The impact of the late director Wes Craven’s “Scream” franchise to the horror genre is still felt today. Can a new addition to the slasher series inspire a new generation of horror fans, even without its mastermind at the helm? Or are we better off letting Sidney Prescott and the gang live the rest of their lives in peace? Either way, there’s a new Ghostface in Woodsboro.
On Oct. 12, the trailer for the franchise’s fifth installment slash soft reboot simply titled “Scream” was released. Directing duo Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, known for “Ready or Not,” are filling the shoes of Craven.
The movie features both new and familiar faces—with Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Courteney Cox, and Marley Shelton reprising their roles. Will Sidney, Gale Weathers, and Sheriff Dewey Riley be the ones to defeat the masked killer/s this time around? Maybe not. But it’s hard to imagine that this will be the last time we’re seeing them in the series.
From the looks of the trailer, the trio is as badass as ever. But so far, all we really know is that they’re teaming up with a new group of Woodsboro high school students to stop the killer. Pretty understandable since guessing who’s under the mask is part of the fun. Executive producer and original “Scream” script writer Kevin Williamson says that he’s thrilled for us to see it. Also, seeing Sidney return to Stu Macher’s house kind of got our hopes up for a Matthew Lillard comeback. You never know.
I’m excited for you to return to Woodsboro and get really scared again. I believe Wes would’ve been so proud of the film that Matt and Tyler are making. I’m thrilled to be reunited with Neve, Courteney, David and Marley, and to be working alongside a new filmmaking team (2/3)
— Kevin Williamson (@kevwilliamson) November 18, 2020
New bloods Kyle Gallner, Mason Gooding, Mikey Madison, Dylan Minnette, Jenna Ortega, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Sonia Ammar, Jack Quaid, and Melissa Barrera have joined the roster. In the trailer, we get to see Ortega’s Tara Carpenter in an opening scene kill referencing Drew Barrymore’s in the first film. The 2022 update? The killer hacked into her house’s home security. Uh-oh.
It’s hard not to feel excited for it, considering how a number of people on the team seem to treat it as a tribute to Craven. “The idea of making these films without Wes Craven seemed challenging to me. I loved the man very much,” Campbell told Entertainment Weekly. “Matt and Tyler wrote me a letter speaking of their appreciation and great respect for Wes Craven, and speaking of the fact that the very reason that they are directors today was because of these movies and because of Wes, and that meant a great deal to me.”
Photo screengrabbed from the “Scream” trailer
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