Screenwriter Kevin Williamson hopes that Scream 2022 won't be the end of the franchise. In 1996, Williamson burst onto the scene with the first Scream, which ushered in a new era of teen horror. Williamson has never severed ties with the franchise. He returned to write Scream 2 and Scream 4, also providing the story for Scream 3, which was then expanded by Ehren Kruger. Williamson is now an executive producer on the upcoming fifth film, which is also titled Scream.
Scream comes to theaters on January 14, 2022. Original franchise director Wes Craven passed away in 2015, so this project will be helmed by the team behind Ready or Not, known as Radio Silence. Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett are directing from a screenplay by James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick. The film will reteam the trio at the core of every Scream film: Neve Campbell's Sidney Prescott, Courteney Cox's Gale Weathers, and David Arquette's Dewey Riley. Marley Shelton will also reprise her Scream 4 role as Deputy - now Sheriff - Judy Hicks.
Speaking with US Weekly, Williamson discussed the potential for Scream 2022 to have a sequel. He implied that was out of his hands, saying they should "ask Radio Silence." However, he said that personally he would like Scream to "live on forever" like all the classic horror franchises. He's happy that there is a new Halloween movie out now "because Scream is an homage to Halloween," and he hopes the series continues to have legs like Friday the 13th, a franchise where he's "still waiting for another." Read the full quote here:
Oh, I don’t know [if Scream 5 is the last.]. You’d have to ask Radio Silence.
I would love for it to live on forever because I love knowing that this universe is turning and Scream is in it. I love that they keep making Halloween because Scream is an homage to Halloween. I hope they never stopped making Halloween movies. I’m still waiting for another Friday 13th, and I hope that comes soon and I would love to see Scream live on. I think there’s a place for these franchises, and as long as we can tell new, original stories across the board, I still think franchises can live on.
The new Scream will follow a brand new Ghostface killer who is hunting down people related to the killers from the original movies. Considering that there have been seven people who donned the Ghostface mask and robe throughout the series, there are a lot of potential options. Scream also stars Melissa Barrera, Jack Quaid, Mason Gooding, Dylan Minnette, Jenna Ortega, Kyle Gallner, Jasmin Savoy Brown, and Mikey Madison.
It makes perfect sense that the man behind Scream hopes that his brainchild has the staying power of classic killers like Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees. The film was born from his passion for cheesy '80s slasher movies, and while Scream has become a franchise almost as venerable as any of them, it hasn't racked up nearly as many entries. The franchise may have five films and three seasons of a Scream TV series, but it still pales in comparison to Friday the 13th and Halloween's twelve films apiece, or even A Nightmare on Elm Street's nine. Scream has a lot of catching up to do, and it's only natural for a slasher fan like Williamson to want it to compete.
Source: US Weekly
