She's diced with death four times already, and now it's been confirmed that Courteney Cox will be fleeing for her life again in Scream 5. The upcoming horror 'fivequel' is the first movie in the series not to be directed by Wes Craven. The revered horror filmmaker passed away in 2015, having reinvigorated the slasher movie with the first Scream.
Instead, Ready or Not helmers Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett are taking charge. That movie, an acclaimed horror-comedy from 2019, operated very much in the post-Scream mold, melding scares with dark meta humour to keep us off-balance throughout. That hopefully makes the directors an inspired choice to do justice to Craven's legacy.
Released in 1996, Scream broke all the rules by having its characters actively comment on the cliches and conventions of horror cinema. At the same time, a bloody and skin-crawling slasher scenario begins to unfold around them as the 'Ghostface' killer goes on the rampage in the town of Woodsboro.
Buoyed by Kevin Williamson's witty script, Scream was a box office success and a huge influence on the next wave of 1990s horror movies, while also giving rise to three sequels. Deadline confirms that Cox will be returning as tenacious reporter Gale Weathers, who has already grappled with Ghostface several times throughout the series.
Reportedly, Neve Campbell is in talks to return as central character Sidney, whose tortured backstory has inspired the various Scream killers to acts of madness. Already confirmed to return: David Arquette as bumbling cop (and Gale's on-off love interest) Dewey.
"We can’t imagine Scream without the iconic Gale Weathers and are so incredibly thrilled and humbled to have the opportunity to work with Courteney," Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett said in a statement. "We’re absolute mega fans of her work and we’re so excited to join her in the next chapter of the Scream saga!”
Kevin Williamson will produce the movie, although scripting duties have been handed to the Ready or Not team of Guy Busick and James Vanderbilt. Filming is set to begin soon in North Carolina for Paramount, abiding to COVID-19 safety guidelines. Pandemic conditions permitting, Scream 5 is scheduled for release in 2021.
Excited about another slice of Scream mayhem? Let us know @Cineworld.
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