Could The Scream 7 Ghostface Be Connected To Cotton Weary?

Summary

Cotton Weary is a complex character with a fascinating arc in the Scream franchise, shifting from villain to victim.
A fan theory suggests a Ghostface killer in Scream 7 tied to Cotton Weary's family, offering a logical connection and motive.
Sidney's complex relationship with Cotton and the potential threat of his family targeting her could lead to a thrilling Ghostface reveal.

Some horror movie side characters don't hold a candle to the main ones, but I think murder suspect Cotton Weary (Liev Schreiber) is one of the most unforgettable in the Scream franchise. Since Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) believes that he killed her mother Maureen, he's an unlikable villain from the start. Then, as time goes on, the cracks in the story start to show, and audiences learn more about Cotton's innocence. I liked watching Cotton as he's a complicated character. I also liked seeing Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) and Sidney butt heads over the question of Cotton's guilt.

As I and other horror fans wait for Scream 7, I'm having fun reading various fan theories, especially about whether Sidney's husband Mark Evans (Joel McHale) could be Ghostface. That's definitely a possibility. But what about a Ghostface killer who has ties to Cotton? That's one thrilling fan theory, and I'm interested in exploring it.

I Think Scream 7 & Other Upcoming Horror Sequels Need To Avoid This Common Pitfall`

Scream 7, Scary Movie, and some other horror sequels are coming out soon, and they need to be careful about one specific thing.

Posts

By Aya Tsintziras

I Love The Idea That Scream 7's Ghostface Is Tied To Cotton Weary

In a Reddit thread, one Redditor shared their idea for the killers in Scream 7. There have been several fan theories regarding Ghostface and this one suggests that there could be a few Ghostfaces. The fan wrote:

"Sidney’s best friend/neighbor, and her son will be relatives of Cotton Weary. Potentially his daughter and grandson, or sister and nephew. I think Kevin Williamson being in the chair for the movie makes this much more likely; Cotton is his creation, and the character has not yet been explored really in a way that the original antagonists of Scream have."

Redditor @ThePicturesGirl replied, "Cotton having a kid would not be unrealistic." Redditor @neonblakk agreed with the fan theory:

"That’s a great motive. Someone who blames Sidney for Cotton and his girlfriend’s (their mother’s) death."

I like this idea because it's hard to know why the new Ghostface is targeting Sidney Prescott. If they want revenge, what bone could they have to pick with her? It's been several years since the story started, after all. Ghostface needs a good and logical reason to be angry with Sidney, and this one makes sense. Otherwise, it might seem odd and random that Sidney is back dealing with the danger she once thought was over for good.

I also think this fan theory works well because it would help Scream 7 find its identity and voice. If Ghostface was a family member of Cotton's, then Scream 7 would go back to the beginning. If reboots and sequels are exercises in nostalgia and fans want to see Sidney in all her final girl glory, why not refer back to an original character? Maybe then Scream 7 could include several jokes about original horror movies and how the first entry in a franchise is always the best.

While Cotton's name was cleared, Sidney still understandably has a complex relationship with him since she has dealt with so much tragedy and trauma over the years. Sidney is also raiisng her family now and even more terrified. Sidney would no doubt be horrified by the thought that his family was going after her, and this would make for a thrilling Ghostface reveal.

What Happened To Cotton Weary In The Scream Franchise?

Cotton Weary (Liev Schreiber) in Scream 3

Cotton Weary has a surprising character arc in the Scream franchise. After being introduced in the original 1996 movie, audiences quickly learn that Sidney Prescott believes Cotton is guilty and doesn't want to hear from anyone who thinks otherwise. Then, in Scream 2, Cotton wants to do a joint Diane Sawyer interview with Sidney. Cotton's arc changes from a convicted criminal to a character chasing fame and fortune and it's fascinating to watch.

Although I love the meta horror movie commentary of the Scream franchise, I also appreciate that the first three movies offer a commentary on the true crime genre as well. As Gale Weathers becomes famous as a result of her reporting on Cotton, the franchise asks big and important questions about the temptation that some have to sensationalize a crime.

After living a famous life in Los Angeles, Ghostface murders Cotton at the beginning of Scream 3. The killer tells him:

"It was a simple game, Cotton. You should've told me where Sidney was. Now, you lose."

I think Scream 3 has the worst opening Scream sequence, but at least Cotton got a logical end to his character arc. As it turns out, Schreiber wanted Cotton to be killed. The actor told Short List in 2014, "I wanted out by that point – not because I was tired of the series, I just thought it would be fun to get covered in the blood and all that stuff."