Roger L Jackson, the voice of Scream killer, Ghostface, has debunked recent rumors that the character will have a new mask in the upcoming Scream 5. The beloved slasher franchise has gone through numerous changes over the years, but one constant has been Ghostface.
Though the killer’s mask has had slightly noticeable changes made to it throughout the four films in the series, for the most part, Ghostface appears exactly the same. This isn’t unusual for a villain in slasher horror films, though some characters – such as Friday the 13th’s Jason Vorhees, have gone through tremendous changes in appearances from film to film. What seems to be most important to fans of the Scream series, however, is how exactly the killer is going to make his (or her, for that matter) return, what their motivation will be, and just how the situation will connect to Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell). From the very first moment that rumors about a potential fifth installment in the franchise began to circulate, fans have arguably had more questions than usual – especially since Scream 5 will mark the first film in the series that doesn’t involve Wes Craven. The horror film innovator passed away in 2015.
Though a relatively small detail, there have been rumors as of late that this time around, the Ghostface killer will be wearing a new mask. There hasn’t been a specific idea floated as to what this different mask might look like, other than it could be the ultra-white mask. However, Bleeding Cool has officially helped put an end to this rumor by passing along Jackson’s statement on the matter. Jackson assured fans that the ultra-white mask isn’t involved in Scream 5, but then went on to hint at something else:
"There's been a rumor going around that the ultra-white mask is involved… What I will tell you is that the killer, the main killer, will not have the ultra-white mask. There's something else involved, and it's not the white mask!"
The biggest change to have ever been made to Ghostface’s mask came during MTV’s relatively short-lived Scream TV series. That mask bares very little resemblance to the one that fans have gotten used to seeing in the films, so the fact that there doesn’t appear to be any plans to change the mask could be good news for some. What is somewhat intriguing about Jackson’s statement is that he unwittingly hinted that there will be more than one killer. While this isn’t especially ground-breaking news, it does provide a little more insight into how the plot for the upcoming fifth installment could go. More than one killer implies that once again there’s an organized effort taking place, and with Neve Campbell’s return, it could very well be that this plot is connected to her and her past.
There are, however, certain to be those who feel that given this is a new era for the Scream franchise, it’s perhaps time to change up how the killer looks. But the truth is that the simplicity of Ghostface’s costume is a big part of the franchise’s success. As the old saying goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The franchise’s sequels may not be on the same level as the first film, but in some respects, Scream 5 would do well to stick to what’s been established.
Source: Bleeding Cool