The Scream franchise is returning to theaters in January 2022 after over a decade since the latest installment. The fifth film of the series is set to explore a new Ghostface killer who is targeting victims 25 years after the initial spate of crimes. Sidney and the gang, as usual, get caught up in the bloody mix.
The upcoming film is set to see the return of several of the franchise's premiere characters, as well as introduce plenty of new faces that are likely to meet the wrong end of the killer's blade. Many of these characters are portrayed by actors and actresses with burgeoning careers in Hollywood, and some have several impressive roles already under their belts.
Neve Campbell: Party Of Five (1994 - 2000)
The franchise's signature Final Girl, Sidney Prescott is portrayed by Neve Campbell. Sidney has led these refreshingly self-aware horror slasher movies since the very beginning, spanning over 20 years, taking on each killer as they cropped up, and overcoming them each time. She returns to face down yet another killer in the new film and vows not to let them succeed.
Though she is primarily known for her role in Scream, audiences may have forgotten Campbell's first breakout role on the Fox drama Party of Five as the orphaned Julia Salinger. This role earned her a Teen Choice nomination for Choice Actress in 1999, as well as a guest spot on an episode of the sketch show MAD TV, alongside her costars, in a skit about the production of their series.
Courteney Cox: Friends (1994 - 2004)
Another franchise standby returning to the screen is the aptly named reporter Gale Weathers, as played by comedy actress Courtney Cox. Early on in the franchise, Weathers acts as a pseudo-antagonist, investigating the grisly murders in a bird for fame. However, she softens as the films go on, and becomes a (mostly) supportive friend to Sidney through the years.
Cox's biggest role is undoubtedly that of Monica Gellar on the classic sitcom Friends. The actress remained as a main member of the cast for the entirety of the show's celebrated 10-season run and returned for HBO Max's reunion special that aired in 2021.
David Arquette: Never Been Kissed (1999)
Joining Campbell and Cox is David Arquette, the only other cast member to appear in every single Scream movie so far. He portrays Dwight "Dewey" Riley, brother to one of Ghostface's original victims and husband to Gale Weathers. Dewey has had several close calls over the Scream films, but he soldiers on, no matter what.
Arquette has had a long career in Hollywood, with several notable roles. One such role is that of Rob Gellar in the 1999 romantic comedy, Never Been Kissed. His character is the brother to protagonist Drew Barrymore (a fellow Scream alumnus), who returns to high school after graduating and relives his glory days.
Marley Shelton: The Sandlot (1993)
Marking her second appearance as Officer Judy Hicks and reprising her role from Scream 4 is Marley Shelton. Hicks becomes Dewey's deputy sheriff after he is promoted to the office of sheriff in the fourth film. A super-fan of her immediate superior, Hicks doesn't always get along well with Cox's Weathers but comes through, in the end, to help defeat the villainous Jill Roberts, barely getting out alive.
One role in which viewers may recognize Shelton is from her early acting days. Appearing in 1993's coming-of-age sports film The Sandlot, Shelton portrayed lifeguard Wendy Peffercorn, whom the young Squints has a crush on. Peffercorn is revealed to have married Squints after the events of the film and they had nine children together.
Melissa Barrera: In the Heights (2021)
A fresh face joining the cast of the film is Melissa Barrera in the role of Samantha Carpenter. Judging from the trailer, Samantha seems to be one of the killer's intended victims, perhaps indicating that she is in some way related to one of the previous Ghostface killers.
Movie fans will remember Barrera from her breakout role in the film adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda's hit musical, In the Heights. In the film, Barrera plays Vanessa, the female lead who dreams of becoming a fashion designer. The actress has received much acclaim for her portrayal of the character in the months since the film's release.
Jenny Ortega: The Babysitter: Killer Queen (2020)
Another new talent joining the franchise is 19-year-old actress Jenny Ortega. Ortega plays Tara, a character who seems to be one of Ghostface's first targets. It may be that she will fill the same role that Drew Barrymore filled in that iconic opening scene of the first Scream movie. Whether or not she will survive her encounter with the serial killer remains to be seen.
Ortega may be a young actress, but she has plenty of roles on her resume already. One recent role that fans may recognize her from is 2020's The Babysitter: Killer Queen, the sequel to the 2017 horror-comedy The Babysitter. Ortega plays Phoebe Atwell, the romantic lead, opposite Judah Lewis as Cole, as they try to survive one horrible night, hunted by a gang of resurrected killers.
Jack Quaid: The Boys (2019 - )
Jack Quaid has also been cast in the film as the character Richie. Audiences can gather from the trailer that Richie is among the group of friends that is targeted by the iconic murderer, Ghostface. Details on Richie seem to have been kept vague, perhaps indicating that he is the killer -- or perhaps he will act as a red herring to throw fans off the real killer's scent.
Quaid has made a name for himself over the past few years, chiefly for his role as Hughie Campbell in the hit Amazon Prime series The Boys, which depicts a world obsessed with corrupted superheroes. Campbell and the titular "Boys" make it a point to take down the "supes" that have let their power go to their heads. Quaid is set to return in the highly anticipated third season of the series.
Dylan Minnette: 13 Reasons Why (2017 - 2020)
Another member of the targeted group of teens is Wes, played by Dylan Minnette. Much like Quaid's character, few details have been revealed about Wes, perhaps an indication of a Loomis-Macher type of killing duo, walking in the footsteps of the original film. Nevertheless, audiences will have to wait to get any answers.
Minnette is best known for his work on the controversial Netflix original series, 13 Reasons Why, which lasted for four seasons, wrapping up last year. Minnette portrayed the main role of Clay Jensen, who investigates the death of his high school crush Hannah after she takes her own life.
Jasmin Savoy Brown: The Leftovers (2014 - 2017)
Jasmin Savoy Brown joins the group of terrorized teens as Mindy, who struggles to survive the thrills and horrors that Ghostface sends her way. Though little is known about the character, Brown has confirmed that her character is a member of the LGBTQ+ community, as is the actress herself.
Brown is well-known for her role in HBO's The Leftovers, where she plays Evangeline "Evie" Murphy. Appearing in 13 episodes of the series, Evie is a member of the central Murphy family, which has plenty of inner demons that soon come to light over the course of the series.
Mikey Madison: Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (2019)
Rounding out the cast is Mikey Madison in the role of Amber. The trailer depicts Amber attempting to escape after appearing to be stabbed by the killer. Whether or not she survives this scene, though, remains to be seen.
Tarantino fans might recognize Madison from her part in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. She played "Sadie," one of the members of the murderous Manson Family, and in true Tarantino revisionist fashion, she and her cohorts get their just desserts in the end.