Scream 7 Movie Preview

It's time for another installment of "Scream"! The slasher series about Ghostface is as popular as ever and continues to impress at the box office. However, the production of part 7 has so far literally been a veritable horror: stars have dropped out, there have been wild controversies and reorientations and the release date has been postponed on several occasions. Now the question is: will "Scream 7" get back on track? The full story now - here in our new KinoCheck Original!

A Rocky Start: Controversies and Exits

The pre-production of "Scream 7" kicked off with a bang that changed the entire dynamic of the project: Lead actress Melissa Barrera was sacked from the production. This was due to public statements she made that the studio involved described as antisemitic. The production company Spyglass Media took a stance and declared that it had a zero-tolerance policy towards antisemitism and hate speech. This assessment of Barrera's comments led to heated discussions and was not necessarily shared by all sides. Either way, one thing was certain: the actress would no longer be part of "Scream 7" and the production had its first scandal.

But that's not all: shortly after Barrera's firing, superstar Jenna Ortega likewise announced her departure from "Scream 7". The reason given was scheduling conflicts due to the filming of the second season of "Wednesday". However, it was also reported that Ortega had demanded a higher wage, which Spyglass Entertainment was not willing to pay. Some also saw a connection to the treatment of her colleague Melissa Barrera due to the timing.

And as if that wasn't enough, director Christopher Landon also decided to throw in the towel. He spoke about his decision on X, describing the project as a "dream job that turned into a nightmare". Landon's departure was seen as a reaction to the aforementioned exits of the two leading actresses. For a while, the future of "Scream 7" seemed unclear.

The Return of the Legends

After the many setbacks, however, there was a ray of hope for the franchise: namely the return of Neve Campbell in her role as Sidney Prescott. Campbell announced this personally on Instagram and voiced her excitement for the role. In fact, this time Sidney Prescott will once again be at the center of the action.

But Campbell is not the only one returning to the franchise. "Scream" legend Courteney Cox will also be back in her role as Gale Weathers. The sharp-witted reporter has been an essential part of the series since the first movie in 1996. In September 2024, Cox was still reserved in an interview, but now everything seems to be set.

After all the difficulties, the question remains as to how the story of "Scream 7" will continue. Before the return of Campbell and Cox, there were even rumors about a possible reboot and a new focus for the series. However, it now appears that "Scream 7" is striving for a return to its origins - with a focus on Sidney Prescott and her family. More details are still under wraps, though.

Cast and Crew

Following the departure of director Christopher Landon, the seventh film will now be directed by the franchise's original writer, Kevin Williamson. In an emotional post on Instagram, Williamson expressed his overwhelming excitement at the opportunity to continue the "Scream" series. Guy Busick and James Vanderbilt, who were previously involved in "Scream 5" and "Scream 6", are responsible for the screenplay of the new film. So we can once again look forward to a healthy portion of violence, meta-humor and clever twists.

Besides Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox, a few other stars will also join the cast. Isabel May, who is to play Sidney Prescott's daughter, is likely to receive particular attention here. It was also recently announced that "Community" actor Joel McHale will be part of the cast as Sidney's husband Mark. "Scream" veteran Mason Gooding is likewise returning for part 7, while "Madame Web" actress Celeste O' Connor and Asa Germann are making their debut in the franchise. The latter is known from the Amazon series "Gen V", for example.

Theatrical Release of Scream 7

"Scream 5" was released in cinemas in 2022, "Scream 6" followed in 2023 and part 7 was also originally aimed for a quick release in 2024. At the time the production was announced, the previous film had not even left the movie theaters yet. After all the problems, though, the release has been pushed back by a total of 2 years: "Scream 7" is now expected to hit the big screens on February 27, 2026. We're keeping our fingers crossed that everything runs smoothly from now on.

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