'Scream 7' original directors say their version collapsed after major shake-up

The original creative team behind Scream 7 has opened up about how their planned version of the film fell apart, revealing that the project was effectively scrapped after a series of high-profile departures and behind-the-scenes turmoil. According to reports, the directors’ initial vision for the horror sequel was abandoned following major casting changes and a complete overhaul of the script.

The film, which ultimately hit theaters in February 2026 with Kevin Williamson directing and Neve Campbell returning as Sidney Prescott, was originally set to follow a very different storyline centered on the newer generation of characters. That earlier version unraveled after the firing of one of its leads and the subsequent departure of other key collaborators, forcing the studio to start over creatively.

Former director Christopher Landon previously indicated that the film he signed on to make effectively “no longer existed” after those changes, explaining that the original script had been built around a specific character and narrative arc that could not continue once the cast shifted.

The shake-up triggered a chain reaction that led to a full creative reset, with new writers tasked with reworking the story from scratch and a new director stepping in to steer the project in a different direction. The final version of Scream 7 that audiences saw was therefore markedly different from what had initially been planned during its early development stages.

Despite the behind-the-scenes upheaval, the film was completed and released on schedule, with longtime franchise stars returning alongside a mix of legacy characters and new additions. Still, the revelations from the original directors underscore just how dramatically the sequel changed course before reaching the screen.