Summary
After being introduced tonaiveDewey Riley (David Arquette), harsh but smart Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox), and clever and determined Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell)in the original 1996 movie, I’ve been a longtimeScreamfan. Now thatScream 7is being released in less than one year, I’m anticipating another memorable slasher movie that will also provide some interesting commentary on the genre. With Sidney back and past legacy characters likeStu Macher (Matthew Lillard) returning, I’m wondering how all these elements are going to fit together.
My hopes are high forScream 7.However, after reading a recent interview withthe film’s director Kevin Williamson, I’m curious about whether the upcoming sequel is going to satisfy fans who have been waiting sinceScream VI’s March 2023 release to see the newest installment.
Kevin Williamson Said Scream 7 Will Be “New And Fresh,” But Is That What The Franchise Needs?
In an interview withIndieWire, Kevin Williamson talked about the positive experience of makingScream 7and said:
“I can’t really talk about it without giving stuff away, but I did go down a road that has never been gone down before, I think…”
He continued, “No, that’s not true. Nevermind. That’s a lie!” and then added:
“I did everything I could to make it feel new and fresh, so we’ll see what happens.”
I’ve often thought thatScream 7should go down a unique path, but after thinking about it some more,I’m nervousScream 7could lose what makes the franchise so popular. There are certain elements that audiences expect from each of these slasher films, from a creepy yet somewhat goofy Ghostface to jokes about the genre. I’m nervous that if the upcoming sequel is too different, it won’t be satisfying. While nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake is never a good idea,fans watch theScreamfranchise because they’re expecting something familiar. Does it make sense to make huge, sweeping changes at this point in the franchise?
Scream VIfelt so different because Neve Campbell didn’t star in it, and the story centered around the Core Four in New York City. I wish fans had gotten an NYC-setScreamwith the ultimate final girl fighting Ghostface in this chaotic and crowded environment.Scream 3is the least popular movie because it changes the setting from Woodsboro, California to Hollywood and loses what made the previous two films special.Scream VIworked well because of the bold opening scene. ButScream 7should be a return to what made the franchise great.
Now that Sidney is the focus again and onlytwo members of the Core Four are coming back, I think the franchise has a great opportunity to tell a fun and nostalgic story.I wantScream 7to lean into Sidney’s past, feature some flashbacks, and remind audiences of why she’s so smart, strong, and memorable. She’s a beloved final girl for so many reasons, and while of course she’s living a new life that should be explored, it would be a missed opportunity not to examine the path she took to get here. Fans have wondered how Sidney’s trauma is affecting her today, and it wouldn’t make sense not to touch on that, at least in one scene.
I think some parts ofScream 7can be different, but others should stay the same. I’m excited to seeSidney Prescott living in a small townother than her hometown of Woodsboro. Now she’s a parent, and that’s a big change for the franchise. I’m also interested in seeing who the new cast members are playing. ButI hopeScream 7keeps the franchise’s clever sense of humor. It wouldn’t be aScreammovie without some sarcastic comments and perfect comebacks. Finally,if Ghostface has a similar motive as past movies, I think that’s okay.
Could The Slasher Franchise Continue After Scream 7?
If more movies are made afterScream 7, perhapsScream 8could be a prequel about Sidney Prescott.A prequel could also focus on the original Ghostfaces, Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich) and Stu Macher, or share more about Gale Weathers and Dewey Riley’s lives before they became involved in this scary story.Scream 8could also feature an even bigger time jump of five or ten years and follow a younger character who is now in their 20s and dealing with their own threat. Another movie could also dive deeper into Chad (Mason Gooding) and Mindy Meeks-Martin’s (Jasmin Savoy Brown) lives, which would be great to see. Chad and Mindy haven’t gotten the spotlight yet, and while they will hopefully have more screen time inScream 7,I would love to see them again.
Some have wonderedifScream 7will kick off a trilogy, and that’s definitely an intriguing idea. Maybe Sidney can team up with a few new characters who are introduced in the next movie, and they would keep fighting Ghostface inScream 8andScream 9. While it’s tough to predict what the future of the franchise is without knowing just how differentScream 7feels,I would be glad to see Ghostface in at least a few more movies.
