Spyglass Crawls Back To Neve Campbell For 'Scream 7'
They also managed to bring back franchise creator Kevin Williamson to direct for the first time
Oh what a monkey’s paw we have here. After Spyglass Media lost Neve Campbell for Scream VI by lowballing her and not paying her enough of what she’s worth as the franchise’s original lead actress, they fired Melissa Barrera after the film’s success for condemning Israel’s genocide of Palestinians in retaliation for Hamas’s October 7 attack, and then lost Jenna Ortega to some extent of solidarity and scheduling conflicts. The pair were being shaped to be the focal points of the franchise’s intended Campbell-less direction. Now with the seventh film in shambles, there was probably more than enough in forfeited pay to redistribute to Campbell, who has officially signed on to return.
“Sidney Prescott is coming back!!!!” Campbell excitedly confirmed on Instagram Tuesday. “It’s always been such a blast and an honor to get to play Sidney in the Scream movies. My appreciation for these films and for what they have meant to me, has never waned. I’m very happy and proud to say I’ve been asked, in the most respectful way, to bring Sidney back to the screen and I couldn’t be more thrilled.” Her post, captioning a snapshot of the film’s script, which revealed that franchise creator Kevin Williamson, who wrote the first, second and fourth films, missing the third with too much on his plate, has returned in a more hands-on creative capacity to direct the seventh film, after Christopher Landon stepped down early in the chaotic collapse. Williamson had been part of this current phase of the franchise that began with 2022’s fifth film, but only in an executive producer capacity.
Reposting Neve’s script photo, Williamson’s own caption reads “It’s been nearly 30 years since my very first script, Scream, was directed by the legendary Wes Craven. I never would have predicted what it would become. Or that I would be directing the seventh installment of the franchise. I am overcome with gratitude and excitement, and I can’t wait to take this journey with Neve and the entire Scream family as we bring back Sidney Prescott in the next chapter of the Scream franchise. Thank you to all the Scream fans. You are the gift that keeps giving.”
While it was originally reported that James Vanderbilt, who co-wrote both previous films of the phase with Guy Busick, was writing the film alone, it’s actually the opposite, or at least became so. It’s now Busick who’s writing the film from a story the two of them did together. Vanderbilt will also reportedly continue to produce alongside his Project X Entertainment partners William Sherak and Paul Neinstein. The film collective Radio Silence, who directed and produced the phase to this point, will serve as executive producers.
Campbell originally announced she would not be returning to the franchise in June 2022, as she stated “As a woman I have had to work extremely hard in my career to establish my value, especially when it comes to Scream. I felt the offer that was presented to me did not equate to the value I have brought to the franchise.”. Back in January of this year, she had expressed that she could still return “under the right circumstances”, adding at the time “I honestly don’t have no idea what their plans are.” Pointing to the reception and enthusiasm she gets toward her convention appearances “I know a lot has gone on around it and I’m sure they’re spinning a little bit at the moment… I would love to see it continue.” And with this news, the right circumstances have arrived and the Scream franchise may very well get its continuation. It remains to be seen how much they’ll be able to win back the fans that helped bring in franchise-high numbers on the latest outing, but were spurned by the self-inflicted wounds.
