For many, Scream is a beloved horror franchise as well as their introduction to the horror genre. The first movie was released to theaters on December 20th of 1996, and although it may not seem as groundbreaking from a modern lens, it was something that audiences hadn’t really seen in ’96. A self-aware take on the classic slasher subgenre penned by Kevin Williamson and directed by horror legend Wes Craven, Scream ushered in a new era of sardonic teen horror and launched its main character, Neve Campbell’s Sydney Prescott, into the final girl hall of fame.
Since that first film, Scream has become an incredibly successful franchise, with five more entries added in the last 28 years. With the newest addition to the series set to premiere in just over a year in February 2026, fans of the movies are left wondering how this newest film is going to fit into the series and what twists and turns might be waiting for viewers within its runtime.
The Original Plan
Originally, the 7th entry in the franchise was going to be the end to a planned trilogy of re-quels focusing on the new generation of Ghostface survivors – with the focus being on, of course, the final girls and stars of the re-quels, the Carpenter sisters. In the first film of the new trilogy, audiences were introduced to Sam and Tara Carpenter, a pair of estranged sisters who were the target of a new Ghostface. It was revealed in that first part that Sam was the previously unknown daughter of Billy Loomis, one of the original Ghostface killers, and that allowed for an interesting and new exploration of the very first Scream movie and the fallout of the first Woodsboro massacre.
The second film in the re-quel series focused on Tara at college and Sam continuing to deal with the legacy of being a famed killer’s daughter. Not a lot is known about what the plan was for the third movie, leaving the fans to speculate about what could have been. Plans were forced to be reconsidered, however, when Melissa Barrera, who portrayed Sam Carpenter, was let go in a controversial move by the production company behind the movie. After Barrera’s firing, Jenna Ortega chose to leave the franchise for her own reasons, as did the original director, Christopher Landon.
So, what did all of these changes behind the scenes mean for the direction of Scream VII?
A Return to Form
Without Barrera and Ortega, it looked like Scream VII would have to go in an entirely different direction. With the Carpenter sisters out of the picture, it made sense for them to bring back the original final girl, Sidney Prescott, and turn the focus back to her and her family. Scream VI was the first, and only, film in the entire franchise to not have an appearance by Neve Campbell, so her return in this upcoming film has fans of the franchise feeling excited and hopeful for the continuing story of the series, even if it means that the Carpenter sisters’ story got cut short.
Along with Campbell, two more original figures from the beginning of the franchise will be returning – Courtney Cox, whose character Gale Weathers is the only character to appear in every single one of the Scream movies, has officially signed on to return. Kevin Williamson, who wrote the first two movies of the series, will also be returning for the first time since Scream 2. This time, however, he’ll be directing – an intriguing choice, given that he’s the creator of the franchise.
The New Generation of ‘Scream’
Further casting choices have been revealed over the past few months, including the additions of Mckenna Grace, Celeste O’Connor, Sam Rechner, and Asa Germann. Each new casting reveal has gotten fans talking, as all the new cast are well-known up-and-coming actors in their own right. There is still no word on who any of these actors will be playing, however, leaving fans to speculate about their potential roles.
The only new addition whose character identity has been confirmed is Isabel May, who has been confirmed to be cast as Sidney Prescott’s daughter. This could indicate that even without Sam and Tara Carpenter, the film could be headed in the direction of introducing a new generation of Ghostface victims and survivors. It’s assumed, as well, that she’ll be the daughter of not only Sidney, but also Mark Kincaid – the Los Angeles detective played by Patrick Dempsey in Scream 3.
Although it’s been reported that Patrick Dempsey has been asked to reprise his role as Kincaid, there has been no confirmation on whether he’s agreed to sign on.
The Future of the Franchise
Although little is known about the actual plot or planned direction of the newest Scream movie, fans have been coming up with plenty of theories and the possibilities certainly have people talking. Even with the limited information currently available, there’s been no shortage of theories about who the new Ghostface – or Ghostface team – could be, and how they might fit into the larger story of the franchise as a whole. It seems to be a good sign for the future of the franchise that audiences are still excited to see where it’s all headed, and that people are already captivated by all the theories and news even a year out from Scream VII’s release.
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