With six previous movies, the franchise has gone on to gross over $900 million at the box office. The latest installment, ‘Scream 7‘, once again stars Campbell and Cox, and opens in theaters on February 27th.
In honor of the new film, Moviefone is counting down every ‘Scream’ movie ever made from worst to best, including the latest.
(L to R) Parker Posey and Courteney Cox Arquette in ‘Scream 3’. Photo: Dimension Films.
As bodies begin dropping around the Hollywood set of STAB 3, the third film based on the gruesome Woodsboro killings, Sidney (Neve Campbell) and other survivors are once again terrorized by another Ghostface killer.
Hayden Panettiere in ‘Scream 4’. Photo: Dimension Films.
Ten years after the original Woodsboro murders, one of the survivors returns home to promote their new book about surviving trauma, only for a new Ghostface killer to emerge, targeting a new group of teens.
Courteney Cox stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Scream 7.’
When a new Ghostface killer emerges in the quiet town where Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) has built a new life, her darkest fears are realized as her daughter becomes the next target. Determined to protect her family, Sidney must face the horrors of her past to put an end to the bloodshed once and for all.
Neve Campbell (“Sidney Prescott”) stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s “Scream.”
Twenty-five years after a streak of brutal murders shocked the quiet town of Woodsboro, a new killer has donned the Ghostface mask and begins targeting a group of teenagers to resurrect secrets from the town’s deadly past.
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2. ‘Scream 2’ (1997)
Sarah Michelle Gellar in ‘Scream 2’. Photo: Dimension Films.
Two years after the Woodsboro murders, Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) acclimates to college life while someone donning the Ghostface costume begins a new string of killings.
Drew Barrymore in ‘Scream’. Photo: Dimension Films.
A year after the murder of her mother, a teenage girl (Neve Campbell) is terrorized by a masked killer who targets her and her friends by using scary movies as part of a deadly game.
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.
(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.’
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.”
(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…
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.
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.’
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.”
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.’
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.
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.
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.’
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.”
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.’
Courteney Cox (Gale Weathers) stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Scream VI.’
Preview:
Courteney Cox is in talks for the next ‘Scream’ movie.
If she signs up, she’ll return alongside Neve Campbell.
Longtime writer Kevin Williamson is directing.
Are things finally turning around for the ‘Scream’ franchise? It has been hit with various issues in the last year or so, losing cast and filmmakers.
But now there is some positive news to report, with Neve Campbell returning to the iconic role of Sidney Prescott and now, according to Variety, Courteney Cox –– who has been a part of the ‘Scream’ films since the start and has appeared in all of them to date, in talks to once more return.
(L to R) David Arquette and Courteney Cox in Paramount Pictures “Scream.”
Cox plays the role of Gale Weathers, a scoop-hunting journalist who senses a juicy story when Campbell’s Sidney is threatened by masked killers following her mother’s death.
Initially an annoyance for Sidney, the two become friends as they deal with various incarnations of the killer (or killers), and Weathers ended up married to sheriff’s deputy Dewey (David Arquette). The pair later divorced, and Dewey (spoiler alert) perished in 2022’s legacy sequel entry ‘Scream’, directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett.
Neve Campbell back for ‘Scream’
Neve Campbell (“Sidney Prescott”) stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s “Scream.”
“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.”
“It’s been nearly 30 years since my very first script, ‘Scream,’ was directed by the legendary Wes Craven. I never would have predicted what it would become. Or that I would be directing the seventh installment of the franchise. I am overcome with gratitude and excitement, and I can’t wait to take this journey with Neve and the entire ‘Scream’ family as we bring back Sidney Prescott in the next chapter of the ‘Scream’ franchise. Thank you to all the ‘Scream’ fans. You are the gift that keeps giving.”
The Trouble with ‘Scream VI’
(L to R) Melissa Barrera (Sam Carpenter) and Jenna Ortega (Tara Carpenter) stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Scream VI.’
This newest ‘Scream’ movie has had a troubled development, as production Spyglass fired star Melissa Barrera over posts regarding the Israel-Hamas War that the company viewed as antisemitic, and Jenna Ortega dropped out due to apparent scheduling conflicts. ‘Happy Death Day’ director Christopher Landon was hired to handle the movie, but he also left, citing the “nightmare” of the film’s various issues.
But with Campbell, Williamson and now Cox returning, it’s finally back on some sort of solid path to screens.
(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.’
Neve Campbell (“Sidney Prescott”) stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s “Scream.”
Preview:
Neve Campbell has announced she’s back for the new ‘Scream’ movie.
Kevin Williamson is on board to direct.
The new movie previously lost its main starring duo and director Christopher Landon.
There finally appears to be some good news in the offing for the ‘Scream’ franchise, and for fans of Neve Campbell’s iconic Sidney Prescott.
After the actor sat out the most recent movie (‘Scream VI’, which nevertheless became a box office hit) because of an insultingly low pay offer, she has now hit social media to announce that she’ll be back for the seventh outing.
And that’s not all –– Kevin Williamson, who cooked up the concept for the original ‘Scream’ wrote three of the original four movies and has served as an executive producer on all of them, is also back: and this time he’s stepping into the director’s chair.
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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:
“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.”
(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.’
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’, due 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.
(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 on Jews.
‘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 for 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.
The Campbell and Williamson news would certainly serve to get things back on a more even keel, though there is currently no release date for the movie.
(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.’
Perhaps the most controversial element of the most recent ‘Scream’ outing (that would be ‘Scream VI’, for those keeping count) was the fact that franchise stalwart Neve Campbell, who has played Sidney Prescott since the start, opted not to return, citing a lowball pay offer.
The movie proceeded on regardless, only dropping a one-line mention of Sidney preferring to stay with her young family rather than thrusting herself back into stabby danger.
Yet according to Kevin Williamson, whose roots also go back to the first ‘Scream’ (he wrote the 1996 original, its 1997 sequel and 2011’s ‘Scream 4’), production company Spyglass made the wrong call in not cranking open its wallet further to bring Campbell, and therefore Sidney, back.
Kevin Williamson on the Neve Campbell pay situation.
Neve Campbell (“Sidney Prescott”) stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s “Scream.”
“I totally respect her opinion. I know exactly where she’s coming from, I know her well. I love and adore her and that’s what she did. It’s right for her. I love everyone involved in ‘Scream’ and all I can say is, pay her the money. That’s what I would do, I would give her the money. I’m sure there’s a number they can agree on that will make them both happy, so hopefully one day they will figure that out.”
And on a more interesting note, he also used the podcast appearance to outline his ideas for where he would have taken Sidney’s story following ‘Scream 4’.
Executive Producer Kevin Williamson and Ghostface on the set of Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Scream.’
Williamson said this about his own ideas:
“‘Scream IV,’ ‘V,’ and ‘VI’ would have been the love story of Sidney Prescott, and it would’ve been this whole thing of she’s falling in love, she’s going to get married, it’s all based around her marriage when these murders start happening again. It’s like, is this man that she’s in love with the killer again? Is she Billy Loomis-ing herself all over again? Is she still making the wrong decisions? Is she still choosing the bad guy?”
We’ll probably never know the answer, because there’s a whole new behind-the-scenes team being assembled for ‘Scream VII’.
What’s happening with ‘Scream VII’?
Director Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, left, and Director Tyler Gillett on the set of Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Scream VI.’
Last month, the news arrived that because of their commitment to an untitled Universal monster movie, Gillett and Bettinelli-Olpin were moving on from the ‘Scream’ franchise (and, after cranking out two successful movies, we don’t blame them for wanting to try something fresh).
Instead, ‘Happy Death Day’ and ‘Freaky’s Christopher Landonis aboard to develop the seventh entry, though obviously it’s currently in limbo because of the writers and actors’ strikes. Still Campbell’s character is still alive, so there remains a chance she could return. Assuming, of course the price is right.
Ghostface in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Scream VI.’
What is ‘Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story’ about?
‘Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story’ chronicles the life and career of classically trained actor and director Robert Englund, who has become one of the most revolutionary horror icons of our generation. Throughout his career, Englund starred in many well-known movies, but shot to super-stardom with his portrayal of supernatural serial killer Freddy Krueger in the ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ franchise. This unique and intimate portrait captures the man behind the glove and features interviews with Englund and his wife Nancy, Lin Shaye (‘Insidious’), Eli Roth (‘Cabin Fever’), Tony Todd (‘Candyman’), Heather Langenkamp (‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’) and more.
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Who appears in ‘Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story’?
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Robert Englund about ‘Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story,’ having a documentary made about his life and career, how he helped Mark Hamill get an audition for ‘Star Wars,’ why Wes Craven’s ‘New Nightmare’ was ahead of its time, and what playing Freddy Krueger has meant to him.
Robert Englund in the documentary film, ‘Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story,’ a Cinedigm release. Photo courtesy of Cinedigm.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch the interview.
Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about participating in this documentary and what it was like for you personally to look back on your life and your career?
Robert Englund: Well, I ran into these guys from Cult Screenings, and I’d been approached several times by different people, especially in this new world we live in with the blogosphere and everything, to do something. Almost instantly, Gary Smart and Chris Griffiths and I hit it off because they’re sort of like walking IMBD guys. They’re film fans. They’re fanboys like me. I don’t want to say I was testing them, but when I was getting to know them in a pub in the UK, I would be fighting for the name of an actor that I loved and they would go, “Strother Martin,” or, “Warren Oates.” Or I would be talking about a Hammer film and they would be saying things like, “Oh, you mean Herbert Lom.” It was great having them there to finish my sentences for me because, even though they’re younger than I am, they like a lot of the same films as I do. They’re not just into contemporary science fiction, superheroes, and horror. They liked the whole world of it and movies in general. So, I knew we had a simpatico going and I said okay to this. So, they began to follow me around and we would set up times. They were off doing research and looking for clips, or I would tell them something that they were intrigued by and they would look for that clip and colleagues that I’d worked with, independently of me. But COVID hit during all of this. I think they had more time to do their R&D while we were all sitting around with our masks on, but we kept getting together. I remember we were together in London a couple of times and in LA and, I think, in New York once, and we stayed in contact. But I just felt really comfortable with Gary and Chris. They really listened to me. I said, “I don’t want to be celebrated. If you want to celebrate somebody, do a documentary on Daniel Day-Lewis or somebody.” But I said, “I am a survivor.” This is, literally, as I sit here talking to you, this is 50 years ago that I was in Statesboro, Georgia, starring with one of the biggest stars of the ’70s, Jan-Michael Vincent, and Pamela Sue Martin from ‘The Poseidon Adventure,’ and doing this terrific film (‘Buster and Billie’) for Daniel Petrie, who directed ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ among other things, my first movie starring role. It’s 50 years since then, and I’m off to do another movie in October and I have a movie coming out this year. It’s this tale of a working actor, and the ups and downs and the misses. In fact, since we’ve done the documentary, I’ve gotten the question about what were the ones that got away and stuff like that. I’ve remembered a couple more. I realize, as actors, we beat ourselves up on those parts we didn’t get, even if they turned out to be flops, which in my case a couple of them did, and a couple of them weren’t made even though they were huge projects. You beat yourself up for months after that, and you don’t sleep well and then it’s gone. It’s in the ephemera. I realize that’s part of surviving too, is having to let go of that stuff. My wife berates me because I still complain about a film I directed and movies that I was up for before she even knew me and we’ve been together 35 years. I realize that’s an actor’s nightmare.
Robert Englund in the documentary film, ‘Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story,’ a Cinedigm release. Photo courtesy of Cinedigm.
MF: For years there has been a rumor that you auditioned for Luke Skywalker in ‘Star Wars,’ but the film confirms that you were actually considered for Han Solo and helped get Mark Hamill an audition for the movie, can you talk about that?
RE: I was never up for Luke Skywalker. I briefly went in the office, and I believe this is right around the time Tom Selleck or somebody had turned down the role, and they were looking at Han to be older, like the uncle that’s older than Luke. For a split second, I think they thought, “Well, maybe he doesn’t have to be the older uncle, maybe he can be more of a contemporary of Luke’s like a galactic jet jockey or something.” I was trying desperately to get into ‘Apocalypse Now.’ My agent had finally got me in the door and I had been told I was too young for the Frederic Forrest role, the saucier, which was the role I wanted to read for. But they did look at me for the surfer, went to one of the Bottoms boys (Sam Bottoms). I was a real surfer, and I was tan and had long blonde hair. I looked like William Katt’s ugly, older brother back then. But I was dressed very military because it was ‘Apocalypse Now,’ but it was my thrift shop assemblage. They said, “Well, maybe,” and I think it was (producer) Fred Roos or somebody that brought me across the hall. He says, “They’re doing this space movie. You might be right for it.” I didn’t think much of it. I just went across the hall real quick. They took my Polaroid, and that’s it. But I heard the name George Lucas and I idolized George because ‘American Graffiti’ really speaks to my generation. I also saw the sides for Luke Skywalker and that name, Luke Skywalker, it’s such a great name. I remember going back, I think I had a drink at the Formosa afterwards because I didn’t get in ‘Apocalypse Now.’ Then, I drove over the hill to my pad in the Hollywood Hills, and in front of my door were these old cowboy boots. Mark used to take his shoes off, Mark Hamill, and leave them out there because we had carpeting, precious wall to wall carpeting, my girlfriend and I. I think my girlfriend was down the hall working on a first draft of ‘The Lost Boys,’ Jan Fischer. I walked in and Mark was there. I said, “Mark, I don’t know, but this sounds like you.” I think he got on the horn and called his agent. I think his agent gets real upset when I tell this story because she may have already submitted him. I certainly don’t know about that. But I think I was the one that made Mark aware of the project. I mean, Mark was a big television star then. I tell that not as if I helped Mark get the role, but I tell it as a “once upon a time in Hollywood story.” Once upon a time in Hollywood, the guy that played Freddy Krueger lived with a girl that wrote ‘Lost Boys’ and hung out with the guy that played Luke Skywalker. It’s just one of those moments of time that I think the fans love, that we all crossed paths. The people back east that think that all the horror actors hang out together at Schwab’s or something. Like Freddy, Jason and Pinhead are all sitting around having a milkshake at Schwab’s together.
Robert Englund in the documentary film, ‘Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story,’ a Cinedigm release. Photo courtesy of Cinedigm.
MF: Finally, I’ve always thought that ‘Wes Craven’s New Nightmare’ was ahead of its time and one of the best film’s in the series. Can you talk about your experience working on that movie, having the opportunity to reinvent the character at that point in your career, and what playing Freddy Krueger has meant to you?
RE: Well, I’d love to talk about it intellectually. It took the release of ‘Scream’ for everybody to get Wes Craven’s ‘New Nightmare,’ and then it became huge on DVD. People understood that it was deconstructed, that we were making it and talking to the fans about them. We were kind of teasing ourselves, playing exaggerated versions of ourselves. A lot of that stuff was true, but exaggerated. I think Heather Langenkamp did have a stalker and, of course, we made it Freddy. It was Wes Craven wrestling a bit with his huge success at that time, and the fact that he’d exploited evil and what if the evil he exploited came back to haunt us all. It was this great kind of deconstructed meta movie. But at the time, what I took mostly from that shoot was I got to hang out every day at lunch because I would be done by 1:00pm, so I’d tear my makeup off and, even though we were all making money by that time, I’m never one to turn down a free lunch. I’d run over to the catering area and I’d sit down and John Saxon would just be coming in. John was coming in for his free lunch too. I was allowed a glass of wine because I wasn’t working anymore. John was going to have a nice long lunch and they would tell him when he needed to get in makeup. By that time, I’d worked with John three or four times and we’d been on international publicity junkets together. I got John to open up about his entire career. I got stories from John about working with Marlon Brando on ‘The Appaloosa.’ I got stories about his first movie ever with a young kid named Robert Redford, ‘War Hunt’ I think it was called, where he played a Native American and went out into the no man’s land and took scalps. I got to talk to John about Sandra Dee, and he dated Natalie Wood, and he knew Elvis Presley, James Dean, Sal Mineo and all of those stories, and what the golden age was like because he was right on the cusp of that. Then, he also segued into that kind of teen moment of time. But he worked with Jimmy Stewart on ‘Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation.’ He worked with Clint Eastwood and Robert Duvall, just everybody. He worked for Quentin Tarantino on a two-hour special episode of ‘CSI,’ and Bruce Lee on ‘Enter the Dragon.’ I got the Bruce Lee stories, and all the Hong Kong stories. It was getting all of this golden age of Hollywood gossip from the horse’s mouth. Now I can have a beer with somebody on location and share one of those anecdotes with them as well. It was just a great experience for me because I was getting this oral history from the late great John Saxon.
Robert Englund in the documentary film, ‘Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story,’ a Cinedigm release. Photo courtesy of Cinedigm.
The new ‘Scream‘ movie is in theaters now and doing pretty well at the box office with $30.6M on it’s opening weekend.
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Since the first film’s release on December 20, 1996, there have now been four sequels that have grossed over $615 million worldwide, and counting, as well as a spinoff series on MTV. “Scream” not only became the most lucrative slasher-film series ever, but it also revitalized the teen horror genre.
Still, as inescapable and relentless as the “Scream” franchise has been, there are still a lot of secrets behind that mask. Here are 16 terrifying tidbits of trivia.
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1. “Scream” was originally a screenplay by Kevin Williamson called “Scary Movie,” inspired in part by the real-life killings of five college students in Gainesville, Florida in 1990. But Dimension studio chief Bob Weinstein didn’t think the title reflected Williamson’s blend of horror and comedy.
2. Inspired by the recent Michael Jackson hit, Weinstein renamed the picture “Scream” but kept the “Scary Movie” title for the horror-spoof franchise launched in 2000.
3. Horror master Wes Craven turned down the movie several times, but the director changed his mind when he learned an actress of Drew Barrymore‘s stature was involved. Barrymore was initially cast as heroine Sidney Prescott, but she then shifted to the smaller role of first victim Casey Becker due to her busy schedule.
4. Friends” star in a bitchy role. The filmmakers considered Brooke Shields and Janeane Garofalo, but Cox assured them she could play against type.
5. The menacing phone voice of Ghostface in all the movies belongs to Roger L. Jackson, who also voices the villainous chimp Mojo Jojo on “Powerpuff Girls.” During production of the first three films, none of the other actors even met Jackson but only heard his voice when talking to him on the phone; Craven thought that would make their fear more convincing.
6. Because of “Scream’s” extreme violence and gore, Craven had to recut and submit it to the ratings board eight times in hope of avoiding an NC-17 rating. Craven even lied that he had no alternate, less bloody take of Barrymore’s stabbing. Eventually, Weinstein persuaded the board that “Scream” deserved an R because the movie was satirizing violence, not glorifying it.
7. With the success of “Scream,” the sequel was rushed into production, shooting in July 1997 for a release date that December. The haste led to a leak of the script, forcing Williamson to rewrite on set and change the identity of the killers.
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8. “I hate horror movies,” said Liev Schreiber, after he had played the menacing Cotton Weary in the first two installments. So why did he act in the series? Because he liked the idea of horror movies that were “in on the joke.” Also, he said, “because I knew I wouldn’t have to watch them. I would only have to be in them.” Soon after, he signed on for “Scream 3.”
9. Cox and David Arquette (Deputy Dewey Riley) met on the set of “Scream.” By the time they shot “Scream 2,” they were a couple off-screen. Just before the “Scream 3” shoot, they got married. When “Scream 4” was shooting in 2010, they were on the verge of splitting up.
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10. The Columbine High School massacre in April 1999 made Hollywood much more sensitive, at least for a little while, about violence in teen entertainment. As a result, “Scream 3” was rewritten, taking it out of its initial high school setting, playing up the humor, and downplaying the violence.
11. Williamson proposed a second trilogy in 2008, but only got as far as “Scream 4.” (Blame that film’s less-than-expected box office for why the fifth and sixth films never materialized.) Weinstein instead decided to launch the MTV series in June 2015. Craven’s death in August 2015 probably puts the kibosh on any more “Scream” movies.
12. Campbell initially didn’t want to return for “Scream 4,” and Williamson had to write Sidney out of early drafts of the script.
13. The “Scream 4″ filmmakers initially offered Scream Queens” star Emma Roberts.
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14. Lauren Graham was cast as Roberts’ mom, but left the shoot after just a few days. Mary McDonnell replaced her.
15. The Ghostface mask was designed by retailer Fun World in 1991, inspired (aptly) by Edvard Munch’s famous painting “The Scream.” It was also inspired by a figure from Gerald Scarfe’s artwork from Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” album and some ghost figures in an old Betty Boop cartoon.
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16. The “Scream” franchise has reportedly made the mask, along with the ragged-edged cloak used in the films, into the best-selling Halloween costume in America.
Since the November 2019 release of the music video “Heartless,” The Weeknd, real name Abel Tesfaye a noted cinephile who has cited David Lynch, David Cronenberg, Stanley Kubrick and Martin Scorsese as inspirations in the past, has crafted a deep cinematic narrative throughout the video elements of his fourth album After Hours. Along with the lyrical and visual narratives of the album itself, which tracks a man dubbed The Weeknd through a bad break-up, a hard look at his hedonistic lifestyle, and in the end some wistful wisdom as he starts to maybe group up a bit, the videos and live appearances to promote the album are also chock full of cinematic references. Take the title itself: After Hours evokes late night clubs, but from a cinematic point of view it immediately brings up visions of Martin Scorsese’s 1985 cult classic of the same name about a word processor named Paul who takes a late night trip to SoHo in New York City and can’t seem to ever get himself back home.
“Blinding Lights” (left) and ‘After Hours’ (right)
Much like Paul, the videos find a man dubbed The Character (played of course by The Weeknd) in an endless journey through the darker parts of himself – and through a myriad of film references.
The Weeknd debuted his now signature red suit in the video for “Heartless,” directed by Anton Tammi, which itself is a reference to a suit worn by Robert De Niro in Scorsese’s 1995 film ‘Casino’. The video, shot in Las Vegas, features The Character and a friend (played by Metro Boomin) as they gallivant around Sin City, stumbling in a drug-induced haze like Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro in Terry Gilliam’s 1998 adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson’s 1971 novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. He even worked this stumble into his performance at the Super Bowl LV Halftime Show.
“Blinding Lights” (left) and ‘Blade Runner’ (right)
The video for his next single “Blinding Lights,” also directed by Tammi, there are even more film references. We see The Character steal a car and head back to Los Angeles, where, among other things, he dances in the 2nd Street Tunnel. This landmark of Los Angeles has been featured in countless films, including Ridley Scott’s 1982 film ‘Blade Runner.’ An adaptation of the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick (side note: the author is also referenced in the lyrics of “Snow Child,” with the line “give her Phillip K Dick”), the film is set in Los Angeles in November 2019 – the same month the video was released – and references to it will show up in a later video.
“Blinding Lights” (left) and ‘The Dark Knight’ (right)
Much has been made of The Weeknd’s dancing throughout the promotion of After Hours being reminiscent of Joaquin Phoenix in ‘Joker,’ but in fact these videos are peppered with references to many cinematic Jokers, including the moment in Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Dark Knight,’ where Heath Ledger gleefully hangs his head outside a stolen police car he’s driving.
“Blinding Lights” (left) and ‘Blue Velvet’ (right)
Much of the vibe throughout the music videos and live performances for After Hours have a Lynchian feel to them and in “Blinding Lights,” there is a direct reference to David Lynch’s ‘Blue Velvet,’ where Dennis Hopper’s psychopath Frank Booth watches tormented torch singer Dorothy Vallens (Isabella Rossellini) croon the titular song. In “Blinding Lights,” The Character is mesmerized by the musical stylings of an unnamed singer played by Miki Hamano, whose voice literally lifts him off the ground.
“Blinding Lights” (left) and ‘Twin Peaks’ (right)
We even get another hint of the Red Room from ‘Twin Peaks;’ in fact much of the eerie instrumental music that accompanies The Weeknd in the moments between videos and throughout the ‘After Hours’ short film have an Angelo Badalamenti vibe to them.
“Blinding Lights” (left) and ‘Joker’ (right)
Perhaps the most obvious reference in the video is his dancing, sometimes in the 2nd Street Tunnel, sometimes elsewhere throughout downtown Los Angeles, appears to be directly lifted from Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker as he dances to Gary Glitter’s “Rock and Roll Part 2” as he makes his way to make his late night debut in Todd Phillips’ ‘Joker.’
‘After Hours’ (left) and ‘The King of Comedy’ (right)
The After Hours short film, again directed by Tammi, takes place shortly after The Weeknd’s performance of “Blinding Lights” on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. The video begins as his set ends, The Character grinning like Rupert Pupkin at the end of Martin Scorese’s ‘The King of Comedy’ – itself a huge influence of Todd Phillips’s ‘Joker.’
‘After Hours’ (left) and ‘Jacob’s Ladder’ (right)
Tesfaye has stated influences on the short film also include Adrian Lyne’s psychological horror film ‘Jacob’s Ladder,’ which includes a scene where Tim Robbins is menaced by unknown forces in an empty subway station, Roman Polanki’s ‘Chinatown’ (the bandage on his nose), Claire Deni’s ‘Trouble Every Day,’ Andrzej Żuławski’s Possession, and Brian De Palma’s ‘Dressed to Kill.’
“In Your Eyes” (left) and ‘Dial M for Murder’ (right)
The video with possibly the most film references is “In Your Eyes,” in which The Character wordlessly stalks a young blonde woman à la Michael Myers in John Carpenter’s ‘Halloween.’ The horror movie infused video has nods to everything from Wes Craven’s ‘Scream’ to Dario Argento’s Suspiria to Alfred Hitchcock. At one point the woman takes refuge in a phone booth – à la ‘The Birds’ – and dials for help. Tammi, uses an ultra close-up of the keys, an homage to ‘Dial M For Murder,’ in which Hitchcock blonde Grace Kelly’s husband Ray Milland has hired someone to murder her.
“In Your Eyes” (left) and ‘The Terminator’ (right)
The woman then flees to a club titled After Hours – which uses the exact same lightbulb font as the Tech Noir club in James Cameron’s ‘Terminator,’ an idea that came early in the creative ideation for the video.
The horror vibes continue in the video for “Too Late”, directed by Cliqua. After being decapitated at the end of the previous video, The Character’s head is found by two models on the side of the road. The world they inhabit feels akin to Nicholas Winding Refn’s psychological horror film ‘The Neon Demon,’ where the Los Angeles modeling scene is depicted as so bleak the models are literally eating each other alive. Tesfaye is a noted friend of director Refn.
“Too Late” (left) and ‘American Psycho’ (right)
When the two discover that the head belongs to The Weeknd, they concoct a nefarious plan to bring him back to life. Laying newspapers on their floor and donning clear plastic rain gear à la Mary Harron’s adaption of Bret Easton Ellis’s yuppie black comedy American Psycho, the girls lure an unsuspecting male stripper (Ken XY) to their home in order to murder him and place The Character’s head on his body. Spooky.
“Save Your Tears” (left) and ‘Eyes Wide Shut’ (right)
In the most recent video, “Save Your Tears” again directed by Cliqua, The Character is now performing for a masked crowd straight out of Stanley Kubrick’s ‘Eyes Wide Shut.’ After appearing at the American Music Awards with a fully bandaged face like the models, his face has now clearly been marred by plastic surgery (looking quite a bit like Jocelyn Wildenstein aka the Tiger Woman of NYC).
“Save Your Tears” (left) and ‘Batman’ (right)
As the video ends, there is one last Joker reference – this time with Jack Nicholson’s iteration. In the climax of Tim Burton’s ‘Batman,’ he pulls a gun on himself after forcing Vicki Vale (Kim Basigner) to dance with him. Like Nicholson’s Joker, when he pulls the trigger there’s no bullet; The Character’s gun shoots confetti, just like the Joker’s gun pops out a flag.
Since these are just a few of the many references found throughout the music videos for After Hours (and in fact most of his music videos going back a decade), it’s only a matter of time before The Weeknd makes a feature film himself, or at least drops a link to his Letterboxd profile.
