One of the major stars of slasher sequelsScreamandScream VIwill return to once again face the wrath of Ghostface. It has now been confirmed thatMason Goodinghas signed up to star inScream 7, the officialScreamsequel that willrevive the franchise in 2026. He’s the first one of the “Core Four” to be confirmed to return. The foursome is the new group of stars that have led the franchise since 2022’sScreamand which have survived the onslaught of one of modern horror’s most iconic killers. The other stars of this selected group are Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega, who are not expected to return, and Jasmin Savoy Brown, who stars as Gooding’s on-screen twin sister.
PerThe Hollywood Reporter, Gooding will be back as Chad Meeks-Martin for the upcoming sequel directed by Kevin Williamson. Chad is Mindy’s (Jasmin Savoy Brown) twin, and the siblings are the nephews of Randy Meeks, the horror movie connoisseur of the first twoScreammovies who met his demise inScream 2. Mindy has acquired her uncle’s taste for movies, and her horror knowledge has been essential to the group surviving the last two movies. Sadly, Chad isn’t as knowledgeable as his sister, but he has managed to survive not one but two vicious attacks by Ghostface (no doubt a wink to David Arquette’s Dewey surviving several attacks as well).
None of the other members of the “Core Four” are expected to return.Barrera was unceremoniously firedfrom production after she made controversial social media posts, and Ortega decided to call it quits as well. The only one who remains is Brown. Honestly, it is hard to imagine a newScreamfilm without Mindy, but then again, it’s hard to imagine the group disbanding in the first place.
Will ‘Scream 7’ Be a Desperate, Nostalgic Attempt to Bring the Horror Franchise Back From the Brink?
Mason Gooding joins what’s already a solid cast.Neve Campbell is also set to repriseher role as Sidney Prescott after being absent in 2023’sScream VI.Joining them are Mckenna Grace, Isabel May, Celeste O’Connor, and more. The other probable addition to the cast is Ghostface himself: Roger L. Jackson. Jackson has provided the voice for Ghostface, and he will surely return forScream 7(unless someone pulls an “AI recreates a voice” move and hell ensues). If Courteney Cox doesn’t return as Gale Weathers, Jackson will be the only original member of theScreamfranchise to appear in all the films. But at this point, we’d rather not speculate.
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Reports of the Scream star’s involvement in the upcoming sequel dropped nearly six months ago. But is Cox in or out?
Williamson, who wrote the scripts forScream,Scream 2,andScream 4, will sit in the director’s chair this time. Upon the announcement, everyone was ecstaticabout Williamson’s involvement, with the franchise expected to return to its roots. However, he’s not writing the film. One of the co-writers of 2022’sScreamandScream VIis. Guy Busick is on screenwriting duties, and he’s not writing the movie with his usual co-writer, James Vanderbilt, who’s only participating as a producer this time.
In other words, anything can happen inScream 7. It could be a worthy exploration of the roots of the franchise created by Wes Craven. But it could also be a desperate attempt to revive a dormant horror monster that some say deserves a break. In any case, it’s sure to be asomewhat divisive franchise return. But Gooding’s addition to the cast means there’s no retconning involved, andScream 7will (probably) follow the timeline created by the new generation ofScream. Now, the big and most important question is:will Stu Macher return?
