Original ‘Scream’ Actress Courteney Cox Could Join Neve Campbell In ‘Scream 7’

While many details surrounding the upcoming film remain secret, the cast is slowly being revealed — and horror fans can rejoice as Courteney Cox is in talks to return to the franchise.

Due to contract disputes, Campbell announced that she wouldn’t be involved in ‘Scream 6’, which was released in 2023. “As a woman, I have had to work extremely hard in my career to establish my value, especially when it comes to ‘Scream’,” she stated.

The actress has been the face of the franchise since Wes Craven’s first film, which was released in 1996. Considering how many films have been made since then, Campbell said she felt she deserved more pay, but the company didn’t seem to agree. “I felt the offer that was presented to me did not equate to the value I have brought to the franchise,” the ‘Scream’ star said of the contract dispute.

Now, it seems there has been an agreement as Campbell recently announced she would be reprising her role as Sydney Prescott for ‘Scream 7’.

According to Variety, Courteney Cox is in talks to return to the franchise alongside her costar, Neve Campbell. If so, she will reprise her role as Gale Weathers, a character which she has played since the first movie in 1996.

Campbell previously confirmed her return as Sidney Prescott after the actress was not part of ‘Scream 6’ due to a salary dispute.

“Sidney Prescott is coming back!!!!” Campbell posted on Instagram on March 12. “It’s always been such a blast and an honor to get to play Sidney in the ‘Scream’ movies. My appreciation for these films and for what they have meant to me, has never waned. I’m very happy and proud to say I’ve been asked, in the most respectful way, to bring Sidney back to the screen and I couldn’t be more thrilled.”

Cox’s return could be huge for the film as Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega won’t be returning to reprise their roles as Barrera was fired and Ortega has other commitments.

Spyglass, the company behind the seventh ‘Scream’ movie, characterized Barrera’s posts on the Islaem-Hamas war as antisemitic, and fired her from the company.

“We have zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion or anything that flagrantly crosses the line into hate speech,” the company wrote in a statement.

Following her firing, Barrera stated that she condemns “hate and prejudice of any kind” and will continue to “lend my voice to those in need.”

“As a Latina, a proud Mexicana, I feel the responsibility of having a platform that allows me the privilege of being heard, and therefore I have tried to use it to raise awareness about issues I care about and to lend my voice to those in need,” she said in a social media post. “Every person on this earth- regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or socio-economic status- deserves equal human rights, dignity, and, of course, freedom.”

As we previously reported, the original ‘Scream’ creator and writer Kevin Williamson is taking over as director of ‘Scream 7.’

“It’s been nearly 30 years since my very first script, ‘Scream,’ was directed by the legendary Wes Craven,” he said in his announcement. “I never would have predicted what it would become. Or that I would be directing the seventh installment of the franchise. I am overcome with gratitude and excitement, and I can’t wait to take this journey with Neve and the entire ‘Scream’ family as we bring back Sidney Prescott in the next chapter of the ‘Scream’ franchise. Thank you to all the ‘Scream’ fans. You are the gift that keeps giving.”

Campbell also commented on Williamson’s return, taking to social media to say, “While I’ve been so incredibly lucky to make these films with both the master of horror Wes Craven and the wonderfully talented Matt and Tyler team, I’ve dreamt for many years of how amazing it would be to make one of these movies with Kevin Williamson at the helm,” Campbell said in her announcement, “And now it’s happening, Kevin Williamson is going to direct ‘Scream 7’!”