Gale Weathers is the only OG Scream character to appear in all six movies, and the upcoming Scream VII won't be the one to break the streak.
The trades have now confirmed a recent rumor that Courteney Cox is in talks to reprise the role of the reporter turned author for the next Scream movie, which will also see the return of iconic "final girl" Sidney Prescott after Neve Campbell sat out the last film over a pay dispute.
“Sidney Prescott is coming back!” Campbell posted on Instagram when her return was made official. “It’s always been such a blast and an honor to get to play Sidney in the Scream movies. My appreciation for these films and for what they have meant to me, has never waned. I’m very happy and proud to say I’ve been asked, in the most respectful way, to bring Sidney back to the screen and I couldn’t be more thrilled.”
Campbell's decision to return has stirred up some controversy due to the firing of Melissa Barrera over social media posts that Spyglass deemed to be "anti-Semitic." A lot of fans felt that Campbell should have shown solidarity with her former co-star and declined the studio's offer.
Barrera was asked about the situation in a recent interview, and while she refused to comment on Campbell or reveal whether they'd spoken, she did say that she would consider returning to finish Sam Carpenter's story down the line.
“I’ve learned to never say never, but also a lot of things would have to happen for Sam to come back. For now, next page, next chapter, and then we’ll see what the future holds.”
As for Miss Weathers, the last time we saw her, she had narrowly survived a brutal Ghostface attack and was on her way to the hospital.
Scream VII plot details are still under wraps, but there are rumors that the story will focus on Sidney and Gale facing off against some kind of Ghostface cult. Original Scream creator and writer Kevin Williamson will direct, and Scream 3 actor Patrick Dempsey is said to be in talks to return as Detective Mark Kincaid.
"Following the latest Ghostface killings, the four survivors leave Woodsboro behind and start a fresh chapter," reads Scream VI's synopsis. "In Scream VI, Melissa Barrera ("Sam Carpenter"), Jasmin Savoy Brown ("Mindy Meeks-Martin"), Mason Gooding ("Chad Meeks-Martin"), Jenna Ortega ("Tara Carpenter"), Hayden Panettiere ("Kirby Reed"), and Courtney Cox ("Gale Weathers") return to their roles in the franchise alongside Jack Champion, Henry Czerny, Liana Liberato, Dermot Mulroney, Devyn Nekoda, Tony Revolori, Josh Segarra and Samara Weaving."