As a huge horror fan, I was thrilled to finally see Scream 7 in theaters! It’s amazing to think it’s been 30 years since the original Scream redefined the genre and gave us Ghostface, Sidney Prescott, and that iconic line about favorite scary movies. The whole franchise has earned over $912 million worldwide – making it the ninth biggest horror series ever, which is pretty incredible!
It took almost three years to finally get Scream 7 made. The project faced significant delays after the studio fired lead actress Melissa Barrera and scrapped the story direction established in the previous two films, Scream (2022) and Scream VI (2023). Despite the controversy, the return of Neve Campbell and hints that characters previously thought dead – played by Matthew Lillard, Scott Foley, and David Arquette – might reappear have generated excitement among fans. Now that Scream 7 is on the way, people are already wondering: will there be a Scream 8?
‘Scream 8’ is in Development, But Not Officially on the Schedule
Paramount Pictures
Just two days before the release of Scream 7 on February 25, 2026, Variety reported that work on Scream 8 had already begun. While the producers – Paramount Skydance (or Spyglass Media) – haven’t officially confirmed this, an announcement is likely to come depending on how well Scream 7 performs in theaters. Current estimates suggest Scream 7 could open with $40 to $50 million, potentially breaking the franchise record of $44 million set by Scream VI.
It took about a month after the release of the 2022 Scream movie for a sixth film to be officially announced. Talk about a seventh Scream film began while the cast and crew were promoting Scream VI. Christopher Landon was revealed as the original director for the sequel in August 2023, five months after Scream VI hit theaters.
If a new Scream movie, Scream 8, is planned, Paramount Pictures is aiming for a 2027 release. This would coincide with the 30th anniversary of Scream 2, mirroring how Scream 7 celebrated the 30th anniversary of the original Scream. According to Deadline, Paramount scheduled an unnamed horror film for July 16, 2027 – 21 days before Scream 7 premiered – and this date is likely reserved for Scream 8. If released then, it would be the first Scream movie to open during the summer and would give the filmmakers 16 months after Scream 7 to write, film, and finish the new installment.
The Scream movies have generally come out fairly quickly. Scream 2 arrived less than a year after the first film in 1996, and Scream VI followed about 14 months after Scream (2022). Scream 3 and the upcoming Scream 7 each had three-year gaps between releases, due to changes in the story and production. The biggest exception is Scream 4, which came out 11 years after Scream 3 and again 11 years before the 2022 Scream film. Unless Scream 7 performs very poorly, it’s unlikely there will be another such long wait between movies.
The Plot of ‘Scream 8’
Paramount Pictures
We don’t have any plot details for Scream 8 yet. Unlike most movie franchises, Scream 7 didn’t hint at what might happen in a future film. The Scream series usually connects new movies to previous ones after they’re released, rather than planning out a storyline in advance.
As reported by Deadline, director Kevin Williamson shared at the Scream 7 premiere that Neve Campbell originally came up with a story idea for Scream 8. Williamson explained that…
We started brainstorming ideas for a potential eighth Scream movie during a late-night shoot. Neve Campbell had a really good suggestion that everyone liked, and we’re definitely open to continuing the series if this film is successful and fans want more. We’re committed to giving the fans what they want if they respond well to this one.
Who Will (And Won’t Return) for ‘Scream 8’
Paramount Pictures/Everett Collection
Details about the next Scream movie, potentially Scream 8, are still unknown – there’s no plot, release date, or confirmed cast. Currently, only Courteney Cox, who plays Gale Weathers, has appeared in every film and is expected to return. Neve Campbell was back as Sidney Prescott in Scream 7 after sitting out Scream VI because of a salary disagreement, but it’s uncertain if she’ll reprise the role in a future installment. Another possibility is that Isabel May, who played Sidney’s daughter Tatum, could become the main character going forward.
Don’t expect to see Melissa Barrera or Jenna Ortega in Scream 8. Barrera was fired from Scream 7 after Spyglass Media disagreed with her social media post about the conflict in Gaza, which they considered antisemitic. Ortega appeared to leave the series in solidarity with Barrera and the directors of the previous films, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, who weren’t able to return for Scream 7 because they were busy with another movie, Abigail.
Neve Campbell returned for Scream 7 after not appearing in Scream VI, but Melissa Barrera’s departure wasn’t about money – it was a political decision. Paramount and Spyglass only agreed to pay Campbell her reported $7 million salary for the new film after Barrera was fired. They needed a recognizable star to draw audiences in when they were left without a leading actor. Whether Sam Carpenter will be in future movies depends on how well Scream 7 performs at the box office. As for Barrera, it’s unclear if she’d even want to return, especially with the controversies surrounding David Ellison’s leadership at Paramount Skydance, which makes any potential discussion difficult.
5 Questions
Found an error? Send it info@movieweb.com so it can be corrected.
Read More
- How to Get the Bloodfeather Set in Enshrouded
- Gold Rate Forecast
- Auto 9 Upgrade Guide RoboCop Unfinished Business Chips & Boards Guide
- 10 Movies That Were Secretly Sequels
- These Are the 10 Best Stephen King Movies of All Time
- Best Controller Settings for ARC Raiders
- USD JPY PREDICTION
- 32 Kids Movies From The ’90s I Still Like Despite Being Kind Of Terrible
- Meet the cast of Mighty Nein: Every Critical Role character explained
- Best Werewolf Movies (October 2025)
2026-02-28 23:06