Scream 2022 Director Teases Possible Sequels With New Generation

It's been 25 years since Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) went toe-to-toe with the hacking 'n slashing Ghostface killer (not to be confused with the flow-riffic rap artist) in the fictional sunny California town of Woodsboro in Wes Craven's "Scream." Now, the "Scream" film series has a new entry on the way in 2022, and co-director Tyler Gillett says there's more where that came from. In an interview with Total Film, the filmmaker and crew talk about legacies, survivorship, and tease some information about the fifth installment of the Ghostface-fearing franchise.

Gillett directs "Scream," which frustratingly has the exact same title as Wes Craven's 1996 original film despite being a sequel (and not a remake), alongside Matt Bettinelli-Olpin. Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett make up two-thirds of Radio Silence Productions along with Chad Villella, who executive produces the new "Scream." Previously, the trio produced this year's "V/H/S/94," while Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett directed the bloody good time "Ready or Not." The duo, along with executive producer (and writer of "Scream" and its second and fourth sequel) Kevin Williamson, are hyped to return to Woodsboro.

Gillett tells Total Film (via HelloSidney):

This new cast of characters is so wonderful. The legacy cast, they're so wonderful. I think what we discovered, and what [screenwriters] Guy [Busick] and James [Vanderbilt] did, is they found a real reason for the next story to exist. We know that there is more gas in the tank. There are more stories to be told in Woodsboro, and about these characters, for sure.

Might this franchise go the distance? Might Ghostface join the likes of Freddy, Jason, Chucky, and Pinhead in the slasher pantheon? It can be argued that the cloaked killer already has, but fans are ready for more.

Here is the synopsis for "Scream:"

Twenty-five years after a streak of brutal murders shocked the quiet town of Woodsboro, Calif., a new killer dons the Ghostface mask and begins targeting a group of teenagers to resurrect secrets from the town's deadly past.

A direct sequel to "Scream 4," "Scream" (colloquially "Scream 5") is directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, and written by James Vanderbilt — writer and producer of David Fincher's "Zodiac," look alive people — and Guy Busick, who pens the upcoming "Final Destination 6." Kevin Williamson executive produces, and fellow producers are Vanderbilt, Paul Neinstein, and William Sherak. Scream is produced arm-in-arm by Spyglass Media Group, Radio Silence Productions, Project X Entertainment and Outerbanks Entertainment. Paramount Pictures will handle distribution.

This is the first film in the "Scream" franchise without the iconic, late Wes Craven at the helm since his death in 2015. In addition to Campbell, o.g.'s David Arquette, Courteney Cox, and the sneering, ominous voice of Roger L. Jackson (who voices Ghostface no matter who's under the mask) are reprising their original roles. Marley Shelton also returns as Deputy Judy Hicks from the previous film. New blood for the franchise arrives in the form of Melissa Barrera, Mason Gooding, Jenna Ortega, and Jack Quaid.