ return

Neve Campbell (“Sidney Prescott”) stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s “Scream.”

Here’s what Campbell had to say on the news of her return:

“I’m very happy and proud to say I’ve been asked, in the most respectful way, to bring Sidney back to the screen and I couldn’t be more thrilled!!! Well actually I could. While I’ve been so incredibly lucky to make these films with both the master of horror Wes Craven and the wonderfully talented Matt and Tyler team, I’ve dreamt for many years of how amazing it would be to make one of these movies with Kevin Williamson at the helm. And now it’s happening, Kevin Williamson is going to direct ‘Scream 7’! This was his baby and it’s his brilliant mind that dreamt up this world. Kevin is not just an inspiration as an artist but has been a dear friend for many years.”

You can read her full Instagram post here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Neve Campbell (@nevecampbell)

When will ‘Scream 7’ be in theaters?

‘Scream 7’ will release in theaters worldwide via Paramount Pictures on February 27th, 2026.

Ghostface in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Scream VI.’

Movies in the ‘Scream’ franchise:
- ‘Scream‘ (1996)
- ‘Scream 2‘ (1997)
- ‘Scream 3‘ (2000)
- ‘Scream 4‘ (2011)
- ‘Scream‘ (2022)
- ‘Scream VI‘ (2023)
Buy ‘Scream’ Movies on Amazon
0z9EbEVy
December 19, 2024
McKenna Grace the Latest Addition to ‘Scream 7’
Phoebe Spengler (Mckenna Grace) in Columbia Pictures’ ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.’ Photo By Jaap Buitendijk. © 2023 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Preview:
- McKenna Grace is the latest recruit for the ‘Scream’ franchise.
- Original writer Kevin Williamson is on board to direct.
- Neve Campbell is returning to star as Sidney Prescott.
The casting cavalcade for the next ‘Scream’ outing continues to roll onwards. Following a troubled development period (read more about that below), it seems to be firmly on track, with original writer Kevin Williamson stepping up to direct and main star Neve Campbell returning as Sidney Prescott.

Alongside the likes of recent recruits Isabel May, Celeste O’Connor and Asa Germann, we now know that McKenna Grace, who starred in the most recent two ‘Ghostbusters’ movies, will be joining the cast. And ‘The Fabelmans’ Sam Rechner is also aboard.
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And in a bit of breaking news, Variety brings word that Mason Gooding, who played Chad Meeks-Martin in both 2022’s ‘Scream’ and 2023’s ‘Scream VI,’ is returning as the character in the new movie.

There’s no word yet on whether Jasmin Savoy Brown, who appeared as Chad’s sister Mindy in both movies, will join her screen sibling.

What’s the story of ‘Scream 7’?

Neve Campbell (“Sidney Prescott”) stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s “Scream.”

There are no details yet on what Williamson’s film will feature, though given that Campbell is back as Prescott and May is playing her daughter, you know it’ll factor into the Prescott family.

This also opens the door up for a potential return from Detective Mark Kincaid, played by Patrick Dempsey, who met Sidney when he was investigating the murders that happen in ‘Scream 3’ and ended up married with a family.

Kincaid has not been glimpsed since that movie, but Sidney does call him on the phone in one of the more recent entries. Dempsey has yet to be confirmed as coming back.

What has happened with ‘Scream 7’ so far?

Director Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, left, and Director Tyler Gillett on the set of Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Scream VI.’

To this point, the development of the next ‘Scream’ installment has been more trouble than a scorned lover throwing on a cloak and a Ghostface mask to hunt their friends.

Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett effectively rebooted the ‘Scream’ franchise with 2002’s ‘Scream’ and followed it up with this year’s ‘Scream VI’, opted to move on after their second effort, choosing instead to make vampire movie ‘Abigail’, which arrived this year.

Production company Spyglass Media Group found a suitable replacement in Christopher Landon, who previously directed the ‘Happy Death Day’ movies and ‘Freaky’, but then things started to go wrong.

Related Article: ‘Scream 7’: Isabel May and Celeste O’Connor Join the Cast of the New Horror

Melissa Barrera fired from ‘Scream VII’

(L to R) Melissa Barrera (Sam Carpenter) and Jenna Ortega (Tara Carpenter) stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Scream VI.’

Melissa Barrera was dropped from the franchise for social media posts supporting Palestine in the tragic, ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

While calling for a cease fire in the conflict might not seem all that controversial, some of the reposts on Barrera’s Instagram account have edged over into potentially troubling opinions.

‘Scream’ production company Spyglass issued a statement on the situation:

“Spyglass’ stance is unequivocally clear: We have zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion or anything that flagrantly crosses the line into hate speech.”

That was followed by word that her co-star, Jenna Ortega, would not then be returning fir the new movie. Ortega’s departure was chalked up to schedule clashes with Season 2 of Netflix hit series ‘Wednesday’, and indeed the decision was reportedly made months before Barrera’s statement and subsequent firing. The timing, though, remains somewhat suspicious.

With his main stars absent, Landon also quit the movie, citing that it had become a nightmare in development.

Neve Campbell talks ‘Scream’ return

Neve Campbell (“Sidney Prescott”) stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s “Scream.”

Here’s what Campbell had to say on the news of her return:

“I’m very happy and proud to say I’ve been asked, in the most respectful way, to bring Sidney back to the screen and I couldn’t be more thrilled!!! Well actually I could. While I’ve been so incredibly lucky to make these films with both the master of horror Wes Craven and the wonderfully talented Matt and Tyler team, I’ve dreamt for many years of how amazing it would be to make one of these movies with Kevin Williamson at the helm. And now it’s happening, Kevin Williamson is going to direct ‘Scream 7’! This was his baby and it’s his brilliant mind that dreamt up this world. Kevin is not just an inspiration as an artist but has been a dear friend for many years.”

You can read her full Instagram post here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Neve Campbell (@nevecampbell)

Where else have I seen McKenna Grace?

Phoebe Spengler (Mckenna Grace) in Columbia Pictures’ ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.’ Photo By Jaap Buitendijk. © 2023 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Grace, in addition to her ‘Ghostbusters’ duties, has enjoyed a successful career so far.

She has movies such as ‘Gifted,’ ‘Captain Marvel,’ ‘I, Tonya,’ and ‘Annabelle Comes Home’ on her resume.

And the actor has several new movies in the works, including the adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s ‘Regretting You’ opposite Allison Williams, to be directed by Josh Boone. She’ll also be seen in sports biodrama ‘Perfect’ and romantic drama ‘99 Days.’

As for Rechner, he made an impact in ‘Fabelmans’ as Logan, the high school bully of Gabriel LaBelle’s 16-year-old Sammy. He also appeared in comedy drama ‘Ruby’s Choice.’

On the small screen, he was part of the cast for Netflix series ‘Heartbreak High.’

When will ‘Scream 7’ be in theaters?

‘Scream 7’ will release in theaters worldwide via Paramount Pictures on February 27th, 2026.

Ghostface in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Scream VI.’ © 2022 Paramount Pictures. Ghost Face is a Registered Trademark of Fun World Div., Easter Unlimited, Inc. ©1999. All Rights Reserved.

Movies in the ‘Scream’ franchise:
- ‘Scream‘ (1996)
- ‘Scream 2‘ (1997)
- ‘Scream 3‘ (2000)
- ‘Scream 4‘ (2011)
- ‘Scream‘ (2022)
- ‘Scream VI‘ (2023)
Buy ‘Scream’ Movies on Amazon
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December 17, 2024
Isabel May and Celeste O’Connor Join ‘Scream 7’
(Left) Celeste O’Connor in ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’. Photo: Columbia Pictures. (Right) Isabel May in ‘Run Hide Fight’. Photo: The Daily Wire.

Preview:
- Isabel May and Celeste O’Connor are the latest recruits for the ‘Scream’ franchise.
- Original writer Kevin Williamson is on board to direct.
- Neve Campbell is returning to star as Sidney Prescott.
It appears the ‘Scream’ franchise might finally be back on track after a patch of chaos (more on that below.)

With original writer Kevin Williamson on board to direct the next movie –– that would be ‘Scream VII,’ though all the current reports are writing the title as ‘Scream 7’ –– we now know at least two of the people who will be joining a returning Neve Campbell (who famously declined to appear in the last entry over a low pay offer).
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Isabel May and Celeste O’Connor are the latest new recruits for the franchise.

May, per Variety, is playing Sidney’s daughter, but O’Connor’s role is unknown for now.

Related Article: Courteney Cox in Talks to Return as Gale Weathers in ‘Scream 7’

What’s the story of ‘Scream 7’?

Neve Campbell (“Sidney Prescott”) stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s “Scream.”

There are no details yet on what Williamson’s film will feature, though given that Campbell is back as Prescott and May is playing her daughter, you know it’ll factor into the Prescott family.

This also opens the door up for a potential return from Detective Mark Kincaid, played by Patrick Dempsey, who met Sidney when he was investigating the murders that happen in ‘Scream 3’ and ended up married with a family.

Kincaid has not been glimpsed since that movie, but Sidney does call him on the phone in one of the more recent entries. Dempsey has yet to be confirmed as coming back.

What has happened with ‘Scream 7’ so far?

Ghostface in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Scream VI.’ © 2022 Paramount Pictures. Ghost Face is a Registered Trademark of Fun World Div., Easter Unlimited, Inc. ©1999. All Rights Reserved.

To this point, the development of the next ‘Scream’ installment has been more trouble than a scorned lover throwing on a cloak and a Ghostface mask to hunt their friends.

Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett effectively rebooted the ‘Scream’ franchise with 2002’s ‘Scream’ and followed it up with this year’s ‘Scream VI’, opted to move on after their second effort, choosing instead to make vampire movie ‘Abigail’, which arrived this year.

Production company Spyglass Media Group found a suitable replacement in Christopher Landon, who previously directed the ‘Happy Death Day’ movies and ‘Freaky’, but then things started to go wrong.

Melissa Barrera fired from ‘Scream VII’

(L to R) Melissa Barrera (Sam Carpenter) and Jenna Ortega (Tara Carpenter) stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Scream VI.’

Melissa Barrera was dropped from the franchise for social media posts supporting Palestine in the tragic, ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

‘Scream’ production company Spyglass issued a statement on the situation:

“Spyglass’ stance is unequivocally clear: We have zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion or anything that flagrantly crosses the line into hate speech.”

That was followed by word that her co-star, Jenna Ortega, would not then be returning fir the new movie. Ortega’s departure was chalked up to schedule clashes with Season 2 of Netflix hit series ‘Wednesday’, and indeed the decision was reportedly made months before Barrera’s statement and subsequent firing. The timing, though, remains somewhat suspicious.

With his main stars absent, Landon also quit the movie, citing that it had become a nightmare in development.

Neve Campbell talks ‘Scream’ return

Neve Campbell (“Sidney Prescott”) stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s “Scream.”

Here’s what Campbell had to say on the news of her return:

“I’m very happy and proud to say I’ve been asked, in the most respectful way, to bring Sidney back to the screen and I couldn’t be more thrilled!!! Well actually I could. While I’ve been so incredibly lucky to make these films with both the master of horror Wes Craven and the wonderfully talented Matt and Tyler team, I’ve dreamt for many years of how amazing it would be to make one of these movies with Kevin Williamson at the helm. And now it’s happening, Kevin Williamson is going to direct ‘Scream 7’! This was his baby and it’s his brilliant mind that dreamt up this world. Kevin is not just an inspiration as an artist but has been a dear friend for many years.”

You can read her full Instagram post here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Neve Campbell (@nevecampbell)

Where else have I seen Isabel May and Celeste O’Connor?

(L to R) Lucky (Celeste O’Connor), Nadeem Razmaadi (Kumail Nanjiani), Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) and Lars Pinfield (James Acaster) in Columbia Pictures’ ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.’ Photo By Jaap Buitendijk. © 2023 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

May is probably best known right now for playing Elsa Dutton in the ‘Yellowstone’ prequels ‘1883’ and ‘1923.’

She has also appeared in Netflix sitcom ‘Alexa & Katie’ and movies including ‘Let’s Scare Julie,’ ‘Run Hide Fight’ and ‘I Want You Back.’

Coming up, she’ll be seen in sci-fi horror ‘Menace,’ romantic comedy ‘Love Language’ and romantic drama ‘Falling.’

O’Connor played Lucky in the two recent ‘Ghostbusters’ films (‘Afterlife’ and ‘Frozen Empire’), and they were also seen in Sony/Marvel’s ‘Madame Web,’ the Zach Braff-directed drama ‘A Good Person,’ body swap slasher ‘Freaky,’ (ironically, had Christopher Landon stayed, this would have marked a reunion) and the Sundance drama ‘Selah and the Spades.’

They’re currently at work on sci-fi pic ‘UAP.’

When will ‘Scream 7’ be in theaters?

‘Scream 7’ will release in theaters worldwide via Paramount Pictures on February 27th, 2026.

Ghostface in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Scream VI.’

Movies in the ‘Scream’ franchise:
- ‘Scream‘ (1996)
- ‘Scream 2‘ (1997)
- ‘Scream 3‘ (2000)
- ‘Scream 4‘ (2011)
- ‘Scream‘ (2022)
- ‘Scream VI‘ (2023)
Buy ‘Scream’ Movies on Amazon
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December 6, 2024
Movie Review: ‘Madame Web’
Cassandra Webb (Dakota Johnson) in Columbia Pictures’ ‘Madame Web.’

Opening in theaters on February 14th is ‘Madame Web,’ starring Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney, Isabela Merced, Celeste O’Connor, Tahar Rahim, Emma Roberts, and Adam Scott.

Initial Thoughts

Just when you thought the “Sony Spider-Man Universe” (as the Sony Pictures cinematic pool of movies starring Spider-Man villains and minor characters has come to be known) couldn’t get any sillier and more generic than ‘Morbius,’ now ‘Madame Web’ comes along to say “hold my beer.” Despite a promising cast and director, ‘Madame Web’ – based on a little-known yet powerful psychic in the Marvel canon – ends up deadly dull.

Related Article: Dakota Johnson is in Talks to Star in Sony’s Spider-Verse Movie ‘Madame Web’

Story and Direction

(L to R) Dakota Johnson and Director S.J. Clarkson at a Photo Call for Columbia Pictures’ ‘Madame Web’ at the Fasano Rio De Janiero. Photo: Renan Olivetti.

There’s the kernel of an interesting – if hardly original – idea at the center of ‘Madame Web’: if you could see your future and knew who was going to kill you, would you kill them first? That is what fuels Ezekiel Sims (Tahar Rahim of ‘A Prophet’ fame), who we first meet in the Peruvian Amazon, circa 1973, alongside a woman named Constance Webb (Kerry Bishé). Sims is ostensibly providing security for the very pregnant Webb, who’s on a mission – via some exceedingly clumsy expository dialogue — to find a rare spider whose DNA can provide incredible strength, healing and regenerative powers.

In the first of many thuddingly obvious and overly telegraphed plot points, Constance is betrayed by Sims once she finds the spider. After he takes off with the arachnid and leaves her for dead, Constance is rescued by an Amazonian tribe, once thought mythical, who apparently derive their powers from the spider – the “Spider-People.” Their English-speaking leader cannot save Constance, but does manage to save her baby.

Thirty years later, that baby has grown up to be Cassandra Webb (Dakota Johnson), a paramedic who prefers being alone despite the affection of her partner, Ben Parker (Adam Scott), and his efforts to get her to be part of the world. Cassie’s life, however, takes a turn for the bizarre when she nearly drowns while rescuing an accident victim on a bridge – an incident that somehow triggers in her an ability to see glimpses of the future.

At the same time, Ezekiel Sims – who is apparently now incredibly wealthy, although it’s never exactly explained how – has the same power, as well as super-strength and sticky hands and feet, no doubt thanks to giving himself some spider-cells. He keeps seeing visions of being sent to his death by three young costumed women – in a sort of teaser for films yet to come – and sets out to stop them by any means necessary. This puts him on a collision course with Cassie, who is inexplicably drawn to the three teenage girls as well: Julia Cornwall (Sydney Sweeney), Anya Corazon (Isabela Merced), and Mattie Franklin (Celeste O’Connor).

Ezekiel (Tahar Rahim) in Columbia Pictures’ ‘Madame Web.’ Photo: Courtesy of Sony Pictures. © 2024 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

What follows is a tediously exposition-heavy story (much of the dialogue, particularly Sims’, seems re-recorded in post-production) that strains to explain unsuccessfully how and why Cassie’s powers work, why this connects her to a larger history of so-called “Spider-people,” and how her life will interconnect with those of the other three women. The explanations fail to provide any real spark for the story, while other questions — like why Sims wears a Spider-Man outfit 15 years before Spider-Man did, or why Cassie drives around the entire second half of the movie in a stolen cab and manages to fly to Peru despite being wanted for kidnapping three teen girls – remain unanswered.

‘Madame Web’ is all plot: one story beat just gets hooked to the next, and there’s no interest on the part of the four credited screenwriters (plus one who gets “story by” credit) in trying to make any truly credible or emotional connections between any of the characters. Any way in which they connect is happenstance: after Cassie, a total stranger, saves their lives on a subway train, the three girls just completely put their fates in her hands because the story requires them to.

Even when she abandons them in the woods at one point, or abruptly leaves them with Ben and his very pregnant sister-in-law Mary (Emma Roberts) while she zooms off to Peru — apparently a journey one can make in a matter of hours — no one seems to question any of this except in the most casual way. That’s because none of these characters even remotely seem like people – they’re just pawns being pushed around so Sony can make another Spider-Man-adjacent movie (and yes, Easter eggs abound here, including the egregious inversion of perhaps the most famous line in Marvel lore).

‘Madame Web’ comes across as a desperate attempt to make something, anything, out of whatever scraps of Marvel canon the filmmakers can pull together. The movie assumes that fans will nod knowingly at the names of the girls, but it doesn’t give us any reason to care or wonder why they’re drawn together in the first place. Making her feature debut, director S.J. Clarkson (who has helmed episodes of ‘Jessica Jones’ and ‘The Defenders’) is competent enough, but she can’t enliven these connect-the-dots proceedings with any genuine life (the final action scene – a mix of Cassie’s precognition and what actually happens – is sadly nearly incomprehensible).

Of course, ‘Madame Web’ is all mostly set-up by the end, and one can almost hear the producers high-fiving each other over the multiple Spider-sequels that they set up. But the creative exhaustion that seeps from the screen tells another story.

Meet The Spider-Team

(L to R) Mattie Franklin (Celeste O’Connor), Cassandra Webb (Dakota Johnson), Anya Corazon (Isabela Merced), and Julia Cornwall (Sydney Sweeney) in Columbia Pictures’ ‘Madame Web.’ Photo: Sony Pictures. © 2024 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

As with a lot of recent movies, the cast for this looks good on paper, but are limited in what they can do with the material. Dakota Johnson works hard to elevate the character and script – she is an intelligent and witty actor, as well as a graceful beauty – but she seems lost at times and unsure just what kind of tone she’s supposed to be playing.

Her co-stars aren’t given nearly enough character development, and while the idea of an all-female super-team is long overdue on the screen (we’re still waiting for the MCU’s ‘A-Force’ movie), this is not the launchpad it needs. Sydney Sweeney proves again that while talented and occasionally inspired, she needs solid direction. Isabela Merced doesn’t much improve on her work in ‘Transformers: The Last Knight.’ Celeste O’Connor manages to show some spunk as Mattie, making her shine the brightest.

As for Tahar Rahim, he’s working with a strange accent and a lot of looped dialogue, his usual air of quiet menace only occasionally peeking through. And while we always have time for Adam Scott, we wish he wasn’t saddled with a character whose eventual fate is pre-ordained and well-known.

The Sony Spider-Verse Problem

Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Sergei Kravinoff / Kraven the Hunter in ‘Kraven the Hunter.’

‘Madame Web’ is the ultimate distillation of everything that’s wrong with the “Sony Spider-Man Universe,” which as we mentioned above, essentially features lesser-known Spider-Man characters (usually villains, but sometimes not) in stories that do not feature Spider-Man except in the most tangential, offscreen way.

Madame Web is such a relatively minor character, so little-known outside diehard Marvel fans – in the comics, she’s a blind, elderly mutant with tremendous precognitive powers — that her story is just not that dynamic. She doesn’t have the weight of other top-shelf Spider-Man characters. She is often there mainly as support, and has never been featured all that prominently.

As a result – and thanks to the producers’ insatiable need to somehow connect these movies to a Spider-Man who never appears in them – we get a story that’s contrived even by the standards of comic books. In this case, the limits of the Spider-Man mythology are pushed to create an entire ancient history where none existed. The beauty of Spider-Man is that he’s just a kid who randomly stumbles into having great powers; make him part of a longer, bigger history and what makes him unique is diluted.

And frankly, as Marvel fans, we worry that movies like ‘Morbius,’ ‘Madame Web,’ and the upcoming ‘Kraven the Hunter’ simply dilute both the Spider-Man and Marvel brands more and more. At a time when superhero movies are facing genuine headwinds for the first time in a decade, low-quality, low-rent spinoffs are not what’s needed. Our advice to Sony? Keep making Spider-Man movies with Marvel Studios, continue with the animated ‘Spider-Verse’ films, and lose all the rest.

Final Thoughts

Dakota Johnson attends the ‘Madame Web’ photocall at Claridge’s Hotel on January 31, 2024 in London, England. Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Sony Pictures.

We’ve ranted on a bit about this Sony/Marvel cinematic universe being a dead-end, so we won’t say much more. But ‘Madame Web’ plays unfortunately like a movie that could have been spit out by AI, with performances and direction not much above that. There are a few bright spots, and Marvel completists will feel obligated to check it out, but ‘Madame Web’ is ill-conceived and trapped in a web of pointlessness.

‘Madame Web’ receives 4 out of 10 stars.
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What is the plot of ‘Madame Web’?

Cassandra Webb (Dakota Johnson) is a paramedic working in New York City who discovers she has the power to see the future – and also to change it. Finding her destiny intertwined with that of three young women also possessing extraordinary powers, she must find a way to protect all of them from a mysterious enemy.

Who is in the cast of ‘Madame Web’?
- Dakota Johnson as Cassandra Webb
- Sydney Sweeney as Julia Cornwall
- Isabela Merced as Anya Corazon
- Celeste O’Connor as Mattie Franklin
- Tahar Rahim as Ezekiel Sims
- Adam Scott as Ben Parker
- Emma Roberts as Mary Parker
Columbia Pictures’ ‘Madame Web.’

Other Movies Similar to ‘Madame Web’:
- ‘Spider-Man‘ (2002)
- ‘Spider-Man 2‘ (2004)
- ‘Spider-Man 3‘ (2007)
- ‘The Amazing Spider-Man‘ (2012)
- ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2‘ (2014)
- ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming‘ (2017)
- ‘Spider-Man: Far from Home‘ (2019)
- ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse‘ (2018)
- ‘Venom‘ (2018)
- ‘Venom: Let There Be Carnage‘ (2021)
- ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home‘ (2021)
- ‘Morbius‘ (2022)
- ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse‘ (2023)
Buy Tickets: ‘Madame Web’ Movie Showtimes

Buy Dakota Johnson Movies on Amazon
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February 13, 2024
Movie Review: ‘A Good Person’
Florence Pugh as Allison in ‘A Good Person,’ directed by Zach Braff, a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Credit: Jeong Park / Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures. © 2023 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Releasing into theaters on March 24th, ‘A Good Person’ represents the latest film from actor/director/writer Zach Braff, known –– outside of his TV acting work on the show ‘Scrubs’ –– for making the movies ‘Garden State’, ‘Wish I Was Here’ and ‘Going in Style’.

With ‘A Good Place’, he chooses, as with his previous film, to eschew appearing on camera, instead putting Morgan Freeman (who co-starred with Michael Caine and Alan Arkin in ‘Going in Style’) and Florence Pugh front and center.
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What is the plot of ‘A Good Person’?

‘A Good Person’ follows Allison (Pugh), a young woman who would seem to have a bright future ahead of her. She’s blissfully engaged to marry Nathan (Chinaza Uche) and successful in her career as a drug rep, but a momentary lapse in concentration while driving ends in a deadly car crash that kills her soon-to-be sister- and brother-in-law.

Allie descends into depression, confusion and, thanks to the painkillers prescribed for her injuries, addiction. She meets Daniel (Freeman), a former New Jersey police officer and recovering alcoholic who was to be Allie’s father-in-law before the accident –– though they’d not met previously because of his estrangement from his eldest son –– by chance at an AA meeting and begins an awkward but healing path to understanding. Through Daniel’s teenage granddaughter Ryan (Celeste O’Connor), who was orphaned by the accident, more difficult steps towards peace and forgiveness are taken.

But as Allie — living with her mom, Diane (Molly Shannon), who has her own red-wine-and-pill dependence — finds her need for painkillers getting more intense, and her decision-making abilities affected, this story of redemption, friendship, and courage tackles other issues of contemporary life.

(L to R) Florence Pugh as Allison and Morgan Freeman as Daniel in ‘A Good Person,’ directed by Zach Braff, a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Credit: Jeong Park / Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures. © 2023 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Related Article: Florence Pugh and Writer/Director Zach Braff Talk ‘A Good Person’

Pugh and Freeman shine in the movie

Along with his particular style and focus on characters looking to fix something broken within themselves, Braff has developed a welcome ability to cast and put trust in some excellent actors. From his first outing, which gave Natalie Portman a chance to shine (albeit in a role many criticized as a cliched “manic pixie dream girl” serving to help Braff’s main character Andrew find his own life path), the director has two stellar lead performers.

Pugh has established herself as one of the best actors of her generation, and she imbues Allie with real human pain and sweetness, carefully unearthing (along with Braff’s sensitive direction) the transition from satisfied wife-to-be to haunted, damaged soul. Even just staring at the camera, tears glistening in her eyes, Pugh does more with a glance than some actors manage with a monologue.

As Allie descends through the traditional steps of a story like this, hacking off her hair and –– in a very Braff-ian display of emotional quirk –– eschewing cars for a BMX bike, Pugh and her director make sure that the character almost always maintains our sympathy, struggling to be, as the title suggests, a good person.

Freeman, meanwhile, is sometimes at the stage where he’s offered parts that hardly seem to challenge him and while conflicted former Daniel is indeed far from the most complicated character he’s played, the actor gives it his all, switching between twinkly compassion and frustration for those around him. Witness his stinging rebuke of Allie after she abandons Ryan during an unauthorized night in Manhattan.

Daniel fits Freeman well, and he works well off of Pugh, the two matching each other for emotional beats and enlivening even the staidest of circumstances, such as Daniel showing Allie his impressive model train setup.

It’s also worth noting that the movie is by no means devoid of humor, and there are some moments of levity, such as Daniel catching Ryan in bed with Quinn (Ignacio Diaz-Silverio), chasing the near-naked paramour out of the house, where he’s confronted by neighbor Belinda (Jackie Hoffman), who accosts Quinn with her garden hose while screeching that he’s a “f***boy”, or Shannon dipping in to her own vast well of comedy experience to make Diane a more entertaining character than the typical harried mother figure.

Writer/director Zach Braff on the set of ‘A Good Person,’ a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Credit: Jeong Park / Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures. © 2023 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

What problems does the movie have?

For all the powerful performances that the likes of Pugh, Freeman and Shannon deliver, there’s no avoiding the fact that ‘A Good Person’ has very little that is fresh or new to say about addiction or other life challenges.

Allie and Daniel’s stories plod along predictable arcs, and you can’t help but suppress a grimace of bored recognition when they fall into well-trodden behaviors, such as Allie flushing pills down the toilet or Daniel struggling with whether to unlock his gun from its safe when he learns Ryan is in trouble. If you’re going to utilize such established moments, at least find something truly fresh to do with them. Braff, sadly, just sticks with the expected and you can almost tick them off a checklist as they appear.

And while you can see the logic in having Freeman, an actor with a voice so iconic it has been parodied for years, narrate the opening moments and voice a letter his character writes late on, you find yourself wishing Braff had found something more compelling and revelatory than having him as Daniel comment on how life doesn’t work out as neatly as in the curated world of model train sets. You might as well have him parading around with a sandwich board that screams, “This Is A Metaphor”. It’s frustrating and tiresome.

There are important, humane things to be said about grief, but while the film offers a few of them, nothing here feels like it hasn’t been said, in better ways, a hundred times before. And for a movie promising complicated characters, it certainly wraps things up in the simplest fashion.

Braff’s latest has a couple of great performances but can’t completely escape some very obvious cliches. It might be called ‘A Good Person’, but it’s only a slightly above average movie.

‘A Good Person’ receives 6.5 out of 10 stars.

Florence Pugh as Allison in ‘A Good Person,’ directed by Zach Braff, a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Credit: Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures. © 2023 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Other Movies Similar to ‘A Good Person:’
- ‘Clean and Sober‘ (1988)
- ‘When a Man Loves a Woman‘ (1994)
- ‘Garden State‘ (2004)
- ‘The High Cost of Living‘ (2011)
- ‘Wish I Was Here‘ (2014)
- ‘Going in Style‘ (2017)
- ‘Little Women‘ (2019)
- ‘Midsommar‘ (2019)
- ‘Black Widow‘ (2021)
Buy Tickets: ‘A Good Person’ Movie Showtimes

Buy Zach Braff Movies On Amazon

‘A Good Person’ is produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Killer Films, RocketScience, Elevated Films, and Elevation Pictures, and is scheduled for release on March 24th.
March 26, 2023
‘A Good Person’ Interview: Florence Pugh and Zach Braff
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Opening in theaters on March 24th is the new drama ‘A Good Person,’ which was written and directed by ‘Garden State’s Zach Braff.

What is ‘A Good Person’ about?

‘A Good Person’ follows Allison (Florence Pugh), a young woman whose life is changed forever after a fatal car accident kills her future in-laws, causing her relationship to end and sending her on a downward spiral of drug abuse.

With the help of her supportive but enabling mother Diane (Molly Shannon), Allison enrolls in a treatment program where she meets retired police officer and recovering alcoholic Daniel (Morgan Freeman), who is also her ex-fiancé’s dad and the father of the passengers who died in her accident. While they don’t see eye to eye at first, eventually they form a friendship and overcome their grief and addiction together.
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Who is in the Cast of ‘A Good Person?’

‘A Good Person’ stars Oscar nominee Florence Pugh (‘Little Women,’ ‘Black Widow’) as Allison, Oscar winner Morgan Freeman (‘Million Dollar Baby,’ ‘The Shawshank Redemption’) as Daniel, Molly Shannon (‘Me and Earl and the Dying Girl’) as Diane, Chinaza Uche (‘The Devil Below’) as Nathan, Celeste O’Connor (‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’) as Ryan, and Zoe Lister-Jones (‘State of Play’) as Simone.

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Florence Pugh, as well as writer and director Zach Braff to discuss their work on ‘A Good Person,’ writing the screenplay, creating Pugh’s character, being directed by Braff, researching addiction, the importance of music in the movie, and working with the great Morgan Freeman.

‘A Good Person,’ writer and director Zach Braff.

You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Pugh, Braff, and Molly Shannon.

Moviefone: To begin with, Zach, can you talk about the research you did into addiction and recovery, and what you did to make sure those scenes were as accurate as possible?

Zach Braff: Well, I did a lot. I live in Hollywood where there’s plenty of people who are in recovery and in programs, so I have plenty of friends and loved ones that I could rely on. Sometimes it was calls, sometimes it was texting. I’ve been to meetings with friends to support them. Then when I finally had a draft of the script, I got in touch with someone who runs a recovery center who answered a lot of my questions, and then he put us in touch with a woman who not only had recovered from an opioid addiction, but was now helping other young women. She not only was our onset person, but she really sat with Florence and advised her on the feelings of withdrawal, the feelings of trying to go cold turkey and really coached Florence on what would the accurate feelings be, and that was just invaluable.

MF: Florence, can you talk about your approach to playing Allison and the guilt that she carries around with her?

Florence Pugh: Well, it’s a tough role to step into, especially as I understood her and got to know her as Zach was writing her. So I felt like I really did understand the mental state that she was in. I knew that I needed to give a specific performance. I think for me, one of the ways that I always try and figure out someone, especially if they’re going through such intense and dark times, is I always try and put myself in their situation. I think that’s easy with Allison and all the other characters in this script because they are so relatable. It could have been any of us. It’s not like she was texting or on Instagram, or anything like that. She was on Maps, which is something that everybody does. She suffered an injury and was put on opiates, which could happen to anyone and does happen to many people. It affects many people. So I think for me, getting in the head space of someone that is clearly at many versions of rock bottom was, “All right, well, I have to put myself in that position.” Through that, that’s also why I wrote a song for that, and I was just trying to write as if I were her and what I’d be feeling. What I’d be wanting to do to myself and all of the things that you really have to go through to try and get this character right.

Florence Pugh stars in ‘A Good Person,’ written and directed by Zach Braff.

MF: Zach, music has always played an important role in your films. Can you talk about that and creating Allison’s musical sequences in this movie with Florence?

ZB: Well, I love music. I grew up on musicals. My dad used to bring me into New York to see musicals. I love them. I went to musical theater camp as a kid. I’m a musical theater geek. So I think that I’ve always, even from a young age, been aware of the power of placing the right song in the right spot. I have running playlists on my phone that are like, “This would be cool in a movie somewhere, sometime, someplace.” Of course, there’s input from friends, my editor and a music supervisor, and we amassed this massive list of songs and we just kept trying them. You just never know until you find the right spot. Then I’ll see the hairs on my arm stand up, and I’ll say, “Okay, I think this might be a contender.” With this film, we had the unique experience of having Florence write songs for the character. There’s two different songs that are on the soundtrack that Florence wrote herself, and that’s just a really unique thing to have someone write a song in the character of the protagonist. That’s unique to anything I’ve done before.

MF: Florence, can you talk about the unusual friendship that Allison and Daniel form together, how that helps them both with overcoming their addiction and loss, and what it was like working on those scenes with Morgan Freeman?

FP: I think it’s a friendship that is unexpected but needed, and it’s full of care and love and understanding. Because it’s unexpected, it’s really enjoyable to watch as an audience member. And really they are the only people that understand what they are going through. They understand truly the level of pain that they’re both in. I think because obviously Daniel is in AA and understands addiction, he is the only person that is keeping her from really sinking to a whole new low. Working with Morgan Freeman was a bizarre and surreal experience. This is someone that we all we know so well. We know that voice. He is God! It was just fantastic to be able to play with him and act with him, and throw anything that he’s throwing at me back. It was quite magnificent.

(L to R) Florence Pugh as Allison and Morgan Freeman as Daniel in ‘A Good Person,’ directed by Zach Braff, a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Credit: Jeong Park / Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures. © 2023 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

MF: Zach, can you talk about Florence and Morgan’s chemistry together on screen? Did you know on the first day of shooting that their chemistry together would work for these characters and their story?

ZB: You obviously never know, but I knew they’re both fantastic and they’re both at the top of their game, and I just love the image. I pictured that Jersey diner booth, and I saw the image. In fact, I had a concept artist paint Florence sitting opposite Morgan, and I just thought, “I want to see that movie. I’m so interested in seeing one of the greatest actors of all time with the most exciting ingenue of our time. I want to see what that dance looks like,” and they really delivered.

MF: Finally, Florence, what was it like for you as an actress to work with Zach as a director and collaborate with him to create this character and this movie?

FP: Well, it really was collaborative. We wanted to make this movie. He wanted to write this for me. He wanted to direct it, and I think I was able to understand this world whilst he was writing it. I wasn’t allowed to read the script until it was completed and finished. I think he was obviously just very nervous about giving it to me, and he knows that I’m really pernickety about dialogue and I really love it when it flows. So I think he just wanted to make sure that it was completely perfect. Well, not completely perfect, but at a state that he wasn’t maybe so sensitive. So, I was fully aware of what he was trying to do, and what we were going to make. I understood the world, and I understood the characters. So by the time that I stepped into Allison, I really knew her inside and out. It wasn’t hard to understand. I just needed to breathe some life into her and then of course, try and tackle how to play her version of addiction.

Writer/director Zach Braff on the set of ‘A Good Person,’ a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Credit: Jeong Park / Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures. © 2023 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Other Movies Similar to ‘A Good Person:’
- ‘Clean and Sober‘ (1988)
- ‘When a Man Loves a Woman‘ (1994)
- ‘Garden State‘ (2004)
- ‘The High Cost of Living‘ (2011)
- ‘Wish I Was Here‘ (2014)
- ‘Going in Style‘ (2017)
- ‘Little Women‘ (2019)
- ‘Midsommar‘ (2019)
- ‘Black Widow‘ (2021)
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‘A Good Person’ is produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Killer Films, RocketScience, Elevated Films, and Elevation Pictures, and is scheduled for release on March 24th.
March 22, 2023
‘Ghostbusters 2020’ Adds 2 Young Newcomers in Mystery Roles

Sony

Two young newcomers are joining the strange neighborhood of “Ghostbusters 2020.”

Director Jason Reitman has cast Celeste O’Connor and Logan Kim, who join Carrie Coon, Paul Rudd, “Stranger Things” star Finn Wolfhard, and “The Gifted” actress Mckenna Grace.

The new “Ghostbusters” is an extension of the original movie, which was directed by Reitman’s father, Ivan Reitman.

Not much is known about the plot, except that it focuses on a single mom ( Coon) and her son (Wolfhard). Sigourney Weaver is returning as Dana Barrett.

Details of O’Connor and Kim’s roles were not revealed.

“Celeste and Logan are rare talents and we’re all grateful that they’ll be lending their unique voices to ‘GB20,’” Reitman said in a statement.

The movie begins production this summer and is slated to open in theaters July 10, 2020.

July 9, 2019