Kevin Williamson has expressed glowing praise for the upcoming Scream VI, with him remarking that it doesn’t feel like a sixth film in a twenty-seven year-old franchise.
Scream is very much the thinking man’s horror franchise. Knowingly meta with it serving as a reaction to twenty years of slashers coming before it, Scream has somehow managed to survive as one continuous canon. Since 1996’s Scream there have been four sequels, with a fifth on its way – albeit without series staple Neve Campbell.
The departure of Campbell is a big loss for the series, especially given how crucial she is to this ongoing story. It took a lot of sting out of fan anticipation for Scream VI, but Williamson (now serving as executive producer) thinks the series isn’t struggling at all. Speaking to SyFy, he says Scream VI is a massive, fresh reinvention for the series and has heaped praise upon the new writing team.
“It doesn’t feel like ‘Part 6,’ it feels like you’re watching this big, huge, fresh reinvention. I love love, love, love it. I’ve watched the movie with a big smile on my face. I think it’s everything and more. And going to New York was awesome. The movie feels new, it feels fresh, it feels like a new movie.”
Williamson’s writing prowess has been replaced by James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick (known collectively as Radio Silence), who he has described as the perfect people to take on the franchise.
“Radio Silence is amazing, they’re the perfect people to take the torch. I love Scream VI. It’s really good. It’s great. There’s no way around it. I’m very happy with how it turned out … I really do have all that enthusiasm for it. I’m really excited.”
The loss of Campbell isn’t as bad for the franchise as it could’ve been, with Jenna Ortega becoming the new face of the series. Ortega had an absolute monster of a year with Scream, X, and then Netflix’s megahit Wednesday. If her Instagram following is anything to go by, it could mean an extraordinary box office number come March.
Scream VI will release in cinemas from March 10.
