Scream 7 Trailer Drops: Sidney's Back, Plus Shocking Character Returns!

Get ready, horror fans, because the first Scream 7 trailer just hit, and it's packed with more twists than a Ghostface murder spree! Neve Campbell is officially back as Sidney Prescott, but that's not even the wildest news.

The Quick Scoop: Everything You Need to Know About the Scream 7 Trailer

• Sidney Prescott is Back in Action: Neve Campbell returns to lead the franchise, with Ghostface targeting her daughter, Tatum.
• Original Ghostface & Fan-Favorite Deputy Return: Matthew Lillard (Stu Macher) and David Arquette (Dewey Riley) are set to return, raising huge questions about how their "deceased" characters will appear.
• Mark Your Calendars: Scream 7 is hitting theaters on February 27, 2026.

Ghostface is Back and Targeting Sidney's New Family Life

Hold onto your popcorn, because Scream 7 is officially bringing back our ultimate final girl, Neve Campbell, as Sidney Prescott! After sitting out the last installment (due to salary disputes, which, thankfully, got resolved!), Sidney is front and center once more, and it looks like Ghostface is making things incredibly personal. The trailer, which dropped recently, gives us a chilling glimpse into Sidney's new life.

The synopsis reveals that a new Ghostface killer emerges in the quiet town where Sidney has built a peaceful existence. But that peace is shattered when her darkest fears come true: her daughter, Isabel May's character, becomes the next target. In a truly touching nod to franchise lore, Sidney's daughter is named Tatum, a clear homage to her best friend Tatum Riley, who met a grisly end in the original 1996 film.

Ghostface wastes no time in tormenting Sidney, taunting her over the phone with lines like, "Hello, Sidney. Did you miss me? Nice little town you found, you and your pretty daughter. Reminds me of where we grew up." This ominous message immediately sets the stage for a deeply personal attack, suggesting the new killer has a direct connection to Sidney's past in Woodsboro. As Sidney grapples with protecting her family, she'll have to confront her past horrors head-on to stop the bloodshed once and for all. And yes, Courteney Cox is back as the determined reporter Gale Weathers, ready to "unmask this fer" alongside Sidney!

The Dead Don't Stay Buried: Shocking Character Comebacks That Will Make You Scream

This is where things get truly wild. The Scream 7 trailer and casting announcements have dropped some jaw-dropping revelations, hinting that characters long thought dead might be making a comeback. We're talking about none other than Matthew Lillard as Stu Macher and David Arquette as Dewey Riley!

Is Stu Macher Really Alive? The Theory That Just Won't Die

Let's start with Stu Macher. Fans have theorized for decades that Billy Loomis's accomplice from the original 1996 Scream might have survived that TV drop to the head. And now, the Scream 7 trailer is fueling that fire like never before! Around the end of the trailer, you can hear Lillard's unmistakable voice teasing, "This is gonna be fun." Adding to the intrigue, the trailer shows Stu Macher's iconic house – now a creepy Airbnb – being terrorized and set ablaze by Ghostface. Who would be so triggered by Stu's former home being a tourist trap? Many believe it's Stu himself.

This isn't just fan speculation. Franchise creator Kevin Williamson's original treatment for Scream 3 actually included Stu Macher returning as Ghostface, influencing a new group of high school students from prison. Lillard was even under contract for it! While that plot was scrapped after the Columbine tragedy, the idea of Stu's survival has lingered. Matthew Lillard himself has been a vocal proponent of the "Stu is alive" theory, even arguing he was only 17 when he "died" and could have served his time and been released for Scream 7. With Lillard officially part of the cast, this theory has more weight than ever.

Dewey Riley's Haunting Return and a Shot at Redemption

Then there's the heartbreakingly permanent death of Deputy Dewey Riley in Scream 5. Fans were devastated when Amber, one of the Ghostface killers, brutally stabbed him to death after he made the classic horror movie mistake of going back for the final blow. However, eagle-eyed fans (and ScreenRant) spotted David Arquette's voice around the 1:39 mark in the Scream 7 trailer, saying, "All your friends die for just being near you."

"All your friends die for just being near you."

— David Arquette's Dewey Riley (voice in Scream 7 trailer)

While his return is confirmed in the cast list, the how is still shrouded in mystery. Could it be a flashback? A dream sequence, much like Skeet Ulrich's Billy Loomis appeared to his daughter Sam Carpenter in Scream 5 and 6? Or, perhaps chillingly, is the new Ghostface using AI-generated voices of Sidney's dead friends to torment her, as suggested by ScreenRant? Regardless of the method, a return for Dewey could offer a chance to redeem his previous, much-criticized demise, giving the beloved character a more fitting farewell or new context.

It's also worth noting that Scott Foley (Roman Bridger, Scream 3's Ghostface) and Skeet Ulrich (Billy Loomis, original Ghostface) are also listed as returning. The inclusion of multiple "deceased" characters might be a clever red herring to distract from the real surprise, potentially making Stu Macher's survival less obvious.

A Mix of Familiar Faces and Fresh Blood Joins the Cast

Beyond the huge returns, Scream 7 is bringing together a fantastic ensemble of new and returning talent. Here’s a rundown of who we can expect to see (or hear!) on screen:

• Core Survivors:
  • Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott
  • Courteney Cox as Gale Weathers
  • Mason Gooding as Chad Meeks-Martin
  • Jasmin Savoy Brown as Mindy Meeks-Martin
• Surprise Returns (from the grave?):
  • Matthew Lillard as Stu Macher
  • David Arquette as Dewey Riley
  • Scott Foley as Roman Bridger
  • Skeet Ulrich as Billy Loomis
• Newcomers to Woodsboro's Horror:
  • Isabel May as Tatum (Sidney's daughter)
  • Anna Camp
  • Joel McHale as Mark (Sidney's husband)
  • Mckenna Grace
  • Michelle Randolph
  • Jimmy Tatro
  • Asa Germann
  • Celeste O'Connor
  • Sam Rechner
  • Ethan Embry
  • Mark Consuelos

One intriguing theory swirling around Anna Camp's undisclosed role suggests she could be playing Leslie Macher, Stu's sister, who was briefly mentioned in Scream 5. This would fit the recent trend of Ghostface killers being connected by familial bonds (like the Loomises and Kirsches). However, some fans worry this might be too obvious or repetitive for the franchise, and would require some creative storytelling to explain why she was never seen in the original film.

Behind the Scenes: The Rocky Road to Getting Scream 7 to the Big Screen

Getting Scream 7 off the ground hasn't been a smooth ride. The production faced significant shake-ups before landing on its current direction. Originally, the film was set to star Melissa Barrera (Sam Carpenter) and Jenna Ortega (Tara Carpenter), who led the previous two successful installments. However, Barrera was controversially fired due to social media posts regarding the Israel-Hamas war, and Ortega subsequently exited the project voluntarily, citing scheduling conflicts with her Netflix series Wednesday.

Adding to the drama, Christopher Landon (director of Happy Death Day) was initially slated to direct but also stepped down amid the backlash and creative overhauls. This turbulent period left the film without its new "core" and a director.

Thankfully, the franchise's very own creator, Kevin Williamson, stepped in to direct and co-write the script with Guy Busick (James Vanderbilt and Busick penned the story). This move has been widely seen as a way to bring the series "back to its roots," focusing on the original final girl, Sidney Prescott.

Williamson has also made a very clear promise to fans regarding Sidney's fate:

"I have made it very clear, I think publicly too, that Sidney has been through so much torment, and she has been through so much trauma, that to give her anything less than a happy ending is mean. It’s just sacrilegious."

— Kevin Williamson (Director, Co-writer)

So, while the new Ghostface promises to be more violent and personal than ever, it seems Sidney Prescott, at least, is safe from the killer's blade this time around. That doesn't mean the journey will be easy, though!

Get ready for all the scares, twists, and meta-commentary you can handle when Scream 7 slices its way into theaters on February 27, 2026. It's gonna be fun... or terrifying. Maybe both!

Frequently Asked Questions About Scream 7's Upcoming Release

When does Scream 7 come out in theaters? Scream 7 is scheduled to hit theaters on February 27, 2026. Who is directing the new Scream 7 movie? Kevin Williamson, the creator of the Scream franchise and writer of the original film, is directing Scream 7. He also co-wrote the script with Guy Busick. Is Sidney Prescott's daughter named Tatum in Scream 7? Yes, Neve Campbell's character Sidney Prescott has a daughter named Tatum in Scream 7, a nod to her best friend Tatum Riley from the original Scream film. Are Matthew Lillard and David Arquette really returning for Scream 7? Yes, both Matthew Lillard (Stu Macher) and David Arquette (Dewey Riley) are confirmed to return in Scream 7. How their "deceased" characters will appear (e.g., flashback, dream, AI voice, or even alive for Stu) is a major mystery and a big talking point among fans. Sources Used to Piece Together This Thrilling News

• GamesRadar+
• Deadline
• CNN
• The Hollywood Reporter
• Variety
• Creepy Catalog
• CBR
• PopHorror
• ScreenRant