When a gimmick has already been done, it’s hard to replicate the same excitement a second time. This is especially true when you’re talking about a sequel in the same franchise. But, apparently, an early version of “Scream 4” was set to feature an opening scene that would have attempted to recreate the iconic opening of the 1996 Wes Craven original.

LISTEN: ‘Scream’ Directors Talk A Possible ‘Ready Or Not’ Sequel & The Next ‘Scream’ Film [The Discourse Podcast]

Speaking to Slant, actress Kristen Stewart talked about how she was approached to shoot the opening scene of “Scream 4.” In the opening, Stewart would have been shockingly killed in a scene that would have mirrored the famous Drew Barrymore scene in the original.

Continue reading ‘Scream 4’: Kristen Stewart Says She Turned Down A Drew Barrymore-Like Victim Appearance at The Playlist.

Another year of scares is upon us – the good kind, the on-screen, non-viral kind. A new year means a new year of horror movies, and 2022 has lots to offer. Luca Guadagnino, Scott Derrickson, and David Slade are among the directors trying their hands at literary adaptation, with Gary Dauberman taking on one of Stephen King’s favorite texts. Sundance promises some ghoulish original films by new directors, and loads of franchises are taking another stab at it, from “Evil Dead” to “Texas Chainsaw Massacre.” Consider this list your guide to the creepiest stuff crawling down the pipeline.

Continue reading The 25 Most Anticipated Horror Films Of 2022 at The Playlist.

By Wes Craven‘s third decade reinventing Hollywood horror, the “Nightmare on Elm Street” creator found himself asking, “What’s the point of all this slashing?” He then embarked on a third act of socially critical and self-reflexive scary movies: “The People Under The Stairs” (1991), “Wes Craven’s New Nightmare” (1994), and “Scream” (1996).

LISTEN: ‘Ghost World’ At 20: The Vicarious Thrills Of Personal Ad Movies [Be Reel Podcast]

With two of those three titles celebrating anniversaries this autumn (30 for “People” and 25 for “Scream”), welcome to your Be Reel Halloween category as we dig into all the important ’90s Craven questions:

• What’s the most policially prescient element of “People?”
• Does “Scream” get enough credit for its sheer setpiece orchestration?

Continue reading Revisiting Wes Craven’s ’90s Nightmares [Be Reel Podcast] at The Playlist.

Horror has enjoyed such a ubiquity boost since the 2010s that the most humble of its niches, the slasher, went dormant for a few years at the start of the boom. This isn’t a bad thing. As the industry and filmmakers have gradually stopped treating horror as if it’s disposable and started maximizing it if not as art then at least as product, slashers, one of the best investments anyone can make in horror, have lost favor.

Continue reading The Best Slasher Films Ever Made at The Playlist.

Sheriff Dewey Riley is coming back to battle Ghostface in the upcoming revival of the “Scream” film franchise.

According to Deadline, David Arquette, who played the somewhat dimwitted, but loyal, Dewey in Wes Craven’s horror franchise has signed on to appear in the upcoming “Scream” reboot-quel from Radio Silence and Spyglass Media Group.

READ MORE: ‘Scream 5’: Neve Campbell Is Currently In Talks To Return To The Slasher Franchise

Arquette said, “I am thrilled to be playing Dewey again and to reunite with my ‘Scream’ family, old and new.

Continue reading David Arquette To Reprise His Sheriff Dewey Role In Upcoming ‘Scream’ Film at The Playlist.

Like it or not, “Scream” is being revived. And right now, we don’t know what that means. Is the new film a reboot? A sequel? A complete remake? It’s unclear. However, according to the star of the original “Scream” film series, Neve Campbell, the new filmmakers are interested in seeing if she is willing to return to the slasher franchise. So, it looks like we might be in for a “Halloween”-style rebootquel, maybe?

Continue reading ‘Scream 5’: Neve Campbell Is Currently In Talks To Return To The Slasher Franchise at The Playlist.

As was rumored last fall, “Scream” is the latest horror franchise to get revived for a new audience. But as much as that might make genre fans roll their eyes a bit, it appears that Spyglass Media has found some pretty great filmmakers to bring the new “Scream” to the big screen.

READ MORE: ‘Scream’ Is Reportedly The Latest Horror Franchise To Get A Big Screen Revival

According to THR, co-directors Matthew Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, along with producer Chad Villela, who make up the filmmaking group known as Radio Silence, have been signed on by Spyglass Media to bring “Scream” back to life.

Continue reading ‘Ready Or Not’ Filmmakers Will Helm A New ‘Scream’ Film at The Playlist.

Continue reading Interview: Wes Craven Says The Changing Pace Of Technology Attracted Him to ‘Scream 4’ at The Playlist.

Continue reading Wes Craven Says ‘Scream 4’ Was First In New Trilogy & ‘Scream 5’ Is Likely at The Playlist.

Continue reading Weekend Box Office: ‘Rio’ Defeats ‘Madea’ Before The Summer Onslaught Begins at The Playlist.

Continue reading Box Office: ‘Rio’ First 2011 Release To Crack $40 Million Opening Weekend; ‘Scream’ Goes Quiet at The Playlist.

Continue reading In Theaters: ‘Scream 4’ Hopes To Carve Up ‘Rio’ This Weekend at The Playlist.

The Playlist's Guide To Horror Sequels Worth Screaming About

Continue reading The Playlist’s Guide To Horror Sequels Worth Screaming About at The Playlist.

Continue reading Review: ‘Scream 4’ Takes A Stab At Relevance, Misses All The Major Arteries at The Playlist.

Continue reading Kevin Williamson & Wes Craven Will Wait & See Before Signing On To ‘Scream 5’ & ‘Scream 6’ at The Playlist.

Continue reading ‘Scream 4’ Writer Kevin Williamson Says He Had A Massive Fight With Weinsteins & Then Hugged It Out at The Playlist.

Continue reading ‘Arthur’ Poster Is Actually Scarier Than The New ‘Scream 4’ Poster at The Playlist.

Continue reading Wes Craven Says More ‘Scream 4’ Shooting Are New Scenes, Not Reshoots; Terrible Poster Arrives at The Playlist.

Continue reading Watch: ‘Scream 4’ Trailer Asks “What’s Your Favorite Scary Movie?” All Over Again at The Playlist.

Continue reading ‘Scream 4’ Trailer Arrives To Announce Your Horror McFranchise Is Back Just How You Like It at The Playlist.

Continue reading The Leftover Question Marks Of 2011 – Can These Films Possibly Be Any Good? Part 1 at The Playlist.

On “My Soul To Take,” Craven revealed that the film was originally commissioned to be shot in the 2D format with Rogue Pictures. However, in October 2008 it was announced that Relativity Media was to acquire Rogue Pictures in a deal worth a reputed $150 million.

Continue reading Wes Craven Thought Unanimously Panned ‘Titans’ 3D-Conversion Was “Beautiful”; Says New ‘Scream’ Films Are Trilogy Only If They Perform Well at The Playlist.

At any rate, EW has a first look at the film which shows Courtney Cox walking away from Ghostface which leads to all kinds of questions, but mostly: isn’t that what she should’ve done when she first got the script?

Continue reading First Look: Courtney Cox & Ghostface In ‘Scream 4’ at The Playlist.

Continue reading BS Rumor: Brad Pitt To Star In Western Video Game Adaptation ‘Red Dead Redemption’ at The Playlist.

The sequel that no cares about, “Scream 4,” is hoping to get some star wattage (of sorts) by enlisting Kristen Bell and Anna Paquin in cameo roles in the film. The move recalls Drew Barrymore’s turn in the first film so expect both of them to be killed off in the film.

The two join a lengthy B-list cast that includes Emma Roberts, Hayden Panettiere, Rory Culkin, Nico Tortorella, Anthony Anderson and Marielle Jaffe, Marley Shelton, Adam Brody, Alison Brie, and Mary McDonnell along with original stars Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox and David Arquette.

Continue reading Kristen Bell & Anna Paquin To Make Cameo Appearances In ‘Scream 4’ at The Playlist.