It looks like Scream 7 is back on track in a big way, with original star Neve Campbell returning for the next movie in the franchise.
Campbell announced on Instagram today that she'll be reprising Sidney Prescott in the upcoming sequel, sharing a photo of the script. That photo also reveals that Kevin Williamson, who wrote the first Scream movie as well as Scream 2 and Scream 4, will be directing.
Williamson also confirmed the news on his Instagram. The photo lists Guy Busick, who worked on the fifth and sixth Scream movies, as a writer alongside James Vanderbilt. A source close to the situation tells IGN that Busick is taking over the screenwriting reins from Vanderbilt, as he's on location shooting his film Nuremberg.
IGN has also learned that Radio Silence (Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett), the directing duo behind the 2022 reboot of the franchise as well as Scream 6, are still on board to serve as executive producers.
"While I’ve been so incredibly lucky to make these films with both the master of horror Wes Craven and the wonderfully talented Matt and Tyler team, I’ve dreamt for many years of how amazing it would be to make one of these movies with Kevin Williamson at the helm," Campbell said in her Instagram post. "And now it’s happening, Kevin Williamson is going to direct Scream 7!"
After returning to the franchise for 2022's Scream, Campbell revealed that she wouldn't be in Scream 6, saying in an interview with People that her exit was due to a salary dispute. She explained that she received an offer that she felt "did not equate to the value" she has brought to the iconic horror franchise for 25 years.
It was reported last year, however, that filmmakers were trying to get Campbell back following the news that leads Jenna Ortega and Melissa Barrera would not be in Scream 7.
Christopher Landon had previously taken over directing duties for Scream 7. He exited the role, however, as a number of controversies intensified surrounding the sequel, saying last December that it was "a dream job that turned into a nightmare."
Scream 7 Back on Track
Landon's statement, of course, alludes to the firestorm of controversy that broke out surrounding Scream 7, which at one point seemed to be a dead project entirely.
In November, Barrera, who played one half of the Carpenter sisters that were the focus of the rebooted Scream movies, was fired from Scream 7. It was reported at the time that production company Spyglass Media Group made the decision due to various posts on Barrera's social media accounts regarding the conflict in Gaza. In the posts, she described the media's coverage about the conflict as one-sided in favor of Israel, among other comments about the conflict.
In a statement at the time, Spyglass said they "have zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion or anything that flagrantly crosses the line into hate speech.
In an Instagram post after the firing, however, Barrera said, "I condemn Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. I condemn hate and prejudice of any kind against any group of people."
"As a latina, a proud Mexicana, I feel the responsibility of having a platform that allows me the privilege of being heard, and therefore I have tried to use it to raise awareness about issues I care about and to lend my voice to those in need," she added.
Shortly after that news broke, it was also revealed that Ortega would not be returning for Scream 7, reportedly due to scheduling conflicts with her Netflix hit Wednesday.
It's unclear where the story will go with the absence of both Carpenter sisters, but Campbell's return at least ensures some connection to previous entries.
A release date for Scream 7 has not yet been announced.
Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she's not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.
