Scream 7 Cast SHOCKER: The Full List Of Returning Icons And New Blood After The Core Four's Collapse

The *Scream* franchise has been completely redefined. As of December 12, 2025, the cast for the highly anticipated *Scream 7* has undergone the most dramatic and controversial shakeup in the series' history, following the abrupt departure of its two main stars, Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega. This massive shift has forced the film to pivot back to its roots, bringing back not just the legendary final girl, Sidney Prescott, but also two characters fans thought were permanently dead.

The upcoming film, set for release on February 27, 2026, promises a return to form under the direction of franchise creator Kevin Williamson. This article breaks down the complete, confirmed cast list—from the returning OGs to the new faces who will be running from Ghostface in the next chapter of the Woodsboro saga.

The Complete and Updated Scream 7 Cast Roster

The *Scream 7* cast is a mix of beloved veterans, surviving members of the recent sequels, and a host of new characters designed to rebuild the franchise's ensemble. Here is the definitive list of actors confirmed to star, along with their roles and a brief biography.

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• Neve Campbell (Sidney Prescott): The original final girl and heart of the franchise, returning to the role she first played in 1996. Campbell is an iconic figure in the horror genre.
• Courteney Cox (Gale Weathers): The tenacious, sometimes ruthless, but always surviving reporter. Cox has been a staple in every *Scream* movie to date.
• David Arquette (Dewey Riley): In a shocking twist, Arquette is confirmed to return as the beloved former Deputy Dewey Riley, who was gruesomely killed in *Scream 5*. The nature of his return (flashback, dream, or retcon) is a major mystery.
• Matthew Lillard (Stu Macher): The most surprising return, Lillard will officially reprise his role as Stu Macher, one of the original Ghostface killers from the first film, who was presumed dead. This comeback confirms decades of fan theories.
• Mason Gooding (Chad Meeks-Martin): One half of the surviving Meeks-Martin twins and a member of the "Core Four" from *Scream 5* and *Scream 6*.
• Jasmin Savoy Brown (Mindy Meeks-Martin): The other half of the twins, known for her meta-commentary on horror movies, and the final remaining member of the original "Core Four."
• Joel McHale (Mark Evans): Joining the cast as Mark Evans, the husband of Sidney Prescott. McHale is best known for his role as Jeff Winger on the comedy series *Community*.
• Isabel May (Tatum Evans): Cast as Sidney Prescott and Mark Evans' daughter, Tatum Evans. May is known for her starring role in the Western series *1883*.
• Celeste O'Connor: A new, undisclosed role in the film. O'Connor is known for her work in *Ghostbusters: Afterlife* and *Madame Web*.
• Asa Germann: Cast in an undisclosed role. Germann is a rising star known for the Amazon Prime series *Gen V*.
• Sam Rechner: Known for his role in Steven Spielberg's *The Fabelmans*, Rechner joins the ensemble in an unknown capacity.
• Anna Camp: Best known for her roles in the *Pitch Perfect* films and *True Blood*, Camp is another key newcomer.

The Core Four Collapse: Why the Franchise Had to Pivot

The narrative of *Scream* for the last two entries (*Scream 5* and *Scream 6*) was centered on the "Core Four": sisters Sam and Tara Carpenter, and twins Chad and Mindy Meeks-Martin. Sam Carpenter, played by Melissa Barrera, was established as the new protagonist, the daughter of original Ghostface killer Billy Loomis. The entire future of the franchise was built around her character arc.

However, that foundation crumbled in late 2024 when Spyglass Media, the studio behind the films, fired Barrera from *Scream 7*. The firing was a direct result of social media posts Barrera made regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict, which Spyglass deemed "flagrantly crossing the line into hate speech". Barrera had been outspoken in her support for Palestine, describing events in the region as a "genocide".

Shortly after Barrera's dismissal, Jenna Ortega, who played her sister Tara Carpenter, also exited the project. While initial reports cited scheduling conflicts with her hit show *Wednesday*, many sources linked her departure to solidarity with her co-star and the major creative shift caused by the firing. The loss of the two main characters, the new "final girls," forced the studio to completely overhaul the script and bring the story back to the original hero, Sidney Prescott, and the classic cast.

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The Unthinkable Returns: Dewey and Stu Macher Are Back

The most explosive news surrounding the *Scream 7* cast is the confirmed return of two characters whose deaths were pivotal moments in the franchise: Dewey Riley and Stu Macher.

The Return of Deputy Dewey Riley

Dewey Riley, played by David Arquette, was brutally murdered by Ghostface in *Scream 5*, a moment that shocked fans and provided a major emotional beat for the subsequent film. His return has been officially confirmed, though the specifics of his role are a closely guarded secret. It is highly speculated that his appearance will be in the form of a flashback, a dream sequence, or even a vision, perhaps haunting Gale Weathers or Sidney Prescott. Given the emotional weight of his death, a full retcon is unlikely, but his inclusion is a powerful nod to the original trilogy and a way to bring back a fan-favorite without undercutting the impact of *Scream 5*.

Stu Macher: Decades of Theories Confirmed

Even more surprising is the confirmation of Matthew Lillard's return as Stu Macher. Stu was one of the two original Ghostface killers in the 1996 film, seemingly killed when Sidney dropped a television on his head. For decades, a persistent fan theory has argued that Stu survived and would return to the series, a notion often fueled by Lillard himself.

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His official casting, nearly 30 years later, validates this long-standing theory, suggesting that Stu may have been secretly alive and imprisoned, or perhaps the mastermind behind a new wave of Ghostface attacks. This twist fundamentally changes the lore of the franchise, linking the latest film directly back to the very first murders in Woodsboro and providing a compelling, meta-narrative reason for Sidney Prescott to be pulled back into the terror.

The New Direction: Sidney Prescott's Family Under Attack

With the "Core Four" narrative gone, *Scream 7* is shifting its focus squarely onto Sidney Prescott and her new family life. The plot synopsis confirms that a new Ghostface killer emerges in the quiet town where Sidney has built a new, peaceful life, realizing her darkest fears.

The addition of Joel McHale as her husband, Mark Evans, and Isabel May as her daughter, Tatum Evans (a name that pays tribute to Sidney’s friend Tatum Riley, Dewey's sister, who died in the original film), grounds the new story in high stakes. This new direction provides a fresh, emotional vulnerability for Sidney, who must now protect her own children from the masked killer, a terrifying evolution of the slasher trope she has survived for decades. The film is now a direct sequel to the original trilogy's emotional core, promising a terrifying, high-stakes final chapter for the iconic heroine.