Scream 7 will now be a reboot and they reportedly want Neve Campbell back

1 December 2023, 14:38

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By Sam Prance

The original Scream 7 script has reportedly been scrapped now that Melissa Barrera has been fired and Jenna Ortega has left the film.

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Hello, Sidney! Hello, Samantha! Hello...an as yet unnamed character.

Unfortunately, for fans wanting Scream 7 to focus on Sam and Tara Carpenter again, our hopes have been slashed. Scream 7 will reportedly now star brand new lead characters, with Neve Campbell and other familiar faces possibly returning.

For those who aren't caught up to speed, Melissa Barrera was recently fired from Scream 7 after speaking in defence of Palestine and against the Israeli government on Instagram. The decision led to huge backlash online and Jenna Ortega's representatives confirmed shortly afterwards that she would also not be returning for the movie.

Now, it looks as though Scream 7 will feature a brand new cast but Spyglass are reportedly hoping to get Neve Campbell, Patrick Dempsey and Courteney Cox all on board to appear in the film in some capacity.

Scream 7 will now be a reboot and they reportedly want Neve Campbell back. Picture: Paramount Pictures / The Weinstein Company / Alamy Stock Photo

According to Variety, the original Scream 7 script has been abandoned. They write: "James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick, the writers of the previous two Scream instalments, will now work on a fresh draft to present to filmmakers. Some set pieces and twists may be preserved, but the movie will need to find new protagonists."

They say that the producers are "essentially starting from scratch" but still hoping to release Scream 7 in 2025. With this in mind, it seems unlikely that Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding will appear as Mindy and Chad Meeks-Martin.

Separately, they've claimed that Spyglass want Neve Campbell to return as Sidney Prescott with Courteney Cox back as Gale Weathers and Patrick Dempsey back as Detective Mark Kincaid. However, they've also confirmed "none of these actors have been in active negotiations thus far."

Patrick Dempsey in Scream 3. Picture: Dimension Films / Alamy

Will Neve Campbell be in Scream 7?

Whether or not Spyglass can persuade Neve Campbell to play Sidney again is another kettle of fish. Neve opted not to star in Scream 6 over a pay dispute. Speaking to Variety at the time, Neve explained: "I felt the offer that was presented to me did not equate to the value I have brought to the franchise. It’s been a very difficult decision to move on."

In January 2024, Neve told IndieWire "I honestly don’t have no idea what their plans are. I know a lot has gone on around it and I’m sure they’re spinning a little bit at the moment, trying to make the right decision. I think I would imagine people want to do the right thing."

"I love this franchise. I love it for Wes [Craven, the late director of the first four films]. I love it for all the people who’ve been involved and even the newer cast. I would hope it doesn’t fall apart," she added.

When asked if she would return, she said she's open to it "given the right circumstances": "I made a statement several years ago, and it was the reason that I didn’t do the film at the time, and I just really felt the need to stand up and say that I don’t believe I would’ve been treated that way had I been a man carrying a franchise for 25 years, and that still stands."