Summary

  • Scream 7 needs a fresh approach - not the same old Ghostface.
  • Consider killing off legacy characters like Gale Weathers for high stakes.
  • Gale's character arc in Scream 7 should end to keep the story engaging.

As a huge fan of Scream, I never want Ghostface to kill off a legacy character, but as I think more about Scream 7, I've changed my mind. The horror sequel won't be in theaters until February 27th, 2026, and as the months go by, I'm both nervous and excited about the next part of Sidney Prescott's (Neve Campbell) story. After watching her learn her high school boyfriend is plotting to kill her, go to college only to find another Ghostface stalking her, and start over several times as an adult, I'm glad Sidney is taking center stage again.

While I'm looking forward to seeing several familiar characters, including two members of the Core Four, I'm convinced that one particular legacy character needs to die. I'll definitely be upset if this happens, but it seems necessary for the slasher's story.

Ghostface from Scream
Scream 7's Time Jump Is What The Slasher Franchise Needs, But I Can't Stop Thinking About This Unique Ghostface Idea

The highly anticipated horror sequel, which will be released in February 2026, shouldn't have the same old Ghostface.

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I Think Gale Weathers Needs To Die In Scream 7 (Although I'm A Huge Courteney Cox Fan)

Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) in Scream (2022)

Although I originally thought this would be a terrible idea, I've changed my mind, and I think Ghostface should kill Gale Weathers in Scream 7. While I hope that Gale's storyline focuses on her journalism career and that fans learn more about her personal life, I think she needs a big showdown with Ghostface, and this time, she should lose.

Gale wins her fight with Ghostface in Scream 6, and I'm glad she survived because it didn't feel like the right time for her to meet her end. However, Gale needs to die in the next movie for a few reasons. First of all, Scream 7 has so many characters that it wouldn't make sense for every legacy character to survive. Ghostface's body count has to be high if the movie is going to be scary and unsettling. I would also argue that Sidney absolutely has to live because she's the center of the story, and it would feel strange if the franchise continued without her. So, when viewed from that perspective, Gale seems like the only option.

No matter how much I love watching Cox play the hardened, harsh, and sometimes funny Gale Weathers, Gale's Scream character arc might have run its course. What is left for her to do at this point? Gale has fought Ghostface, helped Sidney, lost her ex-husband Dewey Riley (David Arquette), and moved to New York City. As smart and cool as I think she is, it's hard to imagine her having much to do in Scream 7.

I also think that Gale's Scream 7 death would help explain Dewey's return. It would be cheesy but moving to see Gale have a vision of Dewey before she dies, and it would be a memorable and nostalgic scene.

Courteney Cox's Gale Could Still Appear In A Future Scream Movie

Courteney Cox as Gale Weathers in Scream

Of course, since several dead characters are returning for Scream 7, I'm sure that Gale could die in the upcoming slasher sequel and still come back sometime. I'd be happy to see Gale in ghost form, and I'd also love to see her in a series of flashbacks. Since she has a sarcastic sense of humor, any appearance from her would be both funny and smart and would fit the tone of the story.

I'm sure Courteney Cox would be open to starring in any Scream movie, especially since she has been passionate about the horror franchise since the beginning. In a 2023 interview with Variety, she shared that when the first film was being cast, she had starred in sitcoms such as Friends, and she wanted Wes Craven to see her as the tough journalist character. She wrote Craven a letter and, of course, won the role.

Cox told Variety that Gale is a "fun" character and was "ruthless" at the start of the franchise. She also described why the characters were so likable in the first movie, and I think her words could be applied to every Scream movie. Cox said:

“It was over the top in the perfect way. You really care about the characters because they were unique, and you don’t laugh at them, you laugh with them because they’re smart. If they were dumb, they were supposed to be and they’re endearing.”

There are still several more months to go before fans find out Ghostface's list of victims. While part of me never wants anything bad to happen to Gale since she's been through so much already, I think it might be time for her character arc to end.

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Scream 7
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Horror
Mystery
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Release Date
February 27, 2026
Director
Kevin Williamson
Writers
Guy Busick
Producers
William Sherak, Paul Neinstein
Prequel(s)
Scream, Scream 2, Scream 3, Scream 4, Scream, Scream VI
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Cast

See All
  • instar53807014.jpg
    Neve Campbell
    Sidney Prescott
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    Courteney Cox
    Gale Weathers
  • instar51001569.jpg
    Isabel May
    Sidney's Daughter
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    Jasmin Savoy Brown
    Mindy Meeks-Martin
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Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) in Scream (1996)
A Scream 7 Fan Wants One Thing For Sidney & I Agree

Scream 7 will continue Sidney Prescott's compelling final girl tale, but what does her life look like years after Ghostface first targeted her?

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