Summary
There’s some new blood flowing into the long-runningScreamfranchise, and while Kevin Williamson’s upcomingScream 7has faced some major cast departures, it’s also bolstering its returning star power with some new faces. Although Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega aren’t due to return as Sam and Tara Carpenter, Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox are confirmed to reprise their long-running roles as Sidney Prescott and Gale Weathers. Other returnees include Mason Gooding and Jasmin Savoy Brown, but they aren’t alone inScream 7.
2023’sScream VIwas supposed to be the second chapter of a new trilogy following 2022’sScream‘requel’, but with the departures of Barrera and Ortega,Scream 7feels like something of another reboot. It’s expected that a new crop of younger characters could continue the series if it’s successful enough to warrant amythicalScream 8, with1883’s Isabel May notably cast as Sidney’s daughter. This isn’t the only family connection thanks toCommunity’s Joel McHale being cast as Sidney’s husband, Mark.
Who is Joel McHale Playing in Scream 7?
The high-profile casting of Joel McHale sees him portraying Mark Evans inScream 7. Like May playing Sidney’s unnamed daughter, Mark is brand-new to theScreamseries, although he’s been mentioned before. Back in 2022’sScream, Dewey (David Arquette) phoned Sidney and asked, “How’s Mark?” This led to rampant speculation that he was referring toDetective Mark Kincaid, who was famously played byGrey’s Anatomy’s Patrick Dempsey all the way back in 2000’sScream 3.
Williamson wrote the first twoScreammovies but didn’t return to pen the third – which was originally pitched as the end of the franchise.Scream 3gave Sidney a happy ending that saw her conquer her demons, her own half-brother being Ghostface, and then settle down to a quiet life with Mark Kincaid.Screamstayed dead until Wes Craven returned for2011’s divisiveScream 4, and while that movie returned to Woodsboro with Sidney in tow, there was no sign of Mark Kincaid.
Dempsey was offered a chance to return forScream 4, but passed due to his commitment toTransformers: Dark of the Moon. The script was originally due to expand on the relationship between Mark and Sidney, but with Dempsey passing on the role, he was written out of the script. Despite the mention of Mark inScream(2022) being assumed to be a throwaway Easter egg that at least acknowledged that Sidney was still with Detective Kincaid, some awkward retconning now suggests it wasJoel McHale’s Mark Evans.
TheScreammovies have always had a comedic edge under all the blood and guts, meaning McHale’s casting is typically on-brand. Everyone from Emma Roberts to Jack Quaid, Dermot Mulroney to Samara Weaving have starred in theScreammovies, meaning McHale is in good company. Barrera and Ortega’s departures aren’tScream 7’s only stumbling block, with the exit of directors Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin also leading to a February 2026 delay. Filming has only just begun, but fans can expect to learn more about Mark once things get underway.
Joel McHale Would (and Probably Will Be) An Obvious Ghostface
Alongside which characters are unlucky to be leaving in a body bag, the big question of anyScreammovie is the identity of Ghostface. 1996’sScreambroke the mold when it revealed Skeet Ulrich’s Billy Loomis and Matthew Lillard’s Stu Macher were both the killers, and aside fromScream 3, every movie has hadmultiple Ghostfacessince then.Scream VIbroke the record with a whopping three killers, although most agree that’s probably the limit. Although it would be shocking, it seems unlikely that any of the returning characters will be exposed as Ghostface, meaning any of the newcomers could be the killer.
Making Mark Ghostface would be pretty left-field, suggesting that he’s been with Sidney this entire time just to eventually off her. The movies have played into the whole secret past connection inScream 3, while bothScream 2andScream VIhave featured angry family members taking out vengeance on the lead forkilling a previous Ghostface. Even if it wouldn’t make sense for Mark to be Ghostface, it seems like an obvious choice that actually plays into the franchise’s past. After all, Sidney is no stranger to dating a Ghostface.
The whole saga was kicked off by Sidney dating Billy Loomis, with the specter of the unhinged killer even carrying through as the father of Sam Carpenter.Scream 2nearly repeated the idea of Sidney’s boyfriend being the killer, and in the original script, Jerry O’Connell’s Derek Feldman was going to be one of three Ghostfaces. Unfortunately, the script leaked, meaning Laurie Metcalf’s Nancy Loomis and Timothy Olyphant’s Mickey Altieri were the killers. Olyphant and McHale are good friends in real life and have collaborated on multiple projects, so the whole idea that Mark Evans is Mickey’s brother isn’t too much of a wild theory.
TheScreamfranchise loves to bring things full circle, and like 2022’sScreamhad the twist of Sam’s boyfriend, Ritchie (Jack Quaid), being the killer as a homage to Sidney and Billy in the OG movie, resurrecting this twist forScream 7wouldn’t be totally out there. With Sidney expected to once again be thrust into the limelight as the lead,Scream 7feels like it’s starting again. While it would be easy to put a modern twist on one of the most iconic horror movie reveals of all time, making Mark Ghostface is just too obvious. Despite the continued box office success of theScreammovies, there are complaints that it needs to innovate with its next chapter. There are theories that there might bea recurring Ghostfacefor the first time ever, meaning if Mark Evans is the killer, McHale could be back for more. Either that or Mark is destined to get a quick sendoff like poor Derek.
