Where the Scream franchise could go from here

Courtesy of Paramount

Whether you saw Scream 7 (check out our review) in theaters, or boycotted it due to the Melissa Barerra backlash, one thing is for sure. The latest sequel made a whole lot of money, and there's likely to be a Scream 8. According to Deadline, Scream 7 grossed a franchise-best $97 million globally at the box office during its opening weekend. Let that number sink in for a moment. There's no way Paramount and Skydance are not going to greenlight another sequel. There's simply too much money to be made.

Despite all of the behind-the-scenes drama surrounding Scream 7 and some of the script issues, it's obvious the franchise has a fanbase that will stick with it through the good and the bad, but if we're going to get more movies, here's what I hope the series considers moving forward.

Scream 8 needs another director besides Kevin Williamson

Kevin Williamson is a great screenwriter. He gave us so many solid 90s horror movies, including the first batch of Scream movies, I Know What You Did Last Summer, and The Faculty. He also wrote "Dawson's Creek," so he has an impressive track record, and it's obvious he cares a lot about the Scream franchise. He should certainly be hired back to work on a future screenplay.

That said, prior to Scream 7, Williamson only had one directing credit to his name, a COVID-era slasher called Sick that went straight to streaming. It's not a bad slasher, per say, but I would love to see Scream 8 in the hands of a more accomplished director, or heck, even a younger director. What could the director of In a Violent Nature do with the franchise, for instance? Or what about trying to recruit Christopher Landon again? His previous films, Happy Death Day and Freaky, successfully combined comedy with horror and a dash of meta on the side, clearly inspired by Scream. If Landon feels too burned from what happened when he was initially tapped to direct Scream 7, then there are plenty of other directors to consider. Writing is Williamson's strength. Directing is not.

Please, give Sidney Prescott and Gale Weathers a rest or something else to do

I have nothing against Neve Campbell. She's a fantastic Final Girl, but how many times can we see her go toe to toe with Ghostface? She's done this for six movies at this point. Doesn't she deserve a rest? I would personally love to see her daughter, Tatum (Isabel May), take over the franchise. It would give a fresh perspective, and it would allow Campbell to remain involved in the movies, but in a more limited role, thus allowing room for new characters to shine and thrive.

I can also say the same for Gale Weathers (Courtney Cox). Yes, she's iconic, and she has some of the best lines in the franchise, but at this point, she's been in all seven movies. Her role in Scream 7 felt shoehorned into the script. Like Sidney, Gale Weathers deserves a break, or maybe she can mentor younger characters.

Take more time with a Scream 8 script and thoughtful meta commentary

Scream 7 looked and felt rushed, especially its last act and the reveal of the killer(s). The movie also had very little to say about the state of the horror genre, and other than the use of some AI technology, it didn't do much that felt exciting or fresh. When a new Scream movie comes out every two years or so, there's not as much to comment upon regarding the state of the horror genre.

I hope that the writers take their time with any script moving forward. I also hope that they don't push another sequel into production immediately. Time and space would give Scream more to comment upon, and thus, make for a better movie all around.

Maybe Scream should consider a streaming series

I know this is unlikely to happen, but perhaps the Scream franchise should take a break from movies and consider a streaming show. It would allow more time to explore new characters. One of my main gripes with Scream 7 is that all of the younger characters felt underdeveloped, especially Tatum's friends. A streaming series would allow us to explore the world more and some other characters.

Regardless of what happens, it's evident the Scream franchise is still a major draw and a box office boon. One way or another, it will carry on. Hopefully, those behind the scenes don't rush the next Scream-based project, especially if it's a movie. Giving it time will lead to a stronger script and a better treatment of the universe's characters.

Scream 7 is currently playing in theaters.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJrghaPJ0RY