Scream 7 is bringing back the original Ghostface killer Matthew Lillard, so you know this is going to be one for the fans. Get ready for some '90s nostalgia as we dive into the horror saga one more time, as the new instalment is already in the works.
As key details have already been announced, we've compiled here everything you need to know about Scream 7 release date, confirmed cast, plot theories, first-look images, and more. The movie might have lost some of the franchise's recent lead cast, including Wednesday star Jenna Ortega (more on that in the cast section), but it's still one of the most anticipated upcoming horror movies around.
It's hardly a surprise that a new Scream movie is still cause for excitement and celebration among horror fans. The franchise kickstarted a global phenomenon back when it was first released in 1996, and became one of the best horror movies ever made.
After almost thirty years since that first movie, and with Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin's Scream 5 and Scream 6 revitalizing the saga for modern audiences, we are once again set to be reunited with Neve Campbell's heroine Sidney Prescott, and her never-ending battle with the masked killer Ghostface.
Campbell has confirmed her return for the new movie, and that's not the only good news we have about it. Ahead of the next slasher outing, we've gathered all the information about Scream 7 release date, cast, plot, and more.
Lock your doors and hide those kitchen knives, because Ghostface is officially coming back to town!
Scream 7 release date
After a series of delays and production roadblocks, the Scream 7 release date is now confirmed as February 27, 2026.
It's a relief that we finally know when Scream 7 will be hitting our screens. The upcoming horror movie has been in the works since August 2023. Due to the SAG AFTRA strikes and some casting changes, the sequel has been in limbo for quite some time. In December 2023, Christopher Landon also stepped down as director, so needless to say, we were all worried about Ghostface's fate.
However, it seems like the flick's new director, Kevin Williamson (the writer of the original 1996 Scream), has set things back on track. We're hopeful that Scream 7's release date is now set in stone, and there will be no more delays on the horizon.
Scream 7 plot
We don't have any story details for Scream 7 yet, but thanks to some casting updates and departures we do know that we'll be taking a sharp turn away from the plotlines set up in Scream 5 and Scream 6. Both Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega won't be returning for the sequel. This means that Sam's storyline is done after she took a page from her father's (Billy Loomis) book and stabbed her enemies.
From how Scream 6 ended (read our Scream 6 ending explained guide for more details on that), it seemed like Scream 7 would have shown us a final girl turned killer and potentially have Sam as the next Ghostface. However, with that out the window, we are betting that Scream 7's story will be going back to the franchise roots and will have us following Neve Campbell's Sidney Prescott once again. That's right, Sidney is back, folks after Campbell didn't appear in the sixth instalment.
During an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Campbell shared that Scream 7 will be centered around her character, and although she hasn't seen the script yet, fans can expect a similar dynamic to the one we've seen in the recent Halloween movies with Jamie Lee Curtis and Michaell Myers. David Gordon Green's 2018 Halloween showed us Laurie Strode fighting back against the man who traumatized her when she was a teen. Sidney obviously went through something very similar.
However, Ghostface has been a collection of different killers, so we're keen to see how everything ties together. Now that we know that Matthew Lillard has joined the cast, we know we'll finally see Stu Macher again. After all, we never saw his death on-screen during the original Scream movie, so it seems like he is after Sidney once again, now ready to finish the job.
Stay tuned as more updates come our way!
Scream 7 cast
As mentioned above, there are big changes when it comes to the Scream 7 cast. Melissa Barrera was fired from the sequel, and Jenna Ortega also announced her departure. The two characters, Sam Carpenter and Tara Carpenter, have been the main focus of the Scream plot since Scream 5.
Despite Barrera and Ortega not returning, their co-stars Mason Gooding and Jasmin Savoy Brown have confirmed they will return for the new movie.
Scream 7 will also see a few exciting returns to the horror saga. Neve Campbell will reprise her role as Sidney Prescott. This is great news for fans since the only Scream movie without Campbell was Scream 6, and she's as iconic as Ghostface at this point, having long been the mascot for kick-ass final girls in the best slasher movies. Courtney Cox is also set to return as Gale Weathers.
In late January 2025, it was confirmed that Matthew Lillard, the original Ghostface killer, will also be returning for Scream 7. Lillard, who played Stu Macher in the first Scream movie, had repeatedly denied his involvement in the upcoming movie, but after months of speculation he finally confirmed his return to the saga.
Scott Foley, who played Ghostface in Scream 3, has also joined the cast of Scream 7. Is this a Ghostface reunion? Or is Foley simply playing a different character?
Aside from the returning cast, newcomers include Isabel May, Celeste O’Connor, Asa Germann, Mckenna Grace, Sam Rechner, Anna Camp, Joel McHale, and Mark Consuelos.
We'll keep you posted as more news heads our way, so keep an eye on this page.
Is there a Scream 7 trailer yet?
No, unfortunately, there isn't a trailer for Scream 7 yet, and we likely won't get one until late 2025. With the 2026 release date now set in stone and post-production still needed, footage just isn't ready yet. So, we'll need to be patient.
Still, that means that there is plenty of time for you to re-watch all the Scream movies in order again. And if you need a refresher, you can also read our 2022 Scream review.
If you are after more thrills, check out our list of the best horror movies on Netflix. Or you can read our Scream 6 review to catch up on all the slasher fun.
