‘Scream 7’ May Act as Part Prequel to Original 1996 Film, After Major Casting News

in Movies & TV

Ghostface in 'Scream VI'

Credit: Paramount Pictures / Radio Silence Productions / Spyglass Media Group

Scream 7 (2026) has seen some very surprising twists and turns since it was announced in 2023, but this new revelation is a scream, baby.

In 2023, Scream 7 was put through the wringer. Melissa Barrera, who plays final girl Sam Carpenter in Scream (2022) and Scream VI (2023), was fired from the upcoming film by Spyglass Media for sharing divisive social media posts regarding the Israel-Hamas war. Then, her co-star Jenna Ortega, who plays her on-screen sister Tara Carpenter, exited the film reportedly over scheduling conflicts with Wednesday.

Around the same time, then-director Christopher Landon (Happy Death Day, Happy Death Day 2U), who had already replaced Scream (2022) and Scream VI co-directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, announced that he had also left the project.

Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega hiding in a convenience store in 'Scream VI'
Credit: Paramount Pictures / Radio Silence Productions / Spyglass Media Group

Related: Every ‘Scream’ Movie Ranked From Worst to Best

This exodus of cast members and creatives forced the remaining crew to rework the film in such a way that Scream 7, as it was originally intended to be, was dead.

Months later, it was revealed that Neve Campbell, the original final girl Sidney Prescott who didn’t appear in Scream VI due to a salary dispute, was back in the repurposed film, with Scream (1996), Scream 2 (1997), and Scream 4 (2011), writer Kevin Williamson onboard as the film’s new director.

Now, in two separate announcements made by Deadline, two more actors from the original Scream trilogy have been cast in the upcoming film. But prepare to be very surprised.

Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) in 'Scream 2022'
Credit: Paramount Pictures / Radio Silence Productions / Spyglass Media Group

Related: ‘Scream’: All 14 Ghostface Reveals Ranked From Worst to Best

Matthew Lillard, who played second Ghostface killer Stu Macher, alongside Skeet Ulrich’s Billy Loomis, in the original Scream (1996), will be appearing in Scream 7 in some shape or form. Fans expected Stu to show up in Scream VI having somehow survived his death at the end of the first film, but they were left sorely disappointed when he was nowhere to be seen.

The second surprise actor who has been cast in Scream 7 is Scott Foley, who played solo Ghostface killer Roman Bridger in Scream 3 (2000). Like Stu, Roman was also killed following his third-act duel with Sidney Prescott. Where Stu was electrocuted to death by a falling television set, Roman was shot in the head by Dewey Riley (David Arquette).

So, this begs to question exactly how Scream 7 is bringing Stu and Roman back into the fold.

Stu Macher and Billy Loomis in Scream
Credit: Dimension Films

Related: Every Ghostface Killer In the ‘Scream’ Movies Ranked

No other information has been given, however, as both characters are dead, it’s reasonable to assume that, like Skeet Ulrich’s role as dead Ghostface killer Billy Loomis in Scream (2022) and Scream VI–in which he appears in the form of Sam Carpenter’s hallucinations–Matthew Lillard and Scott Foley will be “de-aged” for their respective roles in Scream 7, most likely for the purpose of flashbacks set during and/or before Scream (1996).

In Scream 3, we learn that Sidney’s long, lost brother Roman Bridger had been pulling the strings from behind the scenes before and during the events of original film; manipulating Billy Loomis into donning the Ghostface mask and terrorizing Sidney Prescott (Sidney’s mother and Billy’s father were having an affair, which Roman used to fuel Billy’s rage).

Roman Bridger (Scott Foley) and Jennifer Jolie (Parker Posey) in Scream 3
Credit: Dimension Films / Miramax

Related: 5 Things In ‘Scream VI’ That Make ZERO Sense

This meant that there was a third Ghostface killer (Roman) operating off-screen during Scream, guiding Billy and Stu without making himself at all known until Scream 3‘s third act. Though a surprise revelation, many fans weren’t happy that the third film retconned the original.

Now, it’s possible Scream 7 plans to revisit those never-before-seen moments between Roman, Billy, and Stu. While the upcoming film has yet to cast Skeet Ulrich, the fact that he’s already returned to play the character twice in both previous films (albeit in the form of an hallucination) means it’s probably only a matter of time.

Scream 7 Cast and Release Date

Matthew Lillard and Scott Foley join Neve Campbell (Sidney Prescott), Courteney Cox (Gale Weathers), Mason Gooding (Chad Meeks), and Jasmin Savoy Brown (Mindy Meeks), alongside newcomers Isabel May, Celeste O’Connor, Asa Germann, Mckenna Grace, Sam Rechner, Anna Camp, Joel McHale, and Mark Consuelos.

Scream 7 hits theaters on February 27, 2026.

Do you think Scream 7 will feature flashbacks to never-before-seen events set before and during the original film? Or do you think it will bring Stu and Roman back from the dead in a surprise twist? Let us know in the comments below!

in Movies & TV

Be the first to comment!