Ready for a good scare? The Scream franchise is gearing up to release a fifth film in the near future.
After late director Wes Craven’s first-ever Scream movie arrived in 1996, it became a sleeper hit that drew in $173 million at the worldwide box office. Its success led to the creation of three sequels in 1997, 2000 and 2011.
Eight years after Scream 4, Spyglass Media Group secured the rights to develop another Scream film. It was later announced in March 2020 that Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, both of whom directed the 2019 horror movie Ready or Not, would direct the fifth flick. Kevin Williamson, who created and wrote the original film, will also return as an executive producer.
Neve Campbell, who plays Sidney Prescott, was hesitant about returning to the franchise since Craven wouldn’t be overseeing the project due to his 2015 death.
“I definitely had a period where I was thinking it would just be too odd to do a movie without Wes, and I wasn’t certain that I would want to do that,” she told The Hollywood Reporter in May 2020. “But, I think enough time has passed. I got this really, really respectful letter from the directors [Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett] of the new one. They came to me with Scream 5, and these directors are incredibly talented.”
The Party of Five alum eventually signed on to join the fifth film. “They wrote a letter honoring Wes in such a beautiful way, and they expressed that the reason they make horror movies is because of Wes and the Scream films,” she continued. “They also expressed how blown away they are at the idea of actually getting an opportunity to make one of them and how much they want to honor and respect Wes’ vision. It was just beautiful, and I was really grateful. I had really thought that the only way I’d step into a new project with new directors is if they really wanted to honor him. So, we’ll see.”
The fifth installment will also reunite onscreen love interests Courteney Cox and David Arquette, who married in real life in 1999 but split in 2010. Now, they coparent daughter Coco.
“We coparent, so we’re in touch quite a bit. It’s great. But we always love working together,” the Never Been Kissed actor told Entertainment Tonight in August 2020. “She’s an incredible actress, so it’ll be fun to bring these characters back to life and see where they’re at. … Costarring’s the easy part.”
As more updates continue to come in, check out the gallery below to learn everything there is to know about the fifth Scream.
"Hello again, Sidney," Campbell wrote via Instagram in September 2020, adding the hashtag, "#ImBack," confirming that she will appear in the fifth film. The movie's official Twitter also posted the news, writing, "We always had a thing for ya, Sid! It’s true… Neve Campbell is back to SCREAM." The actress also released a statement to BloodyDisgusting.com, which broke the news. "After spending time speaking with Radio Silence, they have shown such love, respect and admiration for Wes Craven and all that he’s created in the Scream franchise," the House of Cards alum shared. "I am beyond excited to step back into the role of Sidney Prescott and return to Woodsboro.” Photo by Stacey Newman/Shutterstock
Cox and Arquette are on board for the fifth film. The pair, along with Campbell, are the only actors to appear in all four Scream movies. Additionally, original screenwriter Kevin Williamson will return as an executive producer. Dimension Films/Kobal/Shutterstock
In September 2020, Jack Quaid joined the cast, Variety reported. The month before, Jenna Ortega and Melissa Barrera were also confirmed to be in the horror flick. Stewart Cook/Shutterstock; Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
Details about the fifth film’s storyline have yet to be released, but Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett directed. Guy Busick and James Vanderbilt were tapped to pen the screenplay. Miramax/Kobal/Shutterstock
The upcoming movie was initially scheduled to drop in 2021, just in time for the original Scream’s 25th anniversary. The coronavirus pandemic, however, ultimately delayed this plan. In August 2020, the official Scream Movies Twitter account tweeted: “On January 14, 2022 … We’re going to hear you SCREAM.” Miramax/Kobal/Shutterstock
According to Deadline, production on Scream 5 began in the fall of 2020 in Wilmington, North Carolina. Dimension Films/Kobal/Shutterstock
"That’s a wrap on Scream, which I’m excited to announce is the official title of the next film! Nearly 25 years ago, when I wrote Scream and Wes Craven brought it to life, I could not have imagined the lasting impact it would have on you, the fans," Williamson wrote via Twitter in November 2020. "I’m excited for you to return to Woodsboro and get really scared again. I believe Wes would’ve been so proud of the film that Matt and Tyler are making. I’m thrilled to be reunited with Neve, Courteney, David and Marley, and to be working alongside a new filmmaking team and incredible cast of newcomers that have come together to continue Wes’s legacy with the upcoming relaunch of the franchise that I hold so dear to my heart. See you in theatres January 2022." Paramount
Cox teased where the fifth film falls in the franchise’s continuity. “This is the fifth one. It’s not Scream 5, though. This is Scream. … These directors are incredible. They’re making it absolutely, it’s a new franchise,” she hinted on The Drew Barrymore Show in May 2021. “It’s hip, it’s scary, it’s just a new Scream. It’s not a reboot, it’s not a remake, it’s just a brand-new launch. I think it’s going to be fantastic.” Broadimage/Shutterstock
Gillett confirmed via Instagram in June 2021 that the film was completely finished. “Picture locked,” he wrote. “I promise it’ll be worth the wait.” Barrera later tweeted in October 2021, “Saw the final cut of #ScreamMovie Y’all ain’t ready.” MediaPunch/Shutterstock
Even the cast members didn't know who was behind the new movie's murders until the last second. "We were really careful to protect the big reveal of the movie," director Gillett told Entertainment Weekly in October 2021. "We went as far as to withhold those moments in the script from the actors. We wanted everybody involved, to the degree that we could, to be a part of the whodunit. Obviously, you get to a point in the shoot where you have to let the cat out of the bag, but we went pretty far into prep and into production with a surprising amount of secrecy maintained." Dimension Films/Kobal/Shutterstock
Though Craven died before production on the movie began, some of the actors said they felt his presence on set. Cox, for her part, thinks the late filmmaker would be pleased with the new Scream. "I looked up to Wes immensely professionally but also as a friend," she told EW in October 2021. "I feel Wes would be so happy with the way Matt and Tyler have rebooted this franchise." Dimension Films/Kobal/Shutterstock
"We all want to do our characters justice," Arquette told IGN in October 2021. "You know, it's really fun to play this character and to step back into his shoes. Even though this is a new group, it feels very much like we're in the same world." The actor revealed that he thinks the “whole world of storytelling has gotten smarter,” which will be evident in the new movie. The original film, however, will be honored by both the returning actors and the new faces. "People have a real deep love of history like this film has. It will take you back to the feeling you had when you saw the first one. At least it's doing that for me. Because you want to respect the world that Wes created with [writer] Kevin Williamson and be able to expand on it with this new generation,” Arquette continued. “Jenna and Melissa are tremendous actors. Jack Quaid — I knew him as a little kid, just running around, and now he's this young man who's super talented and witty. There are so many talented young people on this film. I love watching them watch horror films and doing their homework on the genres. I think the fans are really going to love this because it's a fan's movie." Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
In December, Paramount released three new posters — one of Campbell, one of Cox and one of Arquette — alongside the famous Ghostface. Paramount
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