Neve Campbell as Sydney Prescott in Scream 7
For five films, Neve Campbell's Sidney Prescott was at the center of the Scream franchise. As one of the most iconic final girls, that's where audiences wanted her. The streak came to an end with Scream 6 when Campbell sat out over a pay dispute.
With her gone, Sam Carpenter and Tara Carpenter became the focal point after already being established in Scream 5. However, after Barrera was fired and Ortega stepped away, Scream 7 went back to the past by turning to Sidney once again. So, how are the absences of the Carpenter sisters explained? The answer not only insults Scream 6 but accidentally reveals that the franchise is in big trouble if Campbell ever misses a sequel again. The Meeks-Martin Twins Make a Passing Reference to Sam and Tara Carpenter in 'Scream 7' Scream 7 screenwriters Kevin Williamson and Guy Busick had an impossible task. Scream 5 and Scream 6 set up a story with two leads no longer around. The end of their trilogy was left untold, and because of the real-life issues that caused it, don't look for Barrera and Ortega to ever return for a conclusion. The newest film took the easy way out by going back to Sidney Prescott. Still, Scream 7 had to acknowledge why the Carpenters weren't there, just as Scream 6 explained Sidney's absence by saying she was in hiding. That made perfect sense, so how would Williamson and Busick respectfully remove Sam and Tara from the board?Posts By Liam Gaughan Even more so than Sidney Prescott and Gale Weathers , the biggest connections to the Carpenter sisters are Chad Meeks-Martin and his twin sister Mindy . Together, they became"the core four," the new version of Sidney, Gale, and Dewey Riley . Chad and Mindy have small and unnecessary roles in Scream 7 as a lazy way of connecting to the last two movies. They are there to be that link and, hopefully, for the audience, to be a narrative device which explains why Sam and Tara aren't here. One of Scream 7's biggest failures is that it chooses not to have them do that at all. Instead, the only thing we get is a passing comment from Mindy. When trying to figure out who the new Ghostface is, she says,"Billy Loomis had a secret love child, so who the f--- knows?" This line is a cheap shot at the past. Now, the Billy Loomis ghost subplot was strange indeed, but for that to be the only comment Scream 7 makes about the Carpenters is harsh. It disrespects what came before and tells the audience that Sam and Tara didn't matter. Gale Weathers Takes a Cheap Shot at 'Scream 6' in a Scene With Sidney Prescott The only character to appear in every Scream movie is Gale Weathers. For the most part, her role in the last few movies has been pointless. That's even more so the case in Scream 7, where she's there to show up now and again as a narrative device, so Sidney has someone to talk to. Gale is also there to blast Scream 6. After being reunited following Ghostface's return, Gale tells Sidney,"You're lucky you sat this one out. It was brutal." On the surface, the comment is meant to say it's a good thing Sidney was in hiding because so many people died. However, the real meaning isn't even trying to hide itself. It's not only a wink at Neve Campbell for sitting out Scream 6 because of her pay dispute. Ghostface Tells Sidney Prescott That 'Scream 6 Didn't Count' Scream 7 mocks Scream 6 through its leads, and it even lets its villain get some jabs in, too. During an encounter with Sidney, Ghostface tells her,"A Ghostface attack doesn't count if you're not there." The present is obsessed with ripping down the past. It implies that Scream 6 is inferior because it got away from its final girl. It's an IP that succeeds because of its mystery angle setup and its villain. Scream 6 was missing Neve Campbell and David Arquette, yet it still thrived, not despite those stars not being in it but possibly because of it. While Scream 5 wasn't perfect, it set up Sam and Tara, leaving audiences wanting to know what happened next. It was okay for Sidney to sit one out because no longer did every movie have to be about her. Subscribe for deeper Scream franchise analysis and insight Want nuanced takes on Scream 7, franchise continuity, and what Campbell's return means for future sequels? Subscribe to the newsletter for focused analysis, context, and thoughtful breakdowns that go beyond headlines to explain the franchise's direction. Get Updates By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. Scream 7 is so focused on the past of the original Scream and Scream 6 that it can't get out of its way. Nostalgia brought us to the theater for a record-breaking opening weekend. That's great, but it also shows a fatal flaw. Reviews for Scream 7 were not great. It currently sits at 31% on Rotten Tomatoes, a score earned through lazy writing and the weakest Ghostface reveal. It gave us Sidney Prescott and little else. Scream 6 worked by focusing on the future for once. Scream 7 not only implied that Scream 6 didn't count, but any future sequel without Campbell won't count either. They are more dependent on her than ever before. 5 10 Scream 7 Like Follow Followed R Horror Mystery Release Date February 27, 2026 Runtime 114 Minutes Director Kevin Williamson Writers Kevin Williamson, Guy Busick, James Vanderbilt Producers William Sherak, Paul Neinstein Cast See All Sidney Prescott's quiet life is shattered when a new Ghostface killer emerges, setting sights on her daughter. As fear and violence return, Sidney must confront her haunting past to safeguard her family.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
'Scream 7' opens with franchise-best $64.1 million“Scream” is still making a killing.
Read more »
'Scream 7' phones in the best opening weekend of the year“Scream” is still making a killing. Thirty years after the original slasher movie opened in theaters, “Scream 7” debuted with a franchise-best $64.1 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. The bigger-than-expected opening is a win for Paramount, which on Friday announced its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Read more »
Every Scream Movie, RankedWe're ranking every 'Scream' movie, from Ghostface chasing Jenna Ortega in NYC in 'Scream VI' to Courteney Cox's bangs in 'Scream 3'
Read more »
Review: Scream 7 Finds a Ghostface Without a Cutting EdgeScream 7 doesn't quite capture the brilliance of earlier franchise installments, but it has its memorable Ghostface moments.
Read more »
Any Showdown Over Warmaking Powers Could Ultimately End Up at Supreme CourtFearless Independent Journalism
Read more »
‘Industry’ Star Max Minghella Unpacks the Batman-Joker Relationship That Ultimately Brought Down WhitneyMax Minghella as Whitney Halberstram sitting in a newsroom to be on live TV in Industry Season 4
Read more »