Chad Villella, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, and Tyler Gillett, the talented minds behind Radio Silence, continue to charm Scream fans with their dedication, passion, and deep understanding of the franchise’s legacy.
This final part of my exclusive interview with the creators of Scream 5 dives into how they balanced the weight of legacy with fresh storytelling, the privilege of working with Neve Campbell, David Arquette, and Courteney Cox, and the unique challenges posed by filming during a pandemic.
Reuniting With “The Trio”
For Radio Silence, working with the franchise’s iconic trio—Sidney (Neve Campbell), Dewey (David Arquette), and Gale (Courteney Cox)—was an irreplaceable piece of the puzzle.
“They’re the beating heart of the franchise,” says Tyler Gillett. “To have them generously offer themselves to the movie… they created that sense of family.”
Their involvement went beyond acting, influencing their characters’ arcs in meaningful ways.
“There’s no better compass for who these characters are than those three actors,” Gillett continues. “Watching them bring Sidney, Gale, and Dewey to life was an incredible experience.”
When asked if there was a backup plan in case one of them didn’t sign on, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin had a definitive answer:
“It’s not Scream if they’re not there.”
Welcoming New Faces
Alongside the returning legends, Scream 5 introduces a new generation of Woodsboro residents. The collaboration between the legacy cast and newcomers created a dynamic on set that Chad Villella describes as “gratitude and mutual respect.”
“The way the new cast members looked to the legacy cast for guidance was incredible. It was like witnessing a baton being passed,” Villella adds.
“The characters on the page were so well written. Guy [Busick] and Jamie [Vanderbilt] are just incredible and had designed the world of the story in such a beautiful way, everyone felt different and they also all felt like real people. In this heightened situation”, Tyler explained.
Ghost Face Returns
Another character making a triumphant return? Ghost Face.
“Every single scene with Ghost Face felt like there was a celebrity in the room,” recalls Bettinelli-Olpin.
Villella shared a memorable moment when a stunt performer in full Ghost Face attire scared him unexpectedly in the costume department:
“I’ll never forget I was just walking into the costume room the very first time and then Emily Gunshor, our costume designer obviously did a great job: did her homework, did her research, when we were doing the robe and securing the mask. So we were walking into the room and like to the corner, from the slip of the door you were able to see Ghost Face, and I thought it was on a mannequin. And when we walked into the door it was actually one of the stunt performers and he jumped out and scared the living shit outta of me. This was terrifying“, Villella testifies.
Filming Amidst a Pandemic
Scream 5 was one of the first films to resume production after the initial COVID-19 shutdown, adding another layer of complexity to an already ambitious project.
“There was so much anxiety,” says Gillett. “Every day, Matt and I would drive to set wondering, ‘Is today the day it all falls apart?’”
Despite the challenges, the filmmakers ensured the pandemic didn’t overshadow the story:
“It won’t feel like a COVID movie,” Villella reassures fans.
Reflecting on the experience, Bettinelli-Olpin says, “In a way, it brought us closer together. We became a family, and that was such a unique and positive takeaway.”
A Gratitude-Filled Journey
Scream fans have much to thank Radio Silence for. Their dedication to balancing legacy and innovation has breathed new life into Woodsboro.
