After a storm of rumors and speculation, Courteney Cox is officially returning to the Scream franchise. Cox will reprise her iconic role as investigative journalist-turned-true crime author Gale Weathers in the highly anticipated seventh installment of the series. The official Scream franchise account confirmed the news on Instagram Stories.
Cox last appeared in 2022’s Scream VI, a milestone as it was the first film in the series to exclude fellow franchise star Neve Campbell.
With this latest return, Cox will become the only actor to appear in all seven films, alongside Roger L. Jackson, the voice behind the infamous Ghostface killer. Campbell and Cox were the final legacy cast members from Wes Craven’s 1996 original, aside from Jackson’s contributions.
Campbell had made the “very difficult decision” to step away from Scream VI in 2022, citing dissatisfaction with the offer she received. In her statement, Campbell explained that the proposal “did not equate to the value I have brought to the franchise.”
Further upheaval in the franchise unfolded in late 2023. Melissa Barrera, a lead actress in the fifth and sixth installments, was fired after expressing support for Palestinians amidst Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
Following her dismissal, Jenna Ortega, who portrayed Barrera’s sister in the films, exited the series the very next day.
Adding to the franchise’s turmoil, Christopher Landon, originally slated to direct Scream VII, stepped down from the project in December 2023, describing the role as “a dream job that turned into a nightmare.”
For months, uncertainty loomed over the future of the Scream series. However, March brought a ray of hope: Campbell confirmed her return and revealed that Kevin Williamson, the original Scream screenwriter, would be making his directorial debut.
Additional casting announcements soon followed, including Yellowstone star Isabel May as the daughter of Campbell’s character, Sidney Prescott. Patrick Dempsey, who first appeared as Detective Mark Kincaid in Scream 3, was also reported to be in talks to reprise his role.
Although plot details for the seventh film remain under wraps, Cox has openly expressed her hopes for David Arquette’s return as Dewey Riley.
Arquette played her character’s love interest in five films and was married to Cox in real life for 15 years before their divorce in 2013. Dewey’s character was killed off in Scream (2022), a decision Cox has described as a significant loss to the series.
“It was heartbreaking because Dewey is such a beloved character,” Cox reflected in March. “He brought so much humor and heart to the franchise. Losing him was a real downer.” Scream 7 is slated to hit theaters on February 27, 2026.
