Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 228

Mephisto Finally Confirmed in the MCU?!

Mephisto Watch is back on the menu! After WandaVision sent fan theories into overdrive, Agatha All Along finally mentioned the long awaited Marvel villain. What does this mean for the future? Who exactly is Mephisto? Kyle Anderson has you covered with all those questions and more on today’s Nerdist News!

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Batman Villains Who Would Thrive in a More Realistic World Like THE PENGUIN

The Penguin on HBO has shown audiences, much like its parent film The Batman did, that certain classic villains thrive in a more realistic, crime drama scenario. Obviously, some great Batman villains and other elements would never work in this context (but would be welcome additions to James Gunn’s DCU). But there are several Bat-baddies from the pages of DC Comics that deserve a spotlight in Matt Reeves’ grounded and gritty version of Gotham City. Here are our top seven choices:

Mr. ZsaszDC Comics

Victor Zsasz, unlike most Batman villains, doesn’t have a theatrical disguise or catchy nickname. He’s just a brutal serial killer, and the closest thing he has to a gimmick is that he carves a mark on his skin for each murder he commits, leaving his body covered in scars. He does have a twisted origin story though, as all good Bat villains do. Zsasz lost all his money gambling at the Penguin’s Iceberg Lounge, and decided to take his own life. When a vagrant attacked Victor, he snapped and killed him, realizing he’d rather kill others to “free them” from existence. The character has appeared in Batman Begins, the Arkham games, Gotham, and Birds of Prey. However, it’s always in minor roles. The Batman universe is the perfect place for Mr. Zsasz to thrive.

HushDC Comics

One of the biggest additions to the Batman mythos in DC Comics in the 2000s was the villain Hush. Introduced in the storyline of the same name by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee, Hush was a villain whose true identity and motivations were a secret for much of his introductory story. He covered his face in bandages, appearing a bit like the Invisible Man. For a year, Hush manipulated all of Batman’s rogues’ gallery to attack him, before his true identity was finally revealed.

It turned out (spoilers) Hush was really Thomas “Tommy” Elliot, a childhood friend of Bruce Wayne’s. Unlike Bruce, he hated his wealthy parents. He planned to murder them to inherit their fortune, but Dr. Thomas Wayne saved his mother’s life. This led to a lifelong hatred of the Waynes, even after he grew up to become a neurosurgeon himself. In the pre-release excitement for The Batman, many thought Hush would feature in the movie. He didn’t, but we could still see Tommy Elliot pop up somewhere in The Batman world. He certainly fits right in.

Professor Hugo StrangeDC Comics

One of the earliest Batman villains, predating the Joker and Penguin, is Professor Hugo Strange. Portrayed originally as just a typical mad scientist villain who created zombie-like henchmen, he returned in the ‘70s as a psychiatrist who discovered Batman’s secret identity. Eventually, Hugo Strange weaponized that secret against him. He even tried to sell Batman’s identity to the highest bidder once. Hugo Strange was actually on staff at Arkham for years, until they committed him to being a patient there after he became a criminal. With no costume or gimmicks to speak of, Strange feels like the perfect villain for Matt Reeves’ Batman universe. Especially as Arkham Asylum is a featured location in this version of Gotham, as seen in both The Batman and now, The Penguin.

The Court of OwlsDC Comics

One of the most popular additions to Batman’s illustrious cadre of villains came from writer Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo in 2011, the Court of Owls. Snyder established the Court as a sinister secret society that dates back over a century, who control almost everything in Gotham City. The Court contains the richest and most powerful people in Gotham, who hide behind creepy, expressionless snow owl masks. The Court of Owls’ introductory storyline is considered one of the greatest Batman sagas ever, and Matt Reeves has hinted that he’s bringing them into his universe. Some aspects of the mythology, like the Court’s undead agents called Talons, wouldn’t work in Reeves’ world. But the core concept of the Court of Owls certainly seems like a no-brainer for his universe.

Black MaskDC Comics

Black Mask is another crime lord-type character that would fit in perfectly into Matt Reeves’ Gotham City. Roman Sionis, very similar to Hush and Bruce Wayne, came from a wealthy Gotham family. The Sionis family ran a successful cosmetics company, Janus Cosmetics. Roman’s parents disapproved of his new girlfriend, however, and accused him of slumming it with someone beneath his station. As a result, he murdered them. Roman Sionis inherited the company, but he ran it into the ground thanks to his poor business skills.

Roman Sionis eventually sold his company to Wayne Enterprises, leading to a lifelong animosity towards Bruce Wayne. Having lost it all, he lost his mind, and forged a black mask out of the ebony casket of his father, becoming the crime lord Black Mask. He’s appeared in a few live-action projects like Gotham, and Ewan McGregor gave us a scenery-chewing version of the character for Birds of Prey. We imagine a more serious, less over-the-top take for Black Mask wouldn’t be hard to pull off at all.

Professor PygDC Comics

Created by writer Grant Morrison, Professor Pyg is a villain in the true classic Batman mode. Criminally insane, and with a memorable visual and gimmick. In the comics, Lazlo Valentin wears a disturbing-looking pig mask that looks like it belongs in a Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie. Because of his strange fixation with the myth of Pygmalion, and its ideas about physical perfection, he kidnaps people to perform horrible and unnecessary surgery on them, transforming them into living drones. While we think the “living drones” part is a little too fantastical for Matt Reeves’ world, an insane doctor in a weird mask is no more creepy than the Riddler in The Batman. Professor Pyg straddles the line, but he could work in a more realistic context.

The ScarecrowDC Comics

Scarecrow is maybe the most iconic Batman rogue on this list, and also one of the most theatrical. So how does he work in a more realistic universe? Well, frankly, we’ve seen it already. Cillian Murphy’s version of Doctor Jonathan Crane, a sociopathic doctor who performs experiments on unwitting subjects involving fear, was introduced in Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins. The Nolan films even found a way to make his mask plausible in a less fantastical world. He appeared again in cameo form in Nolan’s two follow-up films. But his less theatrical take on the Scarecrow was never the main villain, and he deserved to be. Especially as Scarecrow is such an over-the-top baddie in the comics and cartoons. We could see Matt Reeves doing something similar. But we bet Reeves’ version would be even more terrifying than Nolan’s was.

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DYNAMIC DUO Film Will Depict Early Days of Dick Grayson and Jason Todd Via Puppetry and Animation

I feel like every few days there’s a new piece of news out of DC Studios that has me intrigued and excited. From the beginning, studio co-head James Gunn has promised animation will be a major part of the output. The DCU will start with Creature Commandos this December after all. Hot on the heels of reports that a Deathstroke and Bane movie is in the works, we learn that another team-up movie, this one called Dynamic Duo, is also on the way. The difference? This one is about two classic Robins with a mix of animation, puppetry, and CGI.

DC Comics

James Gunn shared the news on his Twitter account, saying the movie would be about the early days of both Dick Grayson and Jason Todd. According to Deadline, who fleshed out the story, “They’re orphan thieves, best friends who share dreams of a better life, but their friendship will be tested by competing visions of a future out of which will come a new Dynamic Duo….” Fascinating.

Over the moon excited to announce the newest DC Studios/Warner Bros Pictures Animation greenlit film for theaters, DYNAMIC DUO, the story of Robin… or should I say, Robins, as in Dick Grayson and Jason Todd. The first feature film from the visionary Swaybox, a mix of animation,… pic.twitter.com/IBBMgP1riP

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) October 1, 2024

The movie will be the first joint project between DC Studios and Warner Bros Pictures Animation, along with Matt Reeves’ 6th and Idaho production company. Reeves himself will serve as producer on the film, though we should note the animated movie for families will not be in the canon of The Batman and The Penguin. Matthew Aldrich, writer of Disney-Pixar’s Coco, has penned the script.

Dynamic Duo will be the first feature from New Orleans-based animation studio Swaybox and husband-and-wife creators, Arthur Mintz and Theresa Andersson. Mintz will direct the movie. Swaybox uses a “Momo Animation” technology which is a cross between CGI animation, practical elements of stop-motion, and live-action real-time performance. The result, as Deadline writes, is “long-form storytelling that is visually breathtaking, dynamically expressive, and more human.”

DC Comics

Reeves said of the project, “I have wanted to make a film with Arthur and Swaybox for many years, and for that film to be Dynamic Duo, an incredibly special and unique Batman and Robin story for families, is a dream.”

I have to say, this intrigues me beyond words to see how this story plays out. Dick Grayson is one thing, but Jason Todd in a family movie? And how will their relationship exist in this different version of events? Ten bucks says Jason wears a red hoodie the whole time.

At any rate, no word on release dates—why would there be?—but add this to the growing list of DC things to anticipate.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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Acting Legend Daniel Day-Lewis Comes Out of Retirement for His Son’s Directing Debut

Back in 2017, Daniel Day-Lewis, one of the world’s finest stage and screen performers, retired from acting and the movies. He fully intended Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Phantom Thread as his final film. Well, another director has persuaded Daniel Day-Lewis to get back in the acting saddle again — his own son, Roman Day-Lewis. The Oscar winner will star in Roman Day-Lewis’ Anemone, which the father and son duo are co-writing together. Roman Day-Lewis is an accomplished visual artist, and Anemone is his first feature film. Joining Daniel Day-Lewis in the cast of Anemone are Sean Bean, Samantha Morton, Samuel Bottomley, and Safia Oakley-Green.

Focus Features

According to Focus Features, which is releasing Anemone, Daniel Day-Lewis’ return to movie acting “explores the intricate relationships between fathers, sons and brothers, and the dynamics of familial bonds.” In a statement about Anemone, Focus Features Chairman Peter Kujawski said of the movie and Day-Lewis’ part in it, “We could not be more excited to partner with a brilliant visual artist in Ronan Day-Lewis on his first feature film alongside Daniel Day-Lewis as his creative collaborator. They have written a truly exceptional script, and we look forward to bringing their shared vision to audiences alongside the team at Plan B.”

Daniel Day-Lewis is one of the most acclaimed actors of his generation. He has three Oscars, and received three nominations for other roles. He also won three Screen Actor’s Guild Awards, and they even knighted him in 2014. So that’s Sir Daniel Day-Lewis to you. Daniel Day-Lewis’ return to the screen for Anemone is actually not the first time he’s come out of retirement. In 1997, he retired from acting to become an apprentice shoemaker in Italy. That retirement was relatively brief, and he returned to acting in 2000. This most recent retirement was slightly longer, about as long as Hugh Jackman’s retirement from playing Wolverine. Hopefully, Daniel Day-Lewis is back to stay this time, and Anemone won’t be his next last movie. Anemone currently does not have a release date.

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The 5 Best Foods to Eat at Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights 2024

Earlier in the fall, it was Nerdist‘s pleasure to attend Halloween Horror Nights 2024 at Universal Orlando. Of course, we were incredibly excited to experience Halloween Horror Nights’ main draw, it’s faboolous Haunted Houses (which we ranked, here.) However, anyone who has ever heard of Halloween Horror Nights knows that the delight doesn’t end with the main event. No. In addition to its houses of scares, Halloween Horror Nights always offers an incredible array of food items and treats that are as delicious as they are gore-geous. Before attending, we exclusively revealed some of the haunted morsels Universal Orlando would serve up at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights. But that didn’t hold a candle to trying them out for ourselves.

In no particular order, here are the four best food items we experienced at Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 2024. (Except for the Ropa Veija Walking Taco, which is absolutely the best thing you can put into your mouth at the event, bar none.)

The Wooden Board Eclair Will Make You Gasp (With Delight)Universal Orlando

The Wooden Board Eclair is one Halloween Horror Nights food item that has it all. Firstly, it’s pretty darn themed. Inspired, of course, by A Quiet Place‘s movies, this eclair literally brings to life one of the most harrowing scenes in the first movie… the one that you’ve seen coming all along but still don’t feel ready for. The one that really makes you scream. (But shhhh.)

The Wooden Board Eclair literally has a nail sticking out of it, and its wooden board is so beautifully detailed and well-crafted that you’ll struggle to take a bite. But it won’t be sounds of pain you make when you put this treat into your mouth. Nope! When you bite into this delectable eclair, you’ll be groaning with delight because this is one delicious treat.

The Wooden Board Eclair is a textural joy. It’s perfectly fluffy on the outside and then delectably creamy on the inside. The chocolate is smooth and rich on top. Of course, it’s also delicious. But the best part is the heat of this eclair. It’s spicy but in an incredibly pleasant way. There’s just enough burn to the filling to the pastry cream that you get a tingle. But this treat definitely does not enough heat that it scorches your tongue. Alongside the chocolate, it’s a visceral experience that puts you in mind of the way you feel after watching a horror movie. You’ve really gone on an adventure, but you’re happy to have done it. A 10/10 food at Universal Orland’s Halloween Horror Nights 2024.

The Red Door Hand Pie Is a Perfect Portal and PieUniversal Orlando

The Red Door hand pie is a delight. Firstly, it’s so red. Who doesn’t want to consume a food that red? I know I do. Secondly, it’s a perfect little model of Insidious‘ eerie portal to demonic worlds. But! It won’t actually bring you into The Further and try to consume your soul. So that’s great news. As a bonus, it’s vegan. And honestly, it’s really thoughtful of Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights to have such delicious foods for all kinds of diets. This hand pie is delectably savory. It really has that unctuous richness of an incredible fall stew, and it’s so easy to eat as you walk around the park. The crust is also really nifty. Its texture kind of reminds me of a pop-tart, but I really enjoyed the way it crumbled and complemented the rich insides. The red glaze is also very satisfying in its smoothness, again a bit like a savory pop-tart, but in a good way.

The Mini Stay-Puft S’more Is One Food Item You Can’t Miss at Halloween Horror Nights 2024Universal Orlando

I mean, come on, the Mini Stay-Puft S’more HAD to be on this list of best food items at Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights 2024. It’s an icon. Not only is it spooktacularly disturbing because you’re literally consuming a burnt mini Stay-Puft man, but it is also SO adorable. That’s the perfect Halloween Horror Nights secret recipe. But I have to say that this Mini Stay-Puft S’more just doesn’t LOOK good. It is quite honestly the most delicious marshmallow I have ever consumed in my life. Do not miss out on this scrumptious and Instagram-worthy treat.

The Heart Beet Tostada Brought Resturant Quality Food to LifeUniversal Orlando

At first I wasn’t sure about the Heart Beet Tostada. It felt kind of like there was too much tortilla to topping when it came to the ratio of ingredients. But the more I ate it, the more delicious it became. It might be a bit hard to eat on the go, but once you’re fully munching into this bleeding, or rather beeting, heart you’ll be glad you did. The beets are pickled, but not too pickled. And everything is a little sour in the best way. Of all of the Halloween Horror Nights food items I sampled at Universal Orlando, this one was the most professional feeling. And so bloody good. The Heart Beet Tostada was also inspired by one of Universal Orlando’s best 2024 Halloween Horror Nights houses, Monstruos: The Monsters of Latin America.

The Ropa Veija Walking Taco Was the Best Food Item at Halloween Horror Nights 2024Nerdist

And so we have come to the Ropa Veija Walking Taco. The Ropa Veija Walking Taco isn’t themed. It’s not particularly adorable. It doesn’t have delicately crafted nuances. But it is SO delicious. Of all the foods I tasted at Halloween Horror Nights 2024, the Ropa Veija Walking Taco was the one I woke up thinking about, the one I craved for a week after. I had order Ropa Veija at home, this was so good. But it just wasn’t the same.

Nerdist

The Ropa Veija Walking Taco is the perfect little bundle of flavor. The meat is so savory and delicious you can’t stop eating it. And all its toppings really complement the rich beef so well, adding brightness and texture to cut through the lushness and keep it from becoming too heavy. If you go to Halloween Horror Nights 2024 make sure this is the one food item that you try. You will NOT regret it. Just make sure you eat this taco with a fork and not with the Doritos inside. If you try to eat it with the Doritos, you WILL regret it.

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Liam Hemsworth Loved THE WITCHER 3 But Hadn’t Read the Books or Seen the Show

The Witcher will end its run on Netflix with seasons four and five. That will also be how long Liam Hemsworth serves as the Continent’s White Wolf. He’s replacing Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia. Cavill’s departure remains a stunner for a lot of reasons, including that he’s a huge fan of the franchise. How does Hemsworth’s love for all things monsters and magic compare? Turns out he’s an OG fan of The Witcher 3, but that was the extent of his familiarity with the world of Andrzej Sapkowski when Netflix first approached him about joining the show. The new Geralt says he hadn’t read any of the books or even seen the Netflix series before taking on the role. But don’t worry, he made sure he did before he said yes.

During an appearance on Live With Kelly and Mark (which we first heard about at IGN), Hemsworth talked about working on The Witcher. He says he has about three more weeks of shooting before he wraps season four. He also shared the story of his own journey with The Witcher long before he joined the series. Here’s what he said:

I hadn’t seen the TV show and I hadn’t read the books, but I played the video game like ten years ago or something. It’s still, to this day, one of the best video games of all time. And Netflix came to me, almost two years ago now, and said that they wanted me to step in and take over. And I was really excited by taking on that character because I was a fan of the video game. But I said, “Let me watch the TV show and have a look at the books and really stuck into it.”

Netflix

We’re sure he more than knows his stuff now. He’s read the books, watched the show, and replayed one of his favorite game. Plus, you know, he’s literally been filming as Geralt. Forget his past experience with The Witcher. You can’t get much more intimate with the franchise than that.

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You Can Make This LEGO Ideas BEETLEJUICE Set Hit Shelves Soon

A new film-focused project has graced the LEGO Ideas website, this time inspired by the classic horror comedy Beetlejuice. LEGO Ideas is a platform where fans can submit their designs to the website. If the design surpasses 10,000 supporters, LEGO creates the design into an actual set available for purchase. Past projects that have come to fruition include the new The Nightmare Before Christmas set and the BTS Dynamite set.

Brick Built Labs/LEGO

The Beetlejuice-inspired LEGO ideas set is titled “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Beetlejuice!,” alluding to the new Beetlejuice Beetlejuice film in theatres. Set designer Brick Build Labs said, “Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice is returning to the big screen in a new sequel, and now is the perfect time for the return of Beetlejuice to LEGO!”

The proposed set is a modular build of the Maitland house from the film, which is central to the plots of the original and new films. Fun fact: the Maitland house in the original movie was created for the film to match Tim Burton‘s vision.

Brick Built Labs/LEGO

Many play features adorn the set, such as acting out scenes from the movie with the eight included minifigures. Additionally, the house’s attic features a chimney door and a light-up, green LEGO brick. Minifigure characters include Adam and Barbara Maitland, who come with alternate faces, Charles, Delia, Lydia, Otho, Miss Argentina, and the Magician’s Assistant from the Netherworld Waiting Room.

To make this set a reality, you can make a LEGO Ideas account and support it. Once it gains 10,000 supporters, it moves onto the review stage, where LEGO decides if the project is viable for mass production. The project currently has 3,300 supporters, with 566 days left to gain at least 10,000 total supporters.

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THE SIMPSONS Began Season 36 With Its ‘Series Finale,’ But The Show Isn’t Actually Ending

Time comes for us all. There’s no way for anyone to prevent the arrival of tomorrow. That is unless you live in Springfield, USA. If you call that small city home you get to stay the same age forever. You apparently also get to be on TV forever, which is why The Simpsons might never get a chance to air a final episode. However, that didn’t stop the animated sitcom from making one anyway. The show kicked off its 36th season with a meta “Series Finale” even though it’s not actually going anywhere.

Fox

A cartoon version of former The Simpsons writer Conan O’Brien hosted a meta season 36 premiere from the “Dolby-Mucinex Theatre.” After throwing plenty of shade at himself, Fox, viewers, and the show, he welcomed Springfield’s most notorious family, their friends and foes, and celebrity guests to the event. Some of the famous voices/faces to get in on the silly fun included Tom Hanks, Joel McHale, John Cena, Danny DeVito, Seth Rogen, Mark Proksch, and Amy Sedaris.

In classic Simpsons-fashion, the show used this faux finale as an opportunity to tackle a timely topic: AI. O’Brien said the writers had turned the script over to artificial intelligence. It produced an episode-within-the-episode called “Bart’s Birthday,” a trope-laden goodbye full of classic final episode cliches and parodies. It was a truly fitting story for a plagiarism machine.

Fox

The A.I. crafted some big departures, fond farewells, emotional retirements, potential spinoff setups, and absurd births and weddings. But things went haywire when “Series Finale” Bart became sentient after realizing he couldn’t actually turn 11. Bart Simpson is ten years old. He knows he’s always been ten years old and always will be. That’s just how things work in Springfield, USA, the only place immune to the passage of time.

It’s also the only place immune to ever having to worry about making an actual series finale.

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The Russo Brothers’ THE ELECTRIC STATE Drops First Photos of Blonde Millie Bobby Brown and Her Toy Robot

Millie Bobby Brown is trading in one set of famous directing brothers for another. The Stranger Things actress will star in The Electric State, with Joe and Anthony Russo directing. Additionally, more cast have been announced to join this star-studded film, including Michelle Yeoh and Stanley Tucci. Based on the illustrated sci-fi story by Simon Stålenhag, The Electric State follows a girl and her toy robot on a journey through a bleak(er), futuristic US.

Nearly two years after the announcement, we finally have our first look photos of The Electric State, which feature a blond-haired Millie Bobby Brown and robots.

First look at The Russo Brothers’ ‘THE ELECTRIC STATE’

Starring Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, Anthony Mackie, Brian Cox, Woody Harrelson, Giancarlo Esposito and Ke Huy Quan.

Releasing in early 2025 on Netflix.

(Source: https://t.co/qFKq3PgPUz) pic.twitter.com/yPqG40Sgw5

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 1, 2024

Here’s the synopsis for The Electric State book:

In late 1997, a runaway teenager and her small yellow toy robot travel west through a strange American landscape where the ruins of gigantic battle drones litter the countryside, along with the discarded trash of a high-tech consumerist society addicted to a virtual-reality system. As they approach the edge of the continent, the world outside the car window seems to unravel at an ever faster pace, as if somewhere beyond the horizon, the hollow core of civilization has finally caved in.

Netflix

Joining Brown in the cast is a whole slew of famous names. We’ll see Michelle Yeoh, Stanley Tucci, Jason Alexander, Brian Cox, and Jenny Slate in The Electric State, per Deadline. According to the publication, Chris Pratt will also star in the movie. As will Giancarlo Esposito, Ke Huy Quan, Anthony Mackie, and Billy Bob Thornton who have signed on for voice acting roles. Details on the characters these actors will play are slim overall.

A24/Netflix/CNN

Alongside the Russos, we’ll also see a pair of very familiar names behind the scenes. Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, who worked with the brothers on several Marvel movies and The Gray Man, are behind the script.

Simon & Schuster

It’s quite the Netflix crossover, seeing the Russos and Brown collaborate for the streaming platform. In addition to starring in one of the streaming platform’s biggest hits, Brown also leads the Enola Holmes films, produced by Legendary, for Netflix. And the Russo brothers’ teamed with Netflix for The Gray Man, which releases on July 15. That film, with a $200 million dollar budget, is currently Netflix’s most expensive film. But it may have some competition in The Electric State. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the upcoming film boasts a staggering budget—beyond The Gray Man‘s. Apparently Netflix scooped up The Electric State after Universal Pictures let it go over the hefty price tag.

It’s interesting to see Netflix taking on a very expensive project. Especially given the company’s very, very tumultuous year in 2022. But with Brown and the Russos involved, it certainly looks like a solid bet for the streaming platform. This film will release sometime in 2025.

Originally published on November 2, 2022 with original reporting by Meaghan Kirby.

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SCREAM 7 Gets a February 2026 Release Date

Despite a slew of controversy over the past two years, the Scream franchise is moving forward with its seventh installment. The previous film left the Core Four and Gale Weathers (we assume, considering she didn’t die) in a relatively good place, with Sam finally moving towards healing and peace after killing Richie’s remaining family. (It’s wild but true.) The Scream VII storyline and cast is still mostly a mystery, but things will start rolling very soon. In a recent Entertainment Weekly interview, Neve Campbell confirmed a bit about the film’s storyline, saying that it would follow Sidney as the main character once again.

In Scream (2022), Sidney’s story took a back seat to Sam and Tara Carpenter’s drama with her appearing as a supporting cast member. It’s good to know that the focus is on Sidney again. It’s also good to know when we’ll actually see her back up on the big screen. Scream VII arrive in February 2026.

The next film will be interesting, to say the least. Who will don that infamous mask next? Here’s what we know about Scream 7. 

TitleParamount Pictures

For now, we will call this film Scream 7. It’s likely this will be the title, which could be stylized as Scream VII. As seen on this script from Campbell’s Instagram post, the film does not have an official title yet. 

Scream 7’s Plot Paramount Pictures

As stated above, Sam and Tara’s story came to a neat conclusion in Scream VI. And Sidney is living a happy life with her husband Mark and her daughters. It seems like there was no one else hiding in the shadows who would want to kill Sidney. Her story was complete and she found peace. So, the plot of Scream 7 is really up in the air. Depending on this film’s release, someone from 30 years ago could decide to celebrate the events of Scream (1996) in a sinister way. We shall see. 

Neve Campbell says she expects to get the final script sometime in August, so hopefully nothing will leak before they are ready to tell.

Behind-the-Scenes

Kevin Williamson, the writer of Scream (1996), will direct Scream 7. He is replacing Christopher Landon, who left the film after Melissa Barerra’s controversial (and very upsetting) firing and Jenna Ortega’s exit. Guy Busick and James Vanderbilt, who wrote the last two installments, will pen this sequel. The Radio Silence team will step back from directing duties to executive produce Scream 7. 

In a recent IndieWire interview, Campbell confirmed that filming will start in December 2024.

“We were supposed to start in September, but we’re going to start in December now because of some scheduling stuff with Kevin and myself and having that all aligned,” she shared. “And actually, I think it’s a good thing, because we’re going to be able to have the time to get it really right. So I’m very excited about it.”

Scream 7’s Cast 

Right now, the only person we absolutely know will be in Scream 7 is Neve Campbell. Scream VI was the first film to not include Sidney Prescott due to actress Neve Campbell rightfully bowing out due to a salary dispute. Fans thought Sidney would finally get a happy ending but Ghostface just won’t leave our good sis alone. Variety reports that Courteney Cox is in talks to reprise her role in the next film. It remains to be seen if the Meeks-Martin twins, played by Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding, will be in this film. We’d love to see more of them.

However, their return isn’t likely considering their characters’ stories being so closely intertwined with the Carpenter sisters. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Savoy Brown hasn’t received a call from the studio Spyglass Media Group as of January 2024. Gooding also affirmed he knew no solid details about the seventh Scream film. Sadness.

We assume Courteney Cox and Roger L. Jackson will return as Gale Weathers and the voice of Ghostface, respectively. Maybe we will see Patrick Dempsey reprise his role as Mark Kincaid, too. 

Scream 7 Release Date 

Scream 7 will arrive in theaters on February 27, 2026. The cast and crew shared the release date on social media.

Originally published on March 13, 2024.

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