Mason Gooding, the star of "Scream 7," enthused about the upcoming horror flick, highlighting Kevin Williamson's return to the director's chair for this seventh installment of the iconic slasher franchise that began with the 1996 original. Speaking at the Los Angeles premiere of "Heart Eyes" on Tuesday, Gooding revealed that under Williamson's guidance, the franchise's infamous villain Ghostface has reached unprecedented levels of brutality.
"It's like an intensified version of what we've seen before, and there's no better testament to that than Kevin Williamson, the mind behind the original, stepping back in to direct," Gooding exclaimed. "Ghostface is undoubtedly the most vicious he's ever been. Without giving too much away, there are scenes involving the human body that mark new territory for Kevin's creativity."
Describing "Scream 7" as "gross, but in the best possible way," Gooding praised the efforts of the practical effects team. "There was a prosthetic in the makeup trailer that literally made my stomach churn," he recounted. "You'll understand what I mean when you see it; it's incredible. They have an extraordinary effects team, and they're putting in overtime to deliver something spectacular."
Gooding expressed his excitement about working alongside Neve Campbell, the original "Scream" starlet, in this sequel, especially after missing out on a meaningful collaboration with her in "Scream 5." "I get to work with Neve in 'Scream 7,' someone I didn't get much of a chance to connect with personally in 'Scream 5,'" he shared. "So, being around her now feels like I'm part of that history, and it brings me immense joy."
In December, it was exclusively reported that Gooding and Courteney Cox were reprising their roles for "Scream 7." Campbell, who skipped the sixth film due to a salary dispute, announced her return for this installment. Additionally, Williamson, who penned the script for the first "Scream" in 1996, will make his directorial debut with this film, stepping in after Christopher Landon exited the project. Jasmin Savoy Brown is also back, having appeared in the fifth and sixth installments alongside Gooding.
New faces joining the cast include Joel McHale, Isabel May, Mark Consuelos, Asa Germann, Mckenna Grace, Sam Rechner, and Anna Camp. "Scream 7" is set to hit theaters on February 27, 2026, distributed by Paramount Pictures and produced by Spyglass Media.
To mark the start of filming, Williamson posted a behind-the-scenes photo on Instagram on January 9. "I'm not supposed to share about 'Scream,' and I hope @spyglassmediagr and @paramountpics will forgive me, but when you experience one of the best days of your life, it's hard to keep it to yourself," he captioned the image. "What an extraordinary day working with an amazing and talented cast and crew. They brought their A-game and supported me every step of the way. I'm incredibly grateful for this opportunity and for Wes Craven, who was always on my mind. His profound impact on my life and career is boundless. What a day! I can't wait for tomorrow!"
