Scream VI

Scream VI (stylized as SCREAIVI) is a 2023 American slasher film directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, written by James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick, with original franchise writer and creator Kevin Williamson returning as executive producer. It is the sixth installment in the Scream film series and a direct sequel to Scream (2022). The film stars Courteney Cox, Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Mason Gooding, Hayden Panettiere and Jasmin Savoy Brown, who are all reprising their roles from previous installments. Dermot Mulroney, Henry Czerny, Samara Weaving and Tony Revolori were later added to the cast. Franchise star Neve Campbell announced she would not be returning as Sidney Prescott due to not being pleased with the offer presented to her, making this the first film in the franchise not to feature the actress or character.
Scream VI is the third film of the series to be set outside the fictional town of Woodsboro, California, moving the location to New York City, and follows a new Ghostface who targets the surviving members of the "Woodsboro Legacy Attacks." The film combines the violence of the slasher genre with elements of black comedy and a "whodunit" mystery, and satirizes the trends of film franchises and subversion of audience expectations.
Scream VI premiered at the AMC Lincoln Square Theater in Manhattan on March 6, 2023, and was theatrically released in the United States on March 10, by Paramount Pictures. The film received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the kills and performances.
==Premise==
The film continues with the survivors of the latest Ghostface killings, sisters Samantha and Tara Carpenter and twins Chad and Mindy Meeks, leaving Woodsboro behind and starting a new chapter of their lives in New York City only to again be plagued by a streak of murders by a new Ghostface killer.
==Cast==
*Courteney Cox as Gale Weathers, a morning host, legacy survivor, and author
*Melissa Barrera as Sam Carpenter, the illegitimate daughter of Billy Loomis
*Jenna Ortega as Tara Carpenter, Sam's half-sister
*Hayden Panettiere as Kirby Reed, a survivor of the 2011 Ghostface serial murders
*Jasmin Savoy Brown as Mindy Meeks-Martin, Randy's niece and Chad's twin
*Mason Gooding as Chad Meeks-Martin, Randy's nephew and Mindy's twin
*Dermot Mulroney as a police officer
*Henry Czerny
*Samara Weaving
*Tony Revolori
*Jack Champion
*Devyn Nekoda
*Liana Liberato
*Josh Segarra
*Roger L. Jackson as the voice of Ghostface
 
==Production==
===Development===
Prior to the release of Scream 4, series creator Kevin Williamson claimed he had already "mapped out" Scream 5 and Scream 6, but would wait to see the box office success of the fourth installment before signing on for any more films. In July 2014, Williamson revealed that Scream 4 was intended to kick off a new trilogy of films, but the film "never took off in a way they hoped". Williamson also said that he would likely not be involved in any further entries, as the series director Wes Craven and his team were "done" with him. In Williamson's initial pitch, Scream 5 saw Jill Roberts being stalked by a killer at her college campus, while Scream 6 would feature Gale Weathers as the main character and deal with her relationship with Dewey Riley.
In January 2022, Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, and Tyler Gillett expressed interest in making future films in the series. Courteney Cox would later express an interest in a sequel while doing publicity for Shining Vale. A sixth film was officially green-lit on February 3, 2022, by Spyglass Media Group. Olpin and Gillett of Radio Silence would return to direct while James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick would write the script once again. By the end of the month, Campbell was approached to return for the film. The following month, Cox had received the script and was courted to reprise her role. Also in March 2022, the sixth film's release date was set for March 31, 2023. By May, plot details emerged, setting the film outside of Woodsboro. Instead, the film will take place in New York City. In June, Ortega said the film would feature a more "aggressive and violent" Ghostface than in previous entries.
===Casting===
In May 2022, it was announced that Melissa Barrera, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, and Jenna Ortega would also return for the sixth film. The following day, it was announced that Hayden Panettiere would reprise her role of Kirby Reed from the fourth film. When asked about her involvement in the film, Cox claimed that her contract was not yet completed. Also in June, it was announced that Dermot Mulroney had joined the cast, playing a police officer, and Cox officially confirmed her involvement with the film. On June 16, Jack Champion, Liana Liberato, Devyn Nekoda and Josh Segarra joined the cast, followed by Henry Czerny on June 23. Samara Weaving and Tony Revolori were both announced as cast members on July 14.
====Campbell's involvement====
On June 6, 2022, it was announced Campbell would not be returning as Sidney Prescott for the sixth film. The actress made a statement about how her contract and salary negotiations had stalled with Paramount Pictures:
IndieWire noted Campbell had spent 26 years acting in the franchise and announced it was "the end of an era". David Arquette stated "I'd love for her to be a part of it. A Scream movie without Sidney is kind of unfortunate, but I understand her decision. It's all a business in a way, they have to balance all these elements to fit a budget and produce a film." Jasmin Savoy Brown, Melissa Barrera as well as former Scream co-stars Emma Roberts, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Matthew Lillard and Jamie Kennedy, also expressed their support for Campbell's decision and praised her contributions to the series.
Campbell expanded on her statement a few weeks later, saying she could not bear "walking on set and feeling undervalued" and that the offer would have been different had she been a man.
===Filming===
Filming began on June 9, 2022, in Montreal, Canada, with Vanderbilt, Paul Neinstein and William Sherak acting as producers under Project X Entertainment, while Chad Villella, Cathy Konrad, Marianne Maddalena and Williamson will serve as executive producers. While in July 2022, the film was still untitled officially, production documents revealed the working title to be "Blackmore", while set photos showed Scream !! as a working title. Hayden Panettiere posed for a set photo on August 6, along with Jasmin Savoy Brown, that was picked up by various media outlets given her return to the franchise. Courteney Cox revealed she had finished filming her part as of August 14. Filming ended in late August.
===Music===
On December 14, 2022, it was confirmed that Brian Tyler would return from the previous installment to score the soundtrack for the film. In February 2023, it was revealed by Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda during an interview with KROQ that he would be releasing a solo song as part of the Scream VI soundtrack. American singer Demi Lovato released "Still Alive" on March 3, by Island Records, as the lead single of the film's soundtrack.
==Release==
Scream VI was released in the United States on March 10, 2023, by Paramount Pictures. It was originally set for release on March 31, 2023. 
==Marketing==
In several cities, a viral marketing stunt occurred, as the studio's marketing firm sent individuals wearing a Ghostface costume and mask to stand motionless in front of cameras and walk around the streets, resulting in multiple 911 calls from unsettled residents. The marketing campaign also included the launch of a website that allowed American users to receive personalized phone calls from Ghostface, Scream-themed meals in different Chain pop-up dinners and an immersive walk-through featuring props and reconstructed sets from the franchise in California; the walk-throughs included appearances by directors and producers Radio Silence, along with actors Mason Gooding, Dermot Mulroney and Tony Revolori.
==Box office==
In the United States and Canada, Scream VI was released alongside 65 and Champions, and is projected to gross $35–40 million from 3,670 theaters in its opening weekend. The film made $5.7 million from Thursday night previews, besting Scream's $3.5 million the year prior.
==Critical reception==
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 77% based on 168 reviews, and an average rating of 6.9/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Certain aspects of horror's most murderously meta franchise may be going stale, but a change of setting and some inventive set pieces help keep Scream VI reasonably sharp." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 62 out of 100, based on 45 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
==Videos==
Scream VI - Official Teaser Trailer (2023 Movie)
Scream VI - Official Trailer (2023 Movie)
Scream VI - Final Trailer (2023 Movie)
==References==
==External links==
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Category:2020s American films
Category:2020s English-language films
Category:2020s serial killer films
Category:2020s slasher films
Category:2023 films
Category:2023 horror films
Category:American horror thriller films
Category:American sequel films
Category:American serial killer films
Category:American slasher films
Category:Films directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett
Category:Films produced by James Vanderbilt
Category:Films set in New York City
Category:Films shot in Montreal
Category:Films with screenplays by Guy Busick
Category:Films with screenplays by James Vanderbilt
Category:Paramount Pictures films
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Category:Spyglass Entertainment films
Category:Upcoming English-language films
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