A week or so ago now, we passed along word that Spyglass has snagged up the rights to Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson’s classic slasher seriesScreamand are planning a new film as we speak. And if that wasn’t cool enough, today we’re hearing that the producers ofScream 5are apparently hoping to convince the franchise’s original stars Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette to return once more as their classic characters Sidney Prescott, Gale Weathers, and Sheriff Dewey Riley.
While this development isn’t 100% confirmed just yet, I can only imagine that this is the direction the powers that be behind the scenes of thisScream sequel or rebootwill be looking to take. After all, it sure as hell did wonders for Blumhouse’s reboot/sequel of John Carpenter’s slasher classicHalloweento bring back Jamie Lee Curtis. That said, I don’t know if names such as Neve Campbell,Courteney Cox, and David Arquette mean as much to today’s audiences as say a Jamie Lee Curtis does.
Sure,Neve Campbellis still somewhat in the public spotlight for her role in Netflix’sHouse of Cardsand Courteney Cox’sFriendsstill seems to be as popular today as it was back in the 1990s, but David Arquette might be a stretch. I mean don’t get me wrong, I would love to see Arquette return to the series, I’m just saying I think it’d be in his best interest to not try and squeeze millions out of the deal. Plus,Terminator: Dark Faterecently brought back franchise stars Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton to severely underwhelming results. Maybe the day and age of nostalgia casting has peaked and passed. I guess we’ll see.
Anyhow, being thatScreamis my favorite horror movie of all-time, I’m going to go ahead and take this moment to pitch in my two cents on what I think Spyglass should do with the series for a moment. Stick with me here. How about rebooting the series and setting it in the real world - meaning a world where theScreamfilms exist? Not only does that give the filmmakers a prime cannon for exploring what the films mean to younger audiences these days, but it also opens the door for original stars such as Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, andDavid Arquetteto return, no promblem. But better yet - get this, ladies and gents - it also allows killed-off characters (or, you know, the actors that played them) to return as well. Think about it. How cool would it be to see Drew Barrymore join forces with Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox to take out a new “real-life” Ghostface? I’m giving myself chills here.
Whether or not Spyglass goes my “real world” route or a simple sequel, I think snagging the original cast is the only way to go. After all, there are currently three seasons ofScream: The TV Seriesthat feature a hip young all-new cast going up against Ghostface - and no one cared. Three times in a row. Learn your lesson, Spyglass. And learn it sooner rather than later. Meanwhile, this currently unconfirmed rumor comes to us from We Got This CoveredWe Got This Covered.
