Fans of scary movies rejoice: After a successful box office run, Scream will be getting yet another chapter. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Spyglass and Paramount have given the green light to another sequel in the celebrated horror series, with directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett and writers James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick all returning. Production is expected to begin this summer.
Scream had a strong opening in January, earning $62.6 million domestically and $106.7 million globally against a $24 million budget. As noted by Variety, the film had very little competition at the box office (aside from the juggernaut that is Spider-Man: No Way Home), but will have to contend with some February releases including Jackass Forever and Moonfall.
Scream arrives just over 10 years after the previous film, Scream 4. While it features the return of franchise mainstays Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette, there are also a number of new faces to the franchise including Melissa Barrera (of In The Heights fame), Jenna Ortega, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mikey Madison, Dylan Minnette, and The Boys' Jack Quaid. Of course, one of the most important returning cast members is never even seen in person. That would be Roger Jackson, who has provided the infamous Ghostface voice since the very first movie.
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This is the first entry in the series not to be directed by legendary horror director Wes Craven, who passed away due to cancer in 2015. Despite his absence, the new film pays tribute to Craven in some creative ways. Original screenwriter Kevin Williamson serves as executive producer on the movie. This is only the second Scream film not to be penned by Williamson, after Scream 3. Script duties on that entry were handled by Ehren Kruger.
Scream's plot finds a new Ghostface terrorizing the residents of Woodsboro once again, prompting Sam (Barrera) to return to the town she once called home. Along with Dewey, Gale, and, of course, Sydney, Sam must find a way to stop the new slew of killings while dealing with her own dark secret. Much like the first film in the series, which came out all the way back in 1996, Scream takes the opportunity to satirize the current state of horror, particularly the current crop of elevated horror movies, including Get Out and The Babadook.
Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett have plenty of experience in the horror realm, having directed the well-received Ready Or Not along with segments for horror anthologies like Southbound and V/H/S (the latter being credited to Radio Silence). No new casting announcements have been made for the upcoming sequel.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
