It appears that Ghostface isn’t done terrorizing the crew that survived the last Woodsboro massacre, as the cast starts taking shape, the directors get set for a Summer of 2022 shoot, and some familiar faces return to the horror franchise!
Scary movie fans have a lot to be happy about! Filmmakers Radio Silence, the directing duo Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, and Tyler Gillett had a hit with their “requel” to one of the greatest horror film franchises in cinematic history — Scream (2022) was a bonafide worldwide phenomenon and grossed more than $140 million internationally. This is spectacular news for a film that was ultimately produced on a very low budget. The successful revisit to Woodsboro should also go to screenwriters James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick, who toed the line very carefully so as to not tarnish one of the most beloved films in the genre.
Rather than insist on rebooting or perpetuating a “next” installment, the approach for Scream (2022) which celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the first film directed by the late great Wes Craven and was the brainchild of writer Kevin Williamson, was to preferably start from scratch, while at the same time paying homage to what has come before. The new film didn’t try to upset the apple cart, too much and put a great deal of faith in the formula set in motion by Craven, who is undoubtedly the heart of soul of the original series of films. Radio Silence also wanted to have the original cast make a significant contribution, but also ceremoniously pass the baton to a new generation.
Though the pandemic had a significant effect on ticket sales, Scream (2022) premiered in theaters and successfully pulled audiences and drew rousing approval from critics for its innovation or the horror-movie innovator! It is no surprise that a sequel has been greenlit by Spyglass Media and Paramount and is set to go into production this summer for a worldwide release date of March 31, 2023, and will focus on the survivors of the most recent Ghostface killings including Melissa Barrera (“Sam”), Jasmin Savoy Brown (“Mindy”), Mason Gooding (“Chad”), and Jenna Ortega (“Tara”). Filmmakers Radio Silence have expressed that they have a “hard act to follow” but are ready for the challenge.
Clearly You Like Scary Movies!
Along with the sequel announcement, one particularly exciting cast announcement came recently that indicated Hayden Panettiere who played Kirby Reed in 2011s Scream 4 will be joining the cast. Her character, although badly stabbed in the gut survived that attack and will likely represent the legacy connectivity from the previous franchise films. With their storylines largely concluded it is unlikely that Courtney Cox and Neve Campbell will return for more Scream, especially after the cornerstone of their trio David Arquette, who played franchise favorite Sheriff “Dewey” Reilly was brutally bisected in the last film.
Rumors have begun to circulate that the next film will follow the set of two siblings, both connected to the original Woodboro murders who have moved away and are once again terrorized by the Ghostface killer.
It’ll be exciting and incredibly revelatory to see what direction the next installment takes, but everyone is already placing their bets about one of the most crucial details, and that’s what the film’s title will be. Given that 2022 reset the franchise with its version of Scream will the next, and the sixth film in the series be named Scream 2, or will it have something catchier attached to like — perhaps Screams or Scream Again. I would boldly recommend that this be explored very carefully. The title could be everything! Just pointing out… Screams — as a nod to Aliens is an interesting homage to sequels and this being the sixth film, the “s” is similar in its configuration to the number “6”.
Just saying!
SCREAM (2022) | is available now in 4K Digital Download and Disc and the sequel arrives in theaters on March 31, 2023.