On August 2nd, Christopher Landon was confirmed as the new director of SCREAM 7. Well-versed in the horror genre infused with comedic elements, Landon boasts a repertoire that includes “Happy Death Day” (2017), “Freaky” (2019), and “We Have a Ghost” (2023). He enters a dedicated and protective fandom that eagerly anticipates the evolution of the franchise.
This development took place due to scheduling conflicts faced by directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, who are now involved in the production of an Untitled Universal Monster Movie starring Melissa Barrera and Kathryn Newton (previously featured in Landon’s “Freaky“). Nevertheless, the filmmakers will maintain their roles as Executive Producers in the upcoming installment.
Radio Silence, the creative triumvirate comprising Bettinelli-Olpin, Gillett, and producer Chad Villella, has significantly impacted the movie series. With the SCREAM (2022) revival and the audacious SCREAM VI reinvention, they achieved both critical acclaim and financial success.
The team attentively listened to fans, fostering connection and even involving some of them as crew members, particularly in the 2022 entry. Their profound respect for Wes Craven‘s legacy was evident, underscoring their competence, charisma, and distinctive approach. This inspired immense confidence among fans, sparking curiosity about the potential of a Radio Silence-helmed trilogy.
The SAG-AFTRA strikes
Landon’s acceptance of this challenge aligns seamlessly with the SCREAM film’s essence, given his prior work’s tone. Yet, the announcement comes amid a tumultuous period in Hollywood. The ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike has led to numerous production halts, aiming to secure equitable arrangements for writers and actors.
The confirmation of Landon’s directorial role deviated from the customary protocol, possibly due to Social media leaking and amplifying this arrangement, possibly made prior to the strikes, over the preceding days.
As of now, SCREAM 7 lacks an officially confirmed writer, a scenario likely to persist until the resolution of the Writers Guild strike. Although, the involvement of the imaginative minds of Guy Busick and James Vanderbilt is expected.
Actors face a similar situation, with no official commitments. Reports from specialized media highlight a potential tough negotiation to take place with Jenna Ortega, whose prominence escalated after the success of “Wednesday” and the buzz surrounding “Beetlejuice 2.”
Regarding the surviving members of Wes Craven’s legacy cast, such as Courteney Cox, Hayden Panettiere, and Neve Campbell, uncertainties prevail. Amidst salary disputes that led Sidney Prescott’s actress to walk away from SCREAM VI, several fans seek a gratifying and respectful send-off for the beloved character.
Twitter rumors suggest -and hopes- that Campbell might be bound by NDAs, given her recent appearances at fan conventions, where discussions related to SCREAM 7 were seemingly off-limits.
No release dates, filming details, and plot were revealed at this point.
Insights from Recent Interviews
Actors and writers frequently field questions about the next installment and the trajectory of their characters. Melissa Barrera, interviewed by Digital Spy in June, shared her thoughts on Sam Carpenter’s potential journey:
“There are so many places that Sam could go. That’s one of the reasons that, when I read the script for SCREAM 5, I was so interested in the character. There’s so much potential here of where she could go with her mental health – she’s just unpredictable. I find that that darkness in her makes her that much more interesting to play and to watch. She’s the hero but she’s also kind of the villain. It’s this contradiction in her that I find fascinating and, if we get to do another one, I would love to see. The writers have done a really good job with her up until this point, so I trust them just to know where to take her [in a way] that will be unexpected and cool for the fans.”
Jasmin Savoy Brown also offered insights into what she sees in Mindy’s future:
“I think it would be interesting if we’re a couple years into the future and she’s more confident. I feel like a theme of six for Mindy was she was right about so much, but she kept undercutting herself and gaslighting and doubting herself. I would like to see her own she knows what she knows, and if she has an inkling about someone that she’s like, ‘We don’t talk to them,’ and to see her step more into that leadership aspect of herself, and to see who she is just a couple years from now would be really interesting to me.”
What do you hope for SCREAM VII?
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