Summary
- Scream 7 will introduce new characters and kill off an important one, mirroring the risks taken in Scream (2022).
- Fans want Scream 7 to surpass previous films by creating compelling characters and a more intense storyline.
- The franchise has taken past creative risks like unique openings and de-aging characters, sparking hopes for Scream 7’s innovation.
The best part of being a fan of a long-running horror franchise is seeing legacy characters come back, and so I can’t wait for the next chapter of Sidney Prescott’s (Neve Campbell) final girl saga in Scream 7. All the recent casting news has gotten me even more excited for Ghostface’s return.
With around one year to go until Scream 7‘s February 27th, 2026 release date, I’m reflecting back on the past two movies, especially Scream (2022). I appreciated a lot about the fifth entry in the slasher franchise, especially the chance to spend more time in Woodsboro, California. After reading one fan’s thoughts about the big risks that Scream (2022) took, I think that there are a few things that Scream 7 can do to ensure the new movie is as unexpected and exciting as possible.
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I Think Scream 7 Should Top The Creative Risks Of Scream (2022)
Redditor @Particular-Camera612 pointed out that Scream (2022) took two main creative risks and one of them included:
“Pivoting away from the main cast.”
The fan also noted that the fifth movie in the slasher franchise made a big decision to kill off one of the three main legacy characters. They wrote:
“Killing off Dewey… all of the Main Trio had survived each movie they were in.”
Based on these fan comments, I think Scream 7 should craft fascinating new characters and also focus on one big death. I agree that creating new main characters was a great idea and one reason why Scream (2022) was so gripping. I enjoyed getting to know the Scream franchise’s Core Four of Mindy Meeks-Martin (Jasmin Savoy Brown), Chad Meeks-Martin (Mason Gooding), Tara Carpenter (Jenna Ortega), and Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barrera). They’re smart, logical, and cool characters who don’t suffer fools and who fit perfectly into the fifth and sixth movies.
I also agree that Dewey Riley’s (David Arquette) death was a big deal. Although I think killing Dewey was a mistake because he could have added something special to more movies, I do agree it was the kind of massive twist that a long-running slasher franchise needs to keep things interesting, exciting, and surprising.
While the upcoming sequel is going to focus on Sidney, Scream 7 has a lot of new members, and they need to be worked into the story properly. I hope they’re funny and clever characters who add something to the movie. I’m most interested in Sidney Prescott’s teenage daughter, played by Isabel May. However, if Scream 7 can take things one step further than Scream (2022), it would be interesting if May’s character was a red herring for Ghostface or another new face seemed particularly suspicious. Although there is a negative online campaign against Sam in Scream 6, I never thought she was really the killer. If Scream 7 made audiences think something was up with Sidney’s daughter, that would be fascinating to watch unfold.
Although I don’t want a returning legacy character to die, I think an important new character should be killed. That could be Sidney’s husband Mark Evans (Joel McHale) or Ethan Embry’s new character. While this might not be as shocking as Dewey’s tragic death, it would still be pretty upsetting, and it would prove that the new Ghostface is just as threatening as the others.
What Other Creative Risks Did The Scream Franchise Take?
When I think about other creative risks that Scream took, two memorable aspects of the franchise come to mind: the exciting opening sequence of Scream 4 and the de-aging of Skeet Ulrich as Billy Loomis in Scream (2022) and Scream 6. Considering how fun and entertaining the beginning of Scream 4 is, it’s no wonder fans have ideas for the Scream 7 opening and hope it packs an even bigger punch than the previous sequences. Scream 4 has a different, unique, and meta opening sequence and shows two Stab movies before revealing the real characters, Jenny Randall (Aimee Teegarden) and Marnie Cooper (Britt Robertson).
I didn’t love seeing Ulrich de-aged, though, and I think it was strange that audiences were meant to feel sympathy for Billy. It would have been possible for Billy’s daughter Sam Carpenter to reflect on her dark family history without hallucinating him. Although some fans don’t want to see legacy characters come back as ghosts or in flashback scenes, I would have preferred either one of those options.
Scream 7
- Release Date
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February 27, 2026
- Director
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Kevin Williamson
- Writers
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Kevin Williamson, Guy Busick, James Vanderbilt
- Producers
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Cathy Konrad, Gary Barber, Marianne Maddalena, Peter Oillataguerre, William Sherak, Chad Villella, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett, Ron Lynch
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Neve Campbell
Sidney Prescott
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Courteney Cox
Gale Weathers
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Mason Gooding
Chad Meeks-Martin
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Jasmin Savoy Brown
Mindy Meeks-Martin
More
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