‘Scream 7’ trailer: Neve Campbell returns, Ghostface evolves, and the release date is set

A fresh Ghostface is back—and so is Sidney Prescott. The first official Scream 7 trailer dropped within the past day, confirming Neve Campbell’s full-fledged return and locking in a theatrical release date of February 27, 2026. The footage teases a homecoming to Woodsboro, a family-in-peril storyline, and a tone that leans closer to the original’s cat-and-mouse dread than the metropolitan chaos of Scream 6.

Neve Campbell leads a legacy-heavy cast in ‘Scream 7’

Campbell’s Sidney is older, warier, and instantly in protector mode: the trailer frames her as a mother defending her daughter (played by Isabel May) when the phone rings again and the rules get rewritten. Courteney Cox is glimpsed on the chase as Gale Weathers, still scooping and surviving in equal measure. The new footage also spotlights returning survivors Mason Gooding and Jasmin Savoy Brown, while confirming a roster of fresh faces that includes Joel McHale, Anna Camp, and Mckenna Grace.

Longtime fans will freeze-frame one particular tease: a voice cue and a grainy glimpse that stokes speculation about Matthew Lillard’s Stu Macher. How, or whether, a character presumed dead could thread back into canon remains the franchise’s favorite kind of provocation—plausible within the series’ meta language yet cagey enough to fuel months of debate.

Who’s behind the mask this time—and behind the camera

For the first time, franchise creator Kevin Williamson is directing a Scream feature. The trailer’s visual language reflects that lineage: low-angle hallways, ringing phones that cut to dead air, and breathy pauses before the lunge. The script is credited to Guy Busick with story work by Busick and James Vanderbilt, continuing the modern entries’ blend of generational commentary and puzzle-box plotting. Series composer Marco Beltrami returns, and you can hear the echo of “Sidney’s Lament” steeped into a darker, orchestral swell.

Timeline check: from ‘Scream 5’ and ‘Scream 6’ to now

• Scream (2022)—often dubbed Scream 5—relaunched the saga in Woodsboro with a new core four and legacy cameos.

• Scream 6 (2023) shifted to New York City with a bigger body count, brisker pacing, and a different ruleset.

• Scream 7 (2026) pivots back to suburban shadows and to Sidney’s family, positioning the story as both a generational handoff and a reckoning with unresolved ghosts.

The trailer suggests fewer public set pieces and more intimate staging—stairwells, porches, kitchens—where phones, locks, and memory become the weapons and weaknesses.

Release plan and what to expect before opening night

• U.S./Canada (ET): In theaters Friday, February 27, 2026 (previews likely the evening before).

• UK (GMT): The same weekend rollout is expected, with local listings to confirm exact day-and-date.

• Marketing beats to watch: a second trailer in early January, a character-poster wave, and a final spot during late-January awards or sports broadcasts (schedules subject to change).

Trailer takeaways: five story clues

1. Family stakes: Sidney’s daughter is central. Shots of school corridors and a lit front porch imply Ghostface targeting routine, “safe” spaces.

2. Rule remix: A killer riffing on the franchise’s own mythology—expect references to remake rules and the currency of internet “truth.”

3. Gale’s receipts: Quick cuts show Gale near evidence boards and a storage unit, hinting she’s chasing a thread the cops don’t see.

4. Survivor’s guilt: Reaction shots of the core survivors suggest the new spree reopens old fractures from Scream 5/6.

5. Mask variants: At least two masks appear—one pristine, one cracked—fueling theories of multiple killers with competing agendas.

The Melissa Barrera/Jenna Ortega context and the fan response

In late 2023 the series endured high-profile departures, sparking campaigns, counter-campaigns, and heated discourse. The new trailer reignites that conversation: some fans celebrate the legacy pivot around Sidney; others voice frustration over the earlier casting turmoil and are calling for boycotts. The studio hasn’t waded into the back-and-forth in the trailer itself; the footage emphasizes continuity through Sidney and Gale while positioning the younger survivors as the bridge.

Where this leaves ‘Scream 7’ in the horror landscape

Requels and legacy sequels have cooled in 2025, which paradoxically gives Scream 7 a clearer runway. Leaning into the franchise’s original DNA—a whodunit wrapped in meta commentary—could differentiate it from gore-forward competitors. If word of mouth centers on mystery and suspense rather than just kills, the campaign can sell both nostalgia and discovery: a story about what happens when the final girl becomes the final line.

Quick answers to trending searches

• “Scream 7 trailer Neve Campbell”: Yes—first official trailer features Campbell prominently.

• “Scream 7 release date”: February 27, 2026 (theatrical).

• “Courteney Cox / Matthew Lillard”: Cox is in the trailer; Lillard is heavily teased, details purposefully unclear.

• “Scream 6 / Scream 5 connections”: The new film references both eras while focusing on Sidney’s family and the surviving teens from the recent films.

• “Scream 7 official trailer”: The studio’s cut is live; expect a second trailer closer to January if the rollout follows typical patterns.

This article reflects developments confirmed in the past 24 hours (Saturday, November 1, 2025). Marketing plans and content are subject to change before release.