"Do you like horror movies?" A trailer for the fifth installment of Paramount's "Scream" franchise has arrived, promising a new, bloody adventure with the beloved characters.
Neve Campbell's Sidney Prescott, Courteney Cox's Gale Weathers and David Arquette's Deputy Dewey Riley are back for the bloody slasher, along with a new cast of characters, many of which will probably not make it to the end credits with a new Ghostface killer on the loose. The trailer opens with a scene mirroring Drew Barrymore's iconic opening to 1996's "Scream," but this time Ghostface texts newcomer Tara (Jenna Ortega) before disabling the alarm system, breaking into her house and presumably murdering her.
The original characters explain to the traumatized newbies that Ghostface always targets people related to the OG cast. Sidney prepares for another bloody showdown with the killer, saying, "I've been through this ... a lot."
"It's happening. Three attacks so far," Dewey tells Sidney over the phone. "Do you have a gun?" To which Sidney replies, "I'm Sidney Prescott, of course I have a gun."
Newcomers to the film include Jack Quaid, Melissa Barrera, Dylan Minnette, Mason Gooding, Kyle Gallner, Sonia Ammar, Mikey Madison, Jasmin Savoy Brown and Reggie Conquest.
The original "Scream" premiered in 1996 and was directed by the late Wes Craven. The film starred Campbell as Sidney Prescott, a high schooler targeted by a masked killer named Ghostface who was obsessed with '80s horror movies. Following its resounding box office success, "Scream" went on to spawn three more installments, each starring Campbell, Cox and Arquette and directed by Craven.
After Craven's death in 2015, many were left skeptical that "Scream" would ever return — Campbell included.
"I had been really apprehensive about doing another one," Campbell told Jamie Lee Curtis in Variety's special "House of Horror" conversation. "People had asked in the past whether I would do another one without Wes or whether I would make another one. I always felt like it'd be too difficult to do it without Wes. He was the master of these films. He did such a beautiful job on them. We were a family."
But a note from directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, who helmed 2019's horror-comedy "Ready or Not," changed her mind.
"They actually wrote me a letter and they said they basically are directors because of (the 'Scream') films," Campbell says. "They are directors because of Wes Craven and they're really so excited to be a part of these films and what an honor it is to do them, and that they really want to do justice to Wes and honor his legacy."
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Executive producer Kevin Williamson, who wrote the original "Scream," also kept Craven in mind while approaching the new project. The new film's screenplay was written by James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick.
"Nearly 25 years ago, when I wrote 'Scream' and Wes Craven brought it to life, I could not have imagined the lasting impact it would have on you, the fans. I'm excited for you to return to Woodsboro and get really scared again," he wrote on Instagram. "I believe Wes would've been so proud of the film that Matt and Tyler are making. I'm thrilled to be reunited with Neve, Courteney, David and Marley, and to be working alongside a new filmmaking team and incredible cast of newcomers that have come together to continue Wes's legacy with the upcoming relaunch of the franchise that I hold so dear to my heart."
Gary Barber, Cathy Konrad, Ron Lynch, Marianne Maddalena, Peter Oillataguerre and Chad Villella executive produce alongside Williamson.
"Scream" will hit theaters on Jan. 14, 2022.
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