Scream 7 Update Confirms The Franchise’s Perfect Wes Craven Replacement Has Hiding In Plain Sight For 28 Years

A recent update on Scream 7 confirmed that a fantastic Wes Craven replacement had been hiding in plain sight the whole time. Wes Craven is known for his prolific work in the horror and slasher genres, having directed the original A Nightmare on Elm Street and co-creating the Scream franchise. He was directly involved with the first four films until passing away in 2015. As of 2022, the Scream franchise has been rebooted with a new series and fresh characters, though they fit in the Scream timeline as sequels.

2022’s Scream and 2023’s Scream VI were well received, but the production of Scream 7 has been plagued by behind-the-scenes controversy. Starting with the divisive firing of Melissa Barrera in November 2023 and the subsequent departure of star Jenna Ortega from the project, the film was then left without a director when Christopher Landon announced his exit a month later. Without vital cast members and a director, Scream 7 is now aiming for a full reset. Recently, actress Neve Campbell announced her return to the franchise on Instagram, also revealing the new director.

Kevin Williamson Is The Perfect Choice For The Scream Franchise’s New Director

Twenty-eight years ago, Kevin Williamson wrote the screenplay for the original Scream film, making him the perfect choice to return for a directing role. He’s been with the franchise from the very beginning and has been actively engaged every step of the way as a writer and producer. Williamson has also had a successful Hollywood career outside of Scream, having created TV shows like Dawson’s Creek, The Vampire Diaries, and The Following.

While Kevin Williamson may not have experience directing in the Scream series, he has directed a feature film before, and he’s been involved in the franchise long enough to understand how it works. The behind-the-scenes Scream 7 disaster will impact the plot and direction the previous two films established, but at least the creative team going forward is knowledgeable. If Scream 7 is to happen despite the public backlash, the studio needs to put its best foot forward in creating a worthwhile sequel.

Kevin Williamson Can Uniquely Combine Wes Craven & Radio Silence’s Direction With His Original Vision

Following the Wes Craven era of Scream films, Radio Silence Productions, who are known for movies like Ready or Not and V/H/S, took over the saga. Scream 5 and Scream 6 were embellished with a sense of exciting originality, which complemented the elements that were faithful to Craven’s original vision. Now, with Kevin Williamson directing Scream 7, the sequel can uniquely balance Radio Silence’s era with his original vision for the franchise.