AfterScream VIbecame a critical and commercial success upon its release in March 2023, all signs pointed to the return of main cast members Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega as half-sisters Sam and Tara Carpenter. The film drew positive reviews for transporting the terror from the suburbs of Woodsboro to New York City and became a financial success by turning a $35 million budget into a $168 million worldwide gross (viaBox Office Mojo).
However, in November 2023, production on the upcomingScream VIIsuffered a massive blow when star Melissa Barrera made social media posts in support of Palestine. The producers declared the sentiments of the posts to be antisemitic and swiftly fired Barrera. In a show of support and solidarity, Jenna Ortega exited the movie the very next day, citing scheduling conflicts with the upcoming season onWednesdayand a salary dispute as the primary reasons for her departure.
With screenwriters James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick forced to go back to the drawing board, fans are left wondering who, if anyone, fromScream VIwill return for the impending sequel. Based on everything known about the movie at this time, here’s everyone fromScream VIwho could potentially return forScream VII.
Courteney Cox as Gale Weathers
Following Neve Campbell’s controversial exit from the iconic horror franchise ahead ofScream VI,Courteney Coxbecame the longest-running character in the franchise when she portrayed Gale Weathers for the sixth time. The opportunistic news reporter, TV anchor, and bestselling author has long been a thorn in Sidney Prescott’s side, capitalizing on the pain Ghostface has left in the wake of Woodsboro by writing books about the infamous massacres. Although Gale has had several brushes with death throughout the franchise, she continues to survive Ghostface’s violent attacks. It’s one of the definingperformances of Courteney Cox’s careerto date.
InScream VI, Gale had her closest encounter with death when viewers were taken inside her apartment for the first time in franchise history. Fortunately, Sam and Tara arrive in the nick of time and save Gale from being killed by Ghostface. In the end, Gale suffered stab wounds and was taken to the hospital to recover. As such, it makes sense that Gale would not only return forScream VII, but she could also be the focal point of the movie now that Sam and Tara are literally out of the picture.According to Variety,Cox has already been eyed for a return as writers reboot the story.
Hayden Panettiere as Kirby Reed
Introduced inScream IV,Hayden Panettiereperformeda somewhat forgotten character named Kirby Reed. The character was brought back inScream VIas a red herring when the real killers frame her as a corrupt FBI Agent responsible for multiple murders in Manhattan. While her true motives are kept under wraps until the harrowing third act, Kirby is revealed to be innocent before one of the real killers shoots her. The movie ends with Kirby being sent to the hospital along with Gale and a few others.
As one of the few survivors inScream VI, it’s plausible that Panettiere will return as Kirby Reed in some form in the upcoming sequel. Her character’s backstory could be explained much more to account for her long absence between 2011 and 2023. Moreover, Kirby played such an exhilarating and unpredictable part in the movie’s final twist that it would be a fan disservice not to bring her character back in some capacity.
Jasmin Savoy Brown as Mindy Meeks-Martin
A new character introduced inScream V,Jasmin Savoy Brownportrayed Mindy Meeks-Martin. Mindy is the twin sister of Chad Meeks-Martin, both of whom are close friends with Sam and Tara Carpenter. After surviving the brutal attacks in Woodsboro in the previous film, Mindy ventures to New York inScream VI, where she is once again stalked and terrorized by Ghostface in Manhattan. Given what transpires with Mindy at the end of the movie, her return forScream VIIis also a legitimate option.
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While implicated at times throughout Scream VI, the final act reveals that Mindy is not one of the killers. On the contrary, Mindy is viciously stabbed by Ghostface during a busy subway blackout, leaving her to nearly bleed to death with a frenetic crowd failing to see her injuries. Luckily, one of her friends goes back to find her before it’s too late and Mindy is taken to the hospital to recover at the end of the movie. As such, while she’d no doubt face serious PTSD on par with Sidney Prescott, the return of Brown as Mindy inScream VIIis completely feasible.
Also introduced inScream V,Mason Goodingreprised his role as Chad Meeks-Martin inScream VI. Chad is the twin brother of Mindy and a fellow Woodsboro survivor. Upon relocating to New York to escape his past trauma and be with Mindy, Sam, and Tara, Chad becomes targetedby the Ghostface killersin Manhattan along with several other victims. Just when it appears as if Chad will meet his makers after two Ghostface killers aim guns at him, he narrowly escapes death.
At the end ofScream VI, Chad is seen being taken to the hospital along with Kirby and Mindy. Therefore, it’s entirely conceivable that Gooding will return forScream VIIas Chad Meeks-Martin. While Chad and Mindy have been supporting mainstays in the past two entries, screenwriters Busick and Vanderbilt could shift the narrative focus on the two siblings in the upcoming horror sequel and hardly miss a continuous beat. Looking at Gooding’s schedule, the actor has three films currently wrapped, meaning he may have the opportunity and availability to star inScream VIIsoon.
Josh Segarra as Danny Brackett
Introduced inScream VI,Josh Segarraplayed a character named Danny Brackett. Danny is Tara’s neighbor and Sam’s secret boyfriend who is implicated several times throughout the film as a potential killer. Alas, in the end, Danny turns out to be a standup gentleman who is not only innocent, but he also risks his life to protect Sam and Tara from the Ghostface attacks.
The final shots of Scream VI reveal Sam grappling with her violent urges as she follows Tara and Danny into the city. At first blush, it would seem as though the departure of Sam and Tara fromScream VIIwould render Danny’s character moot. However, the screenwriters could use Danny’s fate at the end ofScream VIto springboard a whole new plot around his character in the sequel. Perhaps Danny becomes the new Ghostface after being jilted by Sam. No matter how the writers spin it, Danny’s clear-cut survival at the end ofScream VIsets up his possible return forScream VII.
Skeet Ulrich as Billy Loomis
Portrayed bySkeet Ulrichin Wes Craven’s originalScreammovie, Billy Loomis is one half of the original Ghostface team that targeted Sidney Prescott and her friends. InScream VI, it is revealed that Billy is also the illegitimate father of Sam, a reality that haunts her psyche. Billy also appears inScream VIas Sam’s hallucinatory vision that urges her to don the Ghostface mask and fight back with violent tendencies.
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While far less feasible, there’s still a minor possibility that Ulrich returns as Billy Loomis inScream VIIin some form or fashion. An easy way of bringing Billy back would be to use a flashback, which could be made even more believable through thenewfangled de-aging technologycurrently in vogue in Hollywood. Another way to bring Billy back is to have him appear again as a delusional projection of some sort. Granted, the character has technically been dead since 1996, but given how Hollywood cheats their storylines, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Billy again in the future.
