Summary
- Joel McHale is playing Sidney’s husband Mark Evans in Scream 7, not Detective Mark Kincaid.
- Confusion arises regarding Sidney’s mysterious husband’s identity between films.
- Dempsey did not confirm his return for Scream 7, leaving fans questioning his absence in the sequel.
While horror fans assumed that Patrick Dempsey would reprise his role of Detective Mark Kincaid in Scream 7, that isn’t going to happen. When Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) met Kincaid in Scream 3, sparks flew and fans wondered if they would start a relationship. Then, in Scream (2022), Dewey Riley (David Arquette) referenced Sidney’s marriage to a man named Mark while they chatted about Ghostface’s return. Audiences thought this meant that Sidney and Kincaid were married… but now, Deadline reported that Joel McHale is playing Sidney’s husband Mark Evans in Scream 7.
It’s more than a little surprising to learn that McHale is currently filming the upcoming slasher sequel since fans haven’t previously heard about a character named Mark Evans. I’m also confused about which Mark Sidney was supposed to be married to all along and how the new movie is going to explain this.
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Was Sidney Prescott Married To Mark Kincaid Or Mark Evans Between Scream 3 And Scream 7?
Joel McHale’s casting news brings up one important question: wasn’t Sidney Prescott married to Detective Mark Kincaid this whole time? Since Patrick Dempsey’s character was also named Mark, the fact that Dewey mentioned Sidney’s husband Mark when chatting with her seemed to suggest they were a couple. Fans definitely can’t be faulted for thinking this. But the Scream 7 casting of McHale completely changed this backstory and I can’t be the only Scream fan who is scratching my head.
I liked learning that Sidney and Kincaid were together and had started a family. It made sense that Sidney would end up with someone who she had met while being hunted down by Ghostface. After all, Sidney is a beloved final girl who needs a partner who understands her plight and the danger she’s always in. Mark Evans, whoever he is, can’t compete with that. While it’s unclear at this point how Sidney and Evans met, I’m not sure that they’ll have as great an origin story.
Since Dewey never said Sidney and Kincaid were together, Sidney and Mark Evans may have always been married. There are a few messy things about Scream 7‘s journey to the big screen, and this news also makes me pause. While of course things change and scripts have to evolve throughout a long-running film franchise, fans would no doubt prefer a smoother explanation of this part of Sidney’s life.
I’m still looking forward to Scream 7 and am excited to learn more about Mark Evans and his family life with Sidney. But I do wonder why it makes sense for Sidney to suddenly have a husband and kids who fans have never seen or heard much about before. Although Sidney didn’t appear in Scream 6, she is of course an important part of the slasher franchise, and I hope there is a detailed explanation of what she has been doing for the last few years. However, I’m glad Kevin Williamson is directing, and I can’t wait to see the movie. I will also say that McHale is a talented actor and I enjoyed watching him play the quirky and sarcastic Jeff Winger on Community. I also thought he was great as Carmy’s cruel former boss on The Bear. I look forward to seeing McHale in Scream 7 and know he’ll do a great job with the role.
What Did Patrick Dempsey Say About Scream 7?
Patrick Dempsey never said he would definitely star in Scream 7. However, he did address the possibility in an interview on the TODAY show in October 2024. He said he was “waiting on the script” and “There has been a conversation about it.”
That same month, Dempsey spoke to People about the upcoming horror sequel and said:
“Well, they’ve been talking to me about it, and I think they’re still working on the script. And, of course, Neve [Campbell] has signed on, so I think we’ll see. I’m waiting to read the script and to see if it actually goes. In this business, you never know what’s going to happen. But if the opportunity opens itself up and it becomes a reality, then I’ll definitely take it seriously.”
It’s unclear why Dempsey isn’t coming back for Scream 7. It could be because of his schedule, or perhaps for another reason. At the time of this writing, he hasn’t commented on it, but perhaps he will talk about it soon.
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