Scheduled to hit theaters on February 25, 2026, Scream 7 is a return to the franchise’s roots. Kevin Williamson, who penned the original script, takes the helm as director for this seventh installment, which is produced by Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group. The film sees Neve Campbell reprising her role as Sidney Prescott and Courteney Cox returning as Gale Weathers, while also introducing a new generation with Isabel May, cast as the new central figure confronting Ghostface.
Through this setup, the franchise returns to its roots, staying true to what has defined it since 1996: a slasher that knows its conventions but also evolves with the times, reflecting the changing fears and resilience of its heroines.
In the quiet town where Sidney Prescott has rebuilt her life, a new Ghostface emerges, reigniting the nightmares she thought she had left behind. The attacks resume, and it quickly becomes clear that the danger is closing in on Sidney’s inner circle, as if her past refuses to stay silent.
When her daughter becomes the next target, Sidney has no choice but to step back into the fight. Determined to protect her loved ones, she faces the ghosts of her past and works to finally break a cycle of violence that seems to be passed down just as much as it’s repeated.
Following the breakout stars of recent revitalization — including Jenna Ortega — Scream 7 introduces Isabel May as the new “Scream Queen,” assigning her a highly symbolic role: that of Sidney Prescott’s daughter. This character embodies several contemporary themes of the franchise: living with inherited trauma, existing in the shadow of a survivor turned icon, and reshaping the very rules of a genre that is constantly evolving.
Born in 2000 in Santa Monica, the actress first gained recognition with Alexa & Katie, followed by Young Sheldon. She made a notable impact in the indie film Let’s Scare Julie, shot in a continuous single take. Her popularity grew further with 1883 (a prequel to Yellowstone) and then 1923, where she plays Elsa Dutton, both narrator and tragic figure. This path—spanning drama, thriller, and complex characters—naturally positions her within a saga where female survival is also a matter of perspective, storytelling, and memory.
In France, Scream (released in 1997) revolutionized the slasher genre by blending meta-horror, black humor, and a sharp awareness of genre conventions. It paved the way for titles like I Know What You Did Last Summer, Urban Legend, and the Scary Movie parodies. In the 2000s, horror took a darker, more straightforward turn, marked by remakes and a grittier, more brutal style, from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) to Hostel and Wrong Turn.
At the center of this evolution, Sidney Prescott has emerged as a modern heroine: she doesn’t just endure violence — she understands it, anticipates it, and turns it around. Alongside her, Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) provides a powerful presence — ambitious, strategic, and embodying a critique of the media and celebrity culture that runs through the franchise.
After Wes Craven—director of the first four films—and the duo Matt Bettinelli-Olpin/Tyler Gillett on the more recent installments, it’s Kevin Williamson who steps back into the director’s chair for this one. Based on available information about the project, the aim is to focus on suspense and fear — a tone that coincides with the return of Neve Campbell, who was absent from Scream VI after a publicly discussed salary dispute in 2022.
The screenplay is credited to Guy Busick (involving Williamson), based on characters created by Williamson and Wes Craven. The production team features William Sherak, James Vanderbilt, and Paul Neinstein. The cast announced so far includes Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Anna Camp, Joel McHale, Mckenna Grace, and Mark Consuelos.
Launched in 1996 and consistently profitable, the Scream franchise has grossed approximately $914 million worldwide. Remarkably, it achieved this with relatively modest budgets—ranging from $14 million for the original film to around $35 million for Scream VI. Prior to this new installment, the series includes six feature films and a TV series (Scream, 2015–2019) spanning three seasons and thirty episodes.
The development of Scream 7 has also been rocky: Melissa Barrera was cut from the project, followed by Jenna Ortega departing as well, and Christopher Landon, who was briefly linked to the film, eventually stepped back. In this context, refocusing on Sidney Prescott and the return of Williamson seem to signal a move towards creative stability.
Before this seventh installment, twelve characters have taken on the Ghostface mask, reinforcing the idea of a “transmissible” figure rather than a single killer. The original film also drew inspiration from the Danny Rolling case, known as the “Gainesville Ripper,” an American serial killer convicted of multiple murders in 1989 and 1990, and executed in 2006. This real-life background subtly underscores the chilling dimension of a slasher film that is actually built on distance and an awareness of its own conventions.
Scream 7
Film | 2026
Release date in cinemas : February 25, 2026
Horror – Thriller | Duration: To be announced
Directed by Kevin Williamson | Written by Guy Busick
Starring Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Isabel May
Original title: Scream 7
Country: United States
Between a nod to its roots, a self-aware perspective, and a passing of the torch across generations, Scream 7 is shaping up to be a pivotal installment in the franchise. It aims to serve both as a tribute to its legacy and a fresh, modern take on the classic slasher genre.
To extend your in-theater experience, check out the February movie releases, discover the must-see films currently in theaters, and browse our handpicked selection of the horror movies of the year.
