Summary

Scream 7 aims to be "new and fresh," causing fans to wonder if it will maintain iconic elements.
The possibility of future films like Scream 8 exploring prequels and new character arcs has been discussed.
A potential trilogy could be on the horizon, possibly involving Sidney teaming up with new characters.

After being introduced to naive Dewey Riley (David Arquette), harsh but smart Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox), and clever and determined Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) in the original 1996 movie, I've been a longtime Scream fan. Now that Scream 7 is being released in less than one year, I'm anticipating another memorable slasher movie that will also provide some interesting commentary on the genre. With Sidney back and past legacy characters like Stu Macher (Matthew Lillard) returning, I'm wondering how all these elements are going to fit together.

My hopes are high for Scream 7. However, after reading a recent interview with the film's director Kevin Williamson, I'm curious about whether the upcoming sequel is going to satisfy fans who have been waiting since Scream VI's March 2023 release to see the newest installment.

Scream 7's Time Jump Is What The Slasher Franchise Needs, But I Can't Stop Thinking About This Unique Ghostface Idea

The highly anticipated horror sequel, which will be released in February 2026, shouldn't have the same old Ghostface.

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By Aya Tsintziras

Kevin Williamson Said Scream 7 Will Be "New And Fresh," But Is That What The Franchise Needs?

In an interview with IndieWire, Kevin Williamson talked about the positive experience of making Scream 7 and said:

"I can’t really talk about it without giving stuff away, but I did go down a road that has never been gone down before, I think…"

He continued, "No, that's not true. Nevermind. That's a lie!" And then added:

"I did everything I could to make it feel new and fresh, so we’ll see what happens."

I've often thought that Scream 7 should go down a unique path, but after thinking about it some more, I'm nervous Scream 7 could lose what makes the franchise so popular. There are certain elements that audiences expect from each of these slasher films, from a creepy yet somewhat goofy Ghostface to jokes about the genre. I'm nervous that if the upcoming sequel is too different, it won't be satisfying. While nostalgia for nostalgia's sake is never a good idea, fans watch the Scream franchise because they're expecting something familiar. Does it make sense to make huge, sweeping changes at this point in the franchise?

Scream VI felt so different because Neve Campbell didn't star in it, and the story centered around the Core Four in New York City. I wish fans had gotten an NYC-set Scream with the ultimate final girl fighting Ghostface in this chaotic and crowded environment. Scream 3 is the least popular movie because it changes the setting from Woodsboro, California to Hollywood and loses what made the previous two films special. Scream VI worked well because of the bold opening scene. But Scream 7 should be a return to what made the franchise great.

Now that Sidney is the focus again and only two members of the Core Four are coming back, I think the franchise has a great opportunity to tell a fun and nostalgic story. I want Scream 7 to lean into Sidney's past, feature some flashbacks, and remind audiences of why she's so smart, strong, and memorable. She's a beloved final girl for so many reasons, and while of course she's living a new life that should be explored, it would be a missed opportunity not to examine the path she took to get here. Fans have wondered how Sidney's trauma is affecting her today, and it wouldn't make sense not to touch on that, at least in one scene.

I think some parts of Scream 7 can be different, but others should stay the same. I'm excited to see Sidney Prescott living in a small town other than her hometown of Woodsboro. Now she's a parent, and that's a big change for the franchise. I'm also interested in seeing who the new cast members are playing. But I hope Scream 7 keeps the franchise's clever sense of humor. It wouldn't be a Scream movie without some sarcastic comments and perfect comebacks. Finally, if Ghostface has a similar motive as past movies, I think that's okay.

Could The Slasher Franchise Continue After Scream 7?

Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) in Scream (1996)

If more movies are made after Scream 7, perhaps Scream 8 could be a prequel about Sidney Prescott. A prequel could also focus on the original Ghostfaces, Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich) and Stu Macher, or share more about Gale Weathers and Dewey Riley's lives before they became involved in this scary story. Scream 8 could also feature an even bigger time jump of five or ten years and follow a younger character who is now in their 20s and dealing with their own threat. Another movie could also dive deeper into Chad (Mason Gooding) and Mindy Meeks-Martin's (Jasmin Savoy Brown) lives, which would be great to see. Chad and Mindy haven't gotten the spotlight yet, and while they will hopefully have more screen time in Scream 7, I would love to see them again.

Some have wondered if Scream 7 will kick off a trilogy, and that's definitely an intriguing idea. Maybe Sidney can team up with a few new characters who are introduced in the next movie, and they would keep fighting Ghostface in Scream 8 and Scream 9. While it's tough to predict what the future of the franchise is without knowing just how different Scream 7 feels, I would be glad to see Ghostface in at least a few more movies.

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