Scream 7 is officially happening, and it has a couple of obstacles to overcome, mostly explaining big character absences – and there’s one way it can do so but would create a Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) problem. Scream 7 will be the closing chapter of the reboot trilogy and, supposedly, the Scream saga as well, but it has already gone through some major issues before it even begins filming. Scream 7 won’t count on the presence of the reboot trilogy’s Final Girls after Melissa Barrera’s firing and Jenna Ortega dropping out, but it will now bring back Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott.
After also losing director Christopher Landon, Scream 7 is now being directed by franchise creator Kevin Williamson, and with Campbell back, it’s on its way to being a nostalgic closure to the saga. Plot details for Scream 7 remain unknown, making way for speculation on where the story could take Sidney Prescott, who could be after her this time, and which other legacy and reboot characters will return. As it turns out, Scream 7 has one way to explain Sam (Barrera) and Tara’s (Ortega) absences, but that would create a problem for Gale’s return.
Neve Campbell returned as Sidney Prescott in Scream 2022 to help Dewey (David Arquette), Gale, Tara, and Sam with the new Woodsboro murders as a new Ghostface killer emerged. Scream 2022 revealed that Sidney is now married and has three kids, which was used to explain her absence in Scream 6. Campbell didn’t return to Scream 6 due to salary disputes, so Gale explained that she and her husband, Mark (played in Scream 3 by Patrick Dempsey), had gone into hiding and that she deserved her happy ending, and this could be used in Scream 7’s favor.
Scream 7 could take place at the same time as the events of Scream 6 but in a different location, specifically where Sidney and her family were hiding. This would give a twist to Sidney’s supposed story in Scream 6, showing that she still wasn’t safe. Following Sidney during the events of Scream 6 would also explain why neither Sam, Tara, nor the rest of the Core 4 would be involved in Scream 7, as they would have been fighting for their lives in New York City at the same time as Sidney in another place.
The problem with Scream 7 following Sidney during the events of Scream 6 is that Gale Weathers wouldn’t be able to return. So far, Courteney Cox is the only actor who has appeared in all Scream movies, but if Scream 7 followed the simultaneous setting path, she wouldn’t be able to appear as she was busy in New York with the rest.
Gale almost became one of Ghostface’s murder victims in Scream 6 when they attacked her in her apartment, but Sam and Tara arrived right on time to save her. Gale spent the whole movie in New York either investigating or at the hospital, recovering, so she wouldn’t be able to appear in Scream 7 unless she did a voice cameo to check in on Sidney or viceversa.
At the time of writing, the only confirmed character in Scream 7 is Sidney Prescott, but Gale is rumored to be returning as well, along with Mark Kincaid. In March 2024, it was reported that Courteney Cox is in talks to return in Scream 7, which would be expected given her impeccable track record in the saga and her connection to Craven’s movies and the reboot ones. Scream 7’s best way to explain Sam and Tara’s absences won’t be possible if Courteney Cox returns as Gale Weathers, but if she doesn’t, the film wouldn’t really feel complete, more so as Gale deserves a proper send-off.