Scream 7: Should There Be A Cult Of Ghostface?

scream

By Callum Murray

Published May 21, 2024

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Highlights

A Ghostface cult is a possibility in Scream 7, after hints in Scream 2022 and Scream 6.
Kevin Williamson's original Scream 3 plan of the orchestrating of a killer cult resurfaced in The Following
Speculation abounds about there being a cult of Ghostface killers in Scream 7, but the plot is currently under wraps.

Scream 7 will see the return of Ghostface, as the iconic killer faces off against Sidney Prescott in what promises to be an epic battle. Speculation is rife over whom the next Ghostface could be and what their motives are linked to, with a long gestating theory returning to prominence recently that involves a cult of Ghostface killers in the franchise. As far back as Scream 3, this theory has been suggested, and it gained traction after Radio Silence took over the series, with a string of Easter eggs in Scream (2022) and Scream 6 pointing towards a Cult of Ghostface.

Scream 7 will be directed by the original creator of the series, Kevin Williamson, with plot details remaining tightly under wraps ahead of filming, which is due to take place sometime this year, with a potential release date in 2025. Scream 6 featured the most Ghostface killers ever in one movie, so Scream 7 opting for a whole cult of Ghostface's stalking Sidney and her loved ones is not outside the realm of possibility.

Scream 7 Needs To Avoid The Same Mistakes Made In Scream 3

Scream 7 is facing a lot of the same issues as Scream 3, and it has a few things to avoid in order to be a success.

What was Kevin Williamson's initial Scream 3 plan for a cult of Ghostface killers?

Scream 3
Starring	Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Courteney Cox-Arquette, Patrick Dempsey, Parker Posey, Emily Mortimer, Lance Henriksen and Liev Schreiber
Written By	Ehren Kruger
Directed By	Wes Craven

It has been known for many years that Kevin Williamson's initial treatment for Scream 3 did feature a story involving a return to Woodsboro, with a group of Ghostface killers active at the High School. Williamson ended up not writing the screenplay for Scream 3, due to his busy schedule, and Ehren Kruger took over the reins and Williamson's treatment was initially followed, but changed significantly due to certain similarities with the Columbine Massacre.

The Cult of Ghostface plan involved the return of Stu Macher, who was supposedly orchestrating the events from his jail cell. Matthew Lillard has since confirmed that this was the plan, and he was even paid to appear in the movie, before the plans were scrapped. This small fact has also led to the theory that Stu survived the television being dropped on his head by Sidney Prescott in the original Scream movie. Williamson took part in an interview a few months ago on the Happy Horror Time podcast and discussed the initial plans for Scream 3.

In my initial version of Scream 3 , they had gone on location to make Stab, so it was the making of the movie. They go to Woodsboro, and some of the students at Woodsboro High were hired to be Parker Posey's assistant, and the film club at school were participating in the movie, and it was the kids that were the killers, and the big twist was it wasn't one killer, it was four killers. These kids saw that their town got really famous for this murder, and they wanted to capitalize on that.

Kevin Williamson's initial plan for the cult of killers in Scream 3 was eventually used in the hit series, The Following. Williamson created this show, and it ran for three seasons between 2013-15. It focused on a charismatic and psychotic serial killer who communicates with other active serial killers across the country and activates a cult of followers who carry out his every command. With Williamson on board to direct Scream 7, there's every chance the cult of Ghostface killers idea could be re-invigorated, especially with certain hints towards it in Scream (2022) and Scream 6.

What hints have been given about the possibility of a cult of Ghostface killers, and will it be revisited in Scream 7?

Scream 7
Starring	Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox (rumored), Patrick Dempsey (rumored)
Written By	Guy Busick
Directed By	Kevin Williamson

Radio Silence duo, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett took on the daunting task of taking the reins of the Scream franchise from the legendary horror director, Wes Craven. Their two movies, Scream (2022) and Scream 6, have both been super respectful to Craven's legacy, and also to Scream's fan base.

Smart fan theories about Ghostface have suggested a cult could possibly be in operation, and during the reveal of the killers in Scream (2022), Ritchie and Amber discuss how they met on a sub-reddit of fans of the Stab movies, proving the existence of crazed psycho killers on the internet with a fascination with the Ghostface killings. Amber even suggests she had been recruited and brainwashed by Ritchie to commit the murders.

I was radicalized

Amber claims she became obsessed with the case after moving into Stu Macher's house at 261 Turner Lane, and this is interesting because Williamson's initial idea was to actually return to the Macher house for the finale of Scream 3, and this idea was resurrected for the ending of Scream (2022). There is every chance the cult idea from Scream 3 could also return in Scream 7. Williamson discussed the potential plans to return to Stu's house in the same interview on the Happy Horror Time podcast:

There was a scene where they all go back into Stu's house, and I think they kill everybody. That was the end of Scream 3 .

Scream 7 needs to top the best part of Scream 6 which was the opening sequence, and it featured the biggest hint towards the cult of Ghostface yet. The characters of Jason and Greg planned to finish Ritchie's movie by starting up a fresh spree of killings. Jason kills his film studies professor, Laura Crane, but is soon dispatched by a rival Ghostface with a very different motive. When Kirby Reed turns up in Scream 6, she is now an FBI agent, and she tells Detective Bailey she's been investigating Ghostface attacks all over the country, which further links to the possibility of a network of Ghostface killers in operation.

Guy Busick co-wrote the screenplays for both Scream (2022) and Scream 6, alongside James Vanderbilt, and Busick has also written the script for the upcoming Scream 7, from a story he mapped out with Vanderbilt. Despite the script going through many changes due to Melissa Barrera's firing and Jenna Ortega's departure, there is still a high chance of a story involving a cult of Ghostface killers in Scream 7. This idea could further be elaborated upon now that the original creator of the idea, Kevin Williamson, is directing Scream 7. Fans will have to wait a while longer to see if the cult of Ghostface idea will finally be acted upon, with Scream 7's filming not even underway yet.