A wave of nostalgia seems to be sweeping over SCREAM 7 casting decisions. Following the chaos that ensued after the exits of Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega, the franchise producers are now reportedly eyeing the return of franchise veterans Neve Campbell and Patrick Dempsey.
Neve Campbell, who has been the face of the franchise as Sidney Prescott since its inception in 1996, had notably sat out SCREAM VI due to very public and polarizing salary disputes. However, with the series now facing a substantial creative shift, the producers are reportedly keen to bring Campbell back into the fold.
— HelloSidney.com (@hello_sidney) November 13, 2023
Neve Campbell talks about watching SCREAM VI during Monstermania Con.
Patrick Dempsey, known for his role as Detective Mark Kincaid in SCREAM 3, is another name on the producers’ wish list. Despite his character’s single appearance in the series, Kincaid’s storyline intertwined with Sidney Prescott’s, adding layers to the franchise’s rich narrative tapestry. Dempsey’s recent recognition as the Sexiest Man Alive, coupled with his role in the “Scream”-like slasher “Thanksgiving“, makes his potential return a tantalizing prospect for fans.
In the report published by Variety last night, right after Melissa Barrera published a response to her controversial firing, it was emphasized that none of the actors mentioned above had yet entered into negotiations.
New screenplay, no rules
The article also suggests Jenna Ortega’s involvement, given her star power, was very centric to the project development. Her exit led to major adjustments in the creative process, with some hope initially that she might return in a cameo. However, this now seems unlikely.
Contrarily, another source of the report claims Ortega was never considered for the new film. Both Ortega and Barrera completed their contracts with the fifth and sixth films and would have required new agreements for the seventh.
No information about the participation from the other half of the “Core Four”, Mason Gooding and Jasmin Savoy Brown, has been disclosed so far.
The screenplay for SCREAM VII will be possibly undergoing a major overhaul, with scribes James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick tasked with reworking the script to accommodate these cast changes and delivering director Christopher Landon good material to work with.
The return of Campbell and Dempsey, if confirmed, would mark a significant u-turn in the series’ direction, and Variety even implies the possibility of bringing back characters that are still alive or that could be Kirbyfied – meaning resurrected as they did with Hayden Panettiere‘s role.
In conclusion, SCREAM 7, stands at a pivotal juncture, balancing the need for innovation with a nod to its storied past.
