Spoiler Warning: Scream 1-5

In 1996, the world was introduced to a new brand of horror from the brilliant mind of Wes Craven. Craven was previously known for his spectacular horror films A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), The Last House on the Left (1972), and The Hills Have Eyes (1977). However, this new film combined horror cliches and comedy in a way that dazzled audiences and turned the film and subsequent films into a cult-classic franchise. Scream created a world of horror that mocked horror, and with its band of talented actors at the helm, the franchise has lasted nearly 30 years.

When the first film was released in 1996, fans were introduced to final girl, Sidney Prescott, portrayed by Neve Campbell. They were also introduced to her group of friends and her boyfriend, Billy Loomis, played by Skeet Ulrich. Sidney soon finds herself in the center of a murder spree, and it seems that she is the final piece of the puzzle. She finds help in her friend's deputy brother, Dewey Riley (David Arquette), and in an unlikely alliance, local news reporter Gale Weathers (Courtney Cox). It is soon revealed that her boyfriend is the killer along with his best friend and, in the end, Sidney and her remaining friends are able to stop them. The cycle repeated itself for two more films, chronicling the rises and falls of the final trio.

With a new film on the horizon, could audiences expect to say goodbye to fan favorites Sidney Prescott and Gale Weathers, who have been a part of it all since day one?

A New Kind of Scream

It seemed for a while that the third film would be the end of the franchise. The heroine has regained her life, the evil was defeated, and even Gale and Dewey got their happily ever after. But 11 years later, the story continued. Scream 4 introduced a whole new band of characters as well as the old ones. Jill Roberts (Emma Roberts) is introduced as Sidney’s cousin, living in their hometown when, out of nowhere, murders start spiking. Dewey, now the town’s sheriff, asks for Sidney’s help once again. Sidney, now a touring author of a book describing her life, is more than happy to lend a hand. Gale is also more than happy to get the scoop and hopefully get her name back into the spotlight. Soon, after a slew of crazy murders and cliche dialogue, it is revealed that Jill is the murderer, and she was intent on blaming Sidney in order to become a famous final girl herself. However, good triumphs over evil once again, and everything is back to normal. Well, as normal as these movies can get.

In 2022, a new sequel of sorts was thrown into the mix, simply titled Scream. The film centered on a whole new group of teens and young adults, one being the daughter of the original BIlly Loomis, Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barrera). She, along with her sister (Jenna Ortega), boyfriend (Jack Quaid) and other Woodsboro natives work to uncover the new killer's identity. They soon discover that the killer is going after relatives of the original group from the first murders, so they call in reinforcements. Sidney, Gale, and Dewey, now leading their own lives separately, are forced back together to help the newbies save their friends.

However, in a fight with the killer, Dewey is killed. Now it’s only Gale and Sidney remaining. Soon, Sam finds out that her sister’s best friend and her own boyfriend are the tag-team killers. In a fight taking place in the same house as the original murders, she is able to take them both down and save her sister, friends, and the original final ladies.

Will the Scream Torch Be Passed?

Scream 6 was greenlit in February of this year and production is slated to begin this summer and will be released March 31, 2023. Courtney Cox has been very vocal about being involved in the film and being excited about returning as Gale Weathers. However, she’s not too keen to give away the details. In an article with People, the Friends alum stated, “You actually have to be killed if you talk about it, so I’m not gonna say anything.” It has not, however, been confirmed if Neve Campbell will return as Sidney for the newest installment.

The next film will be directed by duo Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett of Radio Silence, who directed the fifth film, and James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick will be writing the script. The film has also welcomed back Scream (2022) cast members Jenna Ortega, Melissa Barrera, Jasmin Savoy Brown, and Mason Gooding. It has also recently been revealed that Hayden Panettiere, who was previously a part of the fourth film and a favorite amongst audiences, will return to her role as Kirby Reed. With all that is known and not known about the film, fans are left wondering, will this film be Gale and Sidney’s last?

While there is always a possibility of a return for the heroines, it does appear as if the creators are gearing up for a departure from the old crew. The previous film did a magnificent job introducing characters to fill the holes that would be left by the enduring trio of the original films. The film even had fans say goodbye to Dewey, who had previously been shot and stabbed so many times it was reaching comical, but who had also endured up until the fifth film.

If the franchise could say goodbye to such a great and iconic character, then what is stopping the new creators from finally passing the torch from our original final girls to the new ones in Barrera’s Sam and Ortega’s Tara? With Campbell still unconfirmed to return, it seems more than likely that the new final girls and their friends will be the new dream team of Woodsboro.