Mason Gooding Says Scream 7 Returns To Its Roots — And My Hype Just Spiked

Horror keeps winning, and Ghostface is not done with us yet. The seventh Scream is one of the big ones on the horizon, and after a new tease from Mason Gooding, I’m even more ready for February to get here… the 2026 version of February, to be clear.

Mason Gooding says Scream 7 is going back to basics

Gooding, who plays Chad Meeks-Martin (and somehow keeps walking off the battlefield), is back for the new film. While chatting with Deadline at Sundance, he hinted that this one aims squarely at the vibe of the original.

"There’s a scene, I guess it was in the trailer, watching the scene with the knife going through the wall as Isabel’s going through it. It’s great. I feel like it’s got something for everyone. Especially from Kevin, who obviously began the franchise in the beginning. This is maybe the closest to the original ethos of the franchise. Which I think is really exciting as a fan of the original."

That last bit is the headline: original Scream writer Kevin Williamson is directing Scream 7. It’s his first time directing a Scream movie, which is a neat little behind-the-scenes twist. If he’s steering the ship and Gooding’s calling it the closest to the 1996 vibe, that’s promising.

What the trailer actually shows (and what that might mean)

• Neve Campbell is back as Sidney Prescott. She sat out Scream VI and only popped in for a supporting role in 2022, but the footage makes it look like Sidney is stepping back into the spotlight.
• There’s a quick, nasty shot of a knife carving through a wall as someone named Isabel tries to squeeze through. Very Scream, very mean.
• Chad and Mindy Meeks-Martin show up in what looks like a bar, and Ghostface crashes the party. It’s brief, but it does not look like a friendly hello.

About those survivors

I hate to say it, but Chad feels overdue for a hospital bracelet that actually sticks. In the 2022 film he took a beating and kept moving. In Scream VI, two different killers tag-teamed him with enough stabs to qualify as modern art, and he still returned upright and cracking jokes by the end. If you believe in slasher karma, that tab might be due.

On the flip side, the Carpenter sisters are not returning for Scream 7, which leaves Chad and Mindy as the only Core Four carryovers from the last two movies. If the story wants continuity, that may buy them some plot armor. Emphasis on may.

Worth noting about secrecy

Scream productions are notoriously protective about spoilers, and this one is no different. Details are thin by design, which is exactly how this franchise plays best.

Want to catch up first?

The last two Screams are streaming on Paramount+. Plans start at $7.99 a month or $59.99 a year for the Essential tier, and jump to $12.99 a month for Premium if you want it ad-free.

Release date

Scream 7 hits theaters on February 27, 2026. Marketing should ramp up as we get closer, but ideally they keep the good stuff under wraps. If Gooding’s right and Williamson really dialed back into that original ethos, I’m in.