Scream 7 writer-director Kevin Williamson has ruled out a return to make Scream 8. “Other people can take the reins,” he says. Much like its hapless killer (or killers), Scream 7 survived a troubled production and grim reviews, and will almost certainly live to fight another day. Released in February, its box office broke records ... Scream 8 may happen, but don’t expect Kevin Williamson to write or direct
Scream 7 writer-director Kevin Williamson has ruled out a return to make Scream 8. “Other people can take the reins,” he says.
Much like its hapless killer (or killers), Scream 7 survived a troubled production and grim reviews, and will almost certainly live to fight another day. Released in February, its box office broke records for the long-running franchise, and with a current take of $153m against a budget of about $45m, it’s highly likely that a sequel will be announced at some point.
If Scream 8 does happen, however, don’t expect to see Kevin Williamson’s name on the credits. Having written the 1997, its first sequel, and Scream 4, he was hurriedly rushed back to direct Scream 7 when the production began to fall apart in 2023.
Talking to the fan site Hello Sidney, however, Williamson ruled himself out from returning yet again. Instead, he has other, unnamed projects he wants to focus on.
“Not Scream, no,” Williamson said (as picked up by The Hollywood Reporter). “I want to direct another film that I had written that is just waiting for me to find the time to direct. And right now, I’m working on a couple TV shows that I’m really excited about. So maybe I’ll direct one of those – who knows? For the next Scream, I’ll probably step back and just be a part of the family again.”
It’s something of a shift from a couple of weeks ago, when Williamson said that he had “lots of ideas” for Scream 8, and that he’d sat with series regular Neve Campbell and talked about what the next movie could be about.
“When you’re sitting on the set at 3 in the morning, you’re like, ‘Well, what would Scream 8 be about?’ And you just start spit-balling,” Williamson told Deadline. “And Neve had this great idea, and everyone seemed to run with it. So yeah, if this movie works and people want it, we’re here for the fans. So, if they want it, we’ll certainly give it to them.”
It’s possible that Spyglass Media didn’t particularly warm to those ideas. Or maybe, having had a few days to sit and reflect, Williamson’s decided he’s had enough of making meta slasher movies.
The screenwriter and director has also poured a bit of cold water on reports that Paramount and Spyglass were keen to get Scream 8 before cameras as soon as this autumn.
“I’m hopeful there will be an 8,” Williamson said. “No one’s really talking about it yet. We just assume, with the box office, we hope there will be one. But no one’s talking.”
Strange! We’ll bring you more on Scream 8′s cloudy future as it comes in.
