Scream screenwriter Kevin Williamson encouraged directors of new sequel to take ‘big swings’

]

The directors and executive producer of the horror franchise’s fifth installment tell EW about risk-taking and paying homage to Wes Craven.

Scream (2022 movie) Close this dialog window Streaming Options

It is no real spoiler to say that the new Scream film (out in cinemas Jan. 14) takes big swings when it comes to some of the beloved franchise’s characters. Executive producer Chad Villella explains that the jaw-dropping turns were a crucial part of the original script, by James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick.

“Those big swings were definitely present in the script,” says Villella. “As you’re getting closer and closer to production, and the rubber’s about to meet the road, everyone always voices their doubts and is like, ‘Oh, are we sure this the right choice?’ But for us, those swings, they’re so essential and so integral to what happens in the story. They’re really consequential. All of the really big turning points for us, they’re valuable to what the movie is and it just wouldn’t be the same experience if you removed them. It’s sort of a house of cards and really that is what was so clear to us about the script as we were reading it. We loved the risks that it took and wanted to make sure that we protected those at all costs.”

Co-director Matt Bettinelli-Olpin reveals that another of the new film’s executive producers, original Scream screenwriter Kevin Williamson, encouraged such risk-taking.

“There’s a swing in the movie that Kevin Williamson flagged in pre-production,” says Bettinelli-Olpin, a member of the Radio Silence collective along with his fellow Scream director Tyler Gillett and Villella. “[He said], ‘This is the only thing that doesn’t quite feel like it’s in a Scream movie, which is why I think it’s the absolute thing you need to make sure stays in the script.’”

Below, Bettinelli-Olpin, Gillett, and Villella talk about paying homage to Wes Craven (who directed the first four films in the series) and the future of the Scream franchise.

Scream 2022 Scream 2022 | Credit: BROWNIE HARRIS/ Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: The new Scream has been getting great reactions. That must feel pretty good.

TYLER GILLETT: Yeah, I think it’s more than we ever expected. You always make something hoping that it connects with people and you’re white-knuckling it right up to the moment that people’s opinions are out in the world. We are beyond thrilled [about the reactions] and so excited for audiences now to get to have the experience.

Your 2019 movie Ready or Not was a success, but what was the process of auditioning for the Scream gig?

CHAD VILLELLA: Well, it’s funny you bring up Ready or Not because Ready or Not kind of was our audition. Working [on the film] with the team at Project X — William Sherak, Paul Neinstein, and James Vanderbilt — that was very nice and they brought us in to Gary Barber at Spyglass. They said, “We think you’re the guys to help us make this movie,” and we couldn’t be more thankful for them doing that.

Scream 2022 Scream 2022 | Credit: BROWNIE HARRIS/ Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group

What was it like reading the script? And how similar was that screenplay to what people will see in cinemas?

MATT BETTINELLI-OLPIN: We went in to read the script and we took probably two-and-a-half, three hours to do it, because it was so good and we didn’t want to miss anything. It read like you were seeing the movie in the most realistic way. What people will see is pretty much what was on the page then. We changed some things out of necessity, but at the end of the day, the script we read and the movie you’re seeing are very very similar. They really wrote a great script.

The movie goes deep in the weeds with the horror genre. I thought I was having a stroke when some characters started discussing “elevated horror.” It was like someone had scooped out my brain and put it on a screen.

GILLETT: That’s how we felt reading it. We’ve always been reticent to step into a franchise because it’s so hard to create new tracks in something, especially when it’s been done so successfully. Obviously, we’re fans of the original four movies and all of Wes’ work, there was a sort of added layer of pressure with this. So we went in to reading that script and we were so blown away by the multiple layers of commentary in the movie and how, like you said, it felt like Guy and Jamie were inside our brains. There were moments when we were literally cheering when we reading the script.

The Scream series has been very well curated over the years compared to some other franchises. Was that an advantage or did it make your mission more daunting?

VILLELLA: It was an absolute advantage dipping into the Scream lineage and the way that worlds were connected through all four films. The conversation we all had, and Guy and Jamie [dealt with] wonderfully in the script, was, what is it like ten years later? Like, let’s just go and lean into the real world of Woodsboro, and what it is like ten years later, and hopefully continue this wonderful storyline that Wes and Kevin Williamson created 25 years ago.

Scream 2022 Credit: BROWNIE HARRIS/ Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group

As Scream fans, what was it like to step on to set and find yourself directing Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott?

BETTINELLI-OLPIN: Surreal. Just very, very unbelievable. Neve was invaluable in the pre-production process, kind of keeping it within the guard rails of what Scream is. She had a lot of great thoughts that all got worked into the script. Then, on set, Neve, Courteney (Cox), David (Arquette), they really helped guide us along the way in terms of what it was like during the original movies. We tried very hard to kind of marry our process to the process that they all went through in the first four movies, with Wes Craven, and the father-like figure that he was on set.

The new Scream is dedicated to Wes. Could you talk about how you pay homage to him in the film?

BETTINELLI-OLPIN: Our starting point was this has to be, on some level, a love letter to Wes Craven, Scream, and his other work. I would say throughout the making of the movie and within the finished product itself there’s so many little nods to Wes, there’s big nods to Wes. At the end of the day, the entire thing is ultimately a love letter to Wes from us. He’s one of the greatest directors, period, of his generation. To go into the movie already as fans, I think we all came out on the other side even bigger fans because we’ve gotten to know people [who knew him]. Everything we’ve heard and everyone we talked to about him has just been, he was the nicest, most supportive, loving man. So it’s daunting to pick up where he left off on Scream but it also was a real blessing for us.

Would you gentlemen be up for making another Scream film?

VILLELLA: I mean, we love Scream. This is why we’re filmmakers, we love being a part of this franchise. If everyone decides to have us back we would happily talk about the story and where it could possibly go.

This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.

Watch the trailer for the new Scream film below.

For interviews with cast and crew, behind-the-scenes tidbits and photos, and much more, pick up a copy of Entertainment Weekly’s Guide to Scream, available online or wherever magazines are sold.

Close this dialog window Streaming Options

Related content:

Twitter Debuts Branded Like, Custom Response Activations to Back Scream (2022)

]

Twitter rolled out two activations Tuesday to back Friday’s theatrical release of Scream (2022) by Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group.

Scream-2022-character-posters-tease-big-twist.jpg

]

Weather Alert

…The Flood Advisory continues for the following rivers in Illinois… Kankakee River near Wilmington affecting Will, Kankakee and Grundy Counties. For the Kankakee River…including Wilmington…elevated river levels are forecast. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… An ice jam is affecting water levels in this area. River forecasts during ice jams are less certain due to many complicated factors. Significant river ice cover can cause large water level fluctuations and flooding with little advanced notice. River ice may also cause gauge observations to be inaccurate. Turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Additional information is available at www.weather.gov/Chicago and water.weather.gov The next statement is expected Friday morning. && …FLOOD ADVISORY FOR AN ICE JAM REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE… * WHAT…Localized minor flooding due to an ice jam located near the I-55 bridge between the Kankakee Conservation Area and Wilmington. * WHERE…Kankakee River downstream of Wilmington. * WHEN…Until further notice. * IMPACTS…Impacts…Flooding of overbank areas near and upstream of the ice jam. Possible flooding of overbank areas downstream of the ice jam if shifts in river ice occur. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS… - At 5:45 PM CST Thursday the stage was 5.6 feet. - Forecast…The river may fluctuate near flood stage while the ice jam remains in place. Any shifting of ice may worsen the ice jam with little notice. - Action stage is 5.0 feet. - Flood stage is 6.5 feet. - www.weather.gov/safety/flood &&

Scream (2022) Review: A Horror Film About Horror Films About Horror Films

]

‘Scream’ and Five Other Huge Horror Franchises Returning in 2022

]

This year kicks off with a big ole bang with the return of Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson’s Scream franchise, bringing Ghostface back to theaters for the first time in ELEVEN years on January 14, 2022. The film is already getting rave reviews from critics, suggesting that 2022’s horror output is already on fire here in the first couple weeks of the brand new year.

But Scream isn’t the only major horror franchise returning in 2022…

While Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees continue to lie dormant, several other horror icons are headed back into our lives in the coming months. It’s going to be big year for horror franchises, with Ghostface’s return being only the very tip of the iceberg this weekend.

Here are five other big time horror franchises returning soon!

Texas Chainsaw Massacre – February 18, 2022 (Netflix)

Just about a month after Scream, Leatherface will return in Texas Chainsaw Massacre, a brand new sequel to Tobe Hooper’s original classic that’ll be streaming exclusively on Netflix. This will be the ninth film in the franchise, and the second attempt to make a years-later sequel to the original Chain Saw. Back in 2013, Texas Chainsaw 3D took a very similar approach.

The new movie is a decades-later sequel only to Tobe Hooper’s original Texas Chain Saw Massacre, with actress Olwen Fouéré (Mandy) taking over the iconic role of Sally Hardesty (above) from the late Marilyn Burns. Of note, Fede Alvarez (The Evil Dead) produced this one.

“After nearly 50 years of hiding, Leatherface returns to terrorize a group of idealistic young friends who accidentally disrupt his carefully shielded world in a remote Texas town.”

Additionally, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is getting its own video game here in 2022!

Halloween Ends – October 14, 2022 (Theaters)

In the wake of Halloween (2018) and last year’s Halloween Kills, David Gordon Green’s sequel trilogy comes to a close with Halloween Ends, currently dated for October 14th.

What we know of the film so far is that Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) will be taking the fight to Michael Myers one last time, now seeking an even more personal revenge after he appeared to murder her daughter in Halloween Kills. Gordon Green has also teased a four-year time jump for Halloween Ends, rather than a direct continuation of the events from Kills.

Additionally, Kyle Richards has signed on to reprise the role of Lindsey Wallace one more time, who had a fight with Michael but survived to live another day in Halloween Kills.

Filming on Halloween Ends is set to begin here in early 2022, so here’s hoping the pandemic doesn’t change any current plans. As always, we’ll report more as we learn more information.

Evil Dead Rise – Date Unknown (HBO Max)

We don’t yet have a date but we do know that Evil Dead Rise has wrapped filming and is currently being edited, with Lee Cronin (The Hole in the Ground) in the director’s chair.

So is it a sequel to Sam Raimi’s original movies or to the Fede Alvarez reboot? Well, it doesn’t appear that Evil Dead Rise is necessarily continuing the storyline from any previous Evil Dead movie, but rather telling a brand new story set within the Evil Dead Universe.

And no, Bruce Campbell will not be playing Ash Williams in the film.

“In the fifth Evil Dead film, a road-weary Beth pays an overdue visit to her older sister Ellie, who is raising three kids on her own in a cramped L.A apartment. The sisters’ reunion is cut short by the discovery of a mysterious book deep in the bowels of Ellie’s building, giving rise to flesh-possessing demons, and thrusting Beth into a primal battle for survival as she is faced with the most nightmarish version of motherhood imaginable.”

Gabrielle Echols (Reminiscence), Morgan Davies (The End) and Nell Fisher (Splendid Isolation) will star in the new movie alongside Alyssa Sutherland and Lily Sullivan.

Prey – Summer 2022

In the wake of Shane Black’s The Predator back in 2018, the franchise is getting another reboot with Prey, a film shot in secret by director by Dan Trachtenberg (10 Cloverfield Lane).

From what we gather, the plan was for Prey (formerly titled Skulls) to be a secret Predator movie, but alas, the ties to the franchise ended up leaking before they could surprise us.

Amber Midthunder (“Legion”) stars as a Comanche woman who goes against gender norms and traditions to become a warrior. The film’s events are set 300 years ago.

The new movie is reportedly a prequel to the original classic that will tell the tale of the Predator’s first journey to our planet. No date at this time, but we expect it in Summer 2022.

Hellraiser – Dates Unknown

Pinhead and his Cenobites are plotting a big return here in 2022, and what’s particularly interesting and exciting about the Hellraiser franchise is that two projects are in the works.

David Bruckner (The Night House), who helmed Netflix’s The Ritual as well as sections of Bloody Disgusting’s horror anthologies V/H/S and Southbound, is directing the relaunch of the Hellraiser franchise for Spyglass Media, set to be a Hulu feature film written by Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski (SiREN, Super Dark Times, The Night House).

“Sense8” actress Jamie Clayton is playing Pinhead in the new movie.

The project is being described as a “loyal, yet evolved re-imagining of Clive Barker’s 1987 horror classic,” and the best possible news is that Clive Barker is on board as a producer.

Additionally, a “Hellraiser” television series is in the works at HBO. Last we heard, David Gordon Green (Halloween, Halloween Kills) is directing the pilot and “several more initial episodes” of the HBO series, and Michael Dougherty (Trick ‘r Treat, Krampus, Godzilla: King of the Monsters) is writing alongside Mark Verheiden (“Battlestar Galactica”).

Clive Barker will be executive producing that Hellraiser project as well.

We don’t know for sure that both projects will be arriving here in 2022, but we do know that the Hulu movie wrapped last year, so we’re at least expecting that one sometime this year.

Of course, any of these dates and plans could change. Stay tuned…