Oh Scream. And Scream 2. (And Scream 3.) You were released in such simple times, back when Kevin Williamson was a household name, teen couples giggled at David Arquette’s quirkiness (autism?), and the name, Rose McGowan, didn’t conjure ripped photos and fire. Like college loans, “journalism,” and forgotten faces from spring break, will you now come back to haunt us? Buried in today’s monster press release announcing the power-force marriage between The Weinstein Co. and Showtime is this “upcoming releases” nugget for TWC’s Dimension Films…
“re-starting the “Scream” franchise with Scream 4…”
Back in 2007, Slashfilm entertained a fourth film in the franchise, complete with a mock-up poster, only to mark through the entire post when the rumors were simply that. If memory recalls, Wes Craven directed all three films (none of which tanked or categorically sucked), Neve Campbell’s character, Sidney, survived, and I think Jenny McCarthy’s character, um, didn’t survive. Jamie Kennedy also died, alas, his career kept walking. Here’s an old quote from Craven regarding a hypothetical Scream 4…
“I think everything has already been told within the first three movies and I don’t want to make the one more that would be the wrong one. And second because Dimension won’t really be interested in contacting me right now just after the troubles we had on Cursed.”
Cursed!?! If further Scream 4 news is never announced, we’ll gladly toss this post into a Ziplock bag and throw it up in the attic next to our sister’s Party of Five soundtrack.
Discuss: Scream: The Next Generation with iPhones, Twitter and Barack Obama? Oh, and sorry about those mega-spoilers.
July 14th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
The Weinsteins once demanded respect with one of the best catalogues of films over at Miramax. Now, Who’s Your Caddy?
July 14th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
I’m pretty sure the 3rd one sucked.
July 14th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
The first film is awesome , the second is underrated and the third is just, meh. With that said I think a fourth installment would be relevant with as long s it’s been and with Indy 4, Rambo 4, Die hard 4 being released already. It gives it something to poke fun at. Just resist the urge to go torture porn and we’re good.
July 14th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
They should let Rob Zombie direct.
July 14th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
@ cinemaniac1979
While wearing Brett Ratner. Yes.
July 14th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
They should get the guy who made “Hobo With A Shotgun” to direct it.
July 14th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Cristian Bale ?
July 14th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
neve campbell?
July 14th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Let it end. The first one was a classic. The second one was good, but with a very weak ending because the producers decided to scrap the original ending when it was leaked on the Internet. It was a bad choice because many felt the original ending was solid.
The third one just turned into a partially intentional and partly unintentional parody of itself. The killer was a huuuuuuugggggggeeee stretch of belivability and logic.
If they are going to do a fourth movie, they really need to move off the Sydney Prescott character. Who is going to torment her now? Who else did her mother sleep with and drive their family insane that is left?
Personally, they should just let the franchise die. It never went to the embarrassing comically bad levels that classic horror series like Halloween, Friday the 13th, and A Nightmare on Elm Street did, but it could very well especially if Dimension follow the trend of PG-13 horror movies.
Besides, without Wes Craven, this movie is going to be garbage. Craven seems to be the only director out there who makes slasher movies that understands how to scare an audience. Most directors these days think real chills and thrills are made by violence and gore with no real surprises. Even bad Craven horror movies are usually good for at least one “may you jump out of your seat” moments.
July 14th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
All these films are garbage.
Landfill fodder.
Sure make another one stupid people need movies too.
July 15th, 2008 at 4:45 am
You know its times like these when movies like these are announced that I’m actually hopeful and thankful the world might end
July 15th, 2008 at 9:03 am
STOP WITH THE GODDAMNED SEQUELS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 15th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Don’t you think a horror franchise is officially dead once Jay and Silent Bob show up? Not really horror anymore, now is it?
July 15th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Scream 4?? People stopped giving a shit by the time the third one came out!
July 15th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Not gonna lie.. im excited for it only because I have always loved the Scream movies… my favorite scary movies of all time.
July 15th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
I would rather wait for
SIMON BIRCH 2 than scream 4!!!
July 16th, 2008 at 10:45 am
The sooner the better!! The official report says that they are “Re-starting” the Scream Franchise,so if a 4th is good then i look forward to more hopefully! All these people moaning about it should just stay quiet and watch from the sidelines,i hope a 4th kicks arse and kick their opinionated backsides too!!! Come on Weinsteins!! Lets get a MOVIE ON!!!
July 16th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
The first one was good and the second even better. Rarely do movies that mix horror with comedy/parody work but those pulled it off brilliantly. The third down was definitely a letdown and the worst of the series, but it still had its moments, I’d argue that even that wasn’t a bad movie.
But there’s no reason to make a fourth, especially if it’s going to be something totally unrelated trying to cash in on a brand name.
August 29th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
scream 4!!!!!!! i need myself a scream 4 but only with the original cast! i looovvveeed the scream trilogy esp. scream 2! no 1! ok everyone. Just please bring it back!
August 31st, 2008 at 10:55 am
I agree with the whole sequel thing…not to continue…because recently every sequel from great horror flicks have low budgets and straight to dvd releases (I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer, Urban Ledgends 3, Leprechaun Series, etc.). I think they do it just to get something out there… Scream 4 they would have to take their time and actually prepare everything before even thinking about releasing. I don’t see right now where they could bring back the original cast, maybe later some how. But if they were to make another Scream sequel, it should be a prequel. Going back to the beginning and focusing more on Sidney’s parents, how they got together, the birth of Sidney, problems between her parents that drove her mom to cheat, how Roman was born and the guy she had him with, Billy’s father and mother, Cotton and how Sidney’s mother was murdered while Sidney watched and saw Cotton leave and how he was framed. There would be many years broken down in a prequel if they went that rout, but I think it would be the best way to go for interested viewers. The only original cast that could return in a script written for a prequel would probably only be the actress who played Sidney’s mother, her father, Cotton, Neve Campbell as a younger Sidney, much closer to the end of the film, Billy (show how they got together and how Roman tracked him down to help), Billy’s father and mother (Scream 2), and actually they could bring back Dewy and Rose Mcgowans role too, also Courtney Cox as Gale doing the story on Sidney’s mother. Just bringing the beginning to the original Scream film.
If they were to do a Scream 4, not a prequel, the only way I could see them doing it is to show how Gale and Dewy got married, Sidney and the detective are dating and have an obsessed “Stab” series fan try and track Sidney down, murdering everyone in his way to end how everything began by killing Sidney off at the end of the movie…but I don’t think that would go so well at the box office or reviews.
So closing, if they continue the Scream series, make a prequel. Leave Scream 4 for later when there is actually a reason to continue such a great slasher classic.
Brian L. Hollon
September 3rd, 2008 at 1:10 pm
if there gonna do a scream 4 they should just make it about a copy cat killer. i mean they told the whole story all they can in part 1 through 3. i don’t think there’s much you can do with a scream 4 without having it being relavant to the series.