Courteney Cox joins cast of ‘Scream 7’

Posted On December 19, 2024December 19, 2024

Friends star Courteney Cox has officially signed up for the upcoming Scream 7, set for release in 2026.

Variety confirmed Cox’s return as iconic character Gale Weathers, noting that the star had always been keen to return. However, an official deal simply took some time to work out. In September, Cox told the publication, “I’m not officially signed on. I’m not, but there will be a Scream 7.”

Cox also admitted to her excitement that the film would mark creator Kevin Williamson’s directorial debut in the franchise, having previously written Scream, Scream 2, and Scream 4, and executive produced the other entries. She said, “You can’t get better than that choice. It’s going to be fun.”

The actor openly championed the idea of bringing back her ex-husband David Arquette’s beloved character Dewey, after he met a controversial end in the fifth film. Cox exclaimed, “I understand the reasons they did it, but whoa. Talk about a missed character. Dewey is so loved by Scream fans. They have to figure it out.”

Scream 7 is scheduled for release on February 27th, 2026. However, unlike the previous two entries in the series, which were released in 2022 and 2023, this movie has had a troubled production from the beginning.

First, star Melissa Barrera was fired from the film after making comments on social media about the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Then, Jenna Ortega dropped out of the movie due to a scheduling conflict with Wednesday’s second season. A month later, director Christopher Landon announced he was exiting the sequel.

The production got back on track in March 2024 when original series star Neve Campbell announced she had signed a deal to return for Scream 7 as Sidney Prescott. After a pay dispute, she sat out Scream VI, telling People magazine, “I did not feel that what I was being offered equated to the value that I bring to this franchise, and have brought to this franchise, for 25 years. And as a woman in this business, I think it’s really important for us to be valued and to fight to be valued.”

Campbell continued, “I honestly don’t believe that if I were a man and had done five instalments of a huge blockbuster franchise over 25 years, that the number that I was offered would be the number that would be offered to a man.”

However, after finally agreeing on a deal she was happy with, Campbell admitted, “I’ve lived with Sidney for 30 years, and I’m really, really grateful to get to go back to it.” She added, “It feels nice to have put that out into the world, and to have been listened to, and to have made a difference in that way. I hope other people get that opportunity, too.”

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