Courteney Cox is officially returning to Scream 7, reprising her role as Gale Weathers in the upcoming horror film.
Sources confirm that Cox, who has been a staple of the franchise since its inception, will return for the seventh installment, much to the excitement of fans. In September, Cox hinted at her involvement, stating, “I’m not officially signed on. I’m not, but there will be a ‘Scream 7.’”
While Cox was eager to return, she had been waiting for the final script. She expressed excitement about the film marking Kevin Williamson’s directorial debut for the Scream series. Williamson, who wrote the original 1996 Scream, is a key figure in the franchise’s success. “You can’t get better than that choice,” Cox said. “It’s going to be fun.”
At the time, Cox also shared her disappointment over the death of Dewey, played by David Arquette, in Scream 5. She noted that Dewey was a fan-favorite character and hoped the filmmakers might find a way to bring him back. “I understand the reasons they did it, but whoa! Talk about a missed character,” Cox said. “Dewey is so loved by ‘Scream’ fans. They have to figure it out.”
Cox is represented by Brillstein Entertainment Partners and WME.
The news of Cox’s return follows an exclusive report that Mason Gooding will reprise his role as Chad Meeks-Martin in Scream 7. Additionally, Isabel May has been announced to play the daughter of Sidney Prescott, Neve Campbell’s iconic character, in the movie. Campbell, however, will not be returning after a salary dispute caused her to exit Scream 6.
Scheduled for release on February 27, 2026, Scream 7 has faced several production challenges. These included creative changes, delays, and cast reshuffles. In 2023, Melissa Barrera, a lead from the previous two films, was dismissed from the sequel following controversial social media comments about the Israel-Hamas conflict. Jenna Ortega, who co-starred with Barrera, also dropped out due to her commitment to Season 2 of Wednesday on Netflix. In December 2023, Williamson took over as director after Christopher Landon exited the project. Additionally, production was delayed due to the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes.
The Scream franchise, which began in 1996 with the iconic film directed by Wes Craven, has been a staple of the horror genre. The series initially included four films—Scream (1996), Scream 2 (1997), Scream 3 (2000), and Scream 4 (2011)—before being relaunched with the fifth film, Scream (2022). The most recent entry, Scream VI (2023), became the highest-grossing film in the franchise, earning over $108 million domestically and more than $169 million worldwide.
Overall, the Scream series has grossed over $900 million at the global box office.
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