Scream franchise writer Guy Busick addresses when Scream 7 will fit within the timeline and where it will be set. The Scream movies originally began in 1996 and were led by Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott. After taking an over-decade-long hiatus after Scream 4, the franchise returned for a fifth movie in 2022, also тιтled Scream. It was then that Busick became attached to the franchise, serving as a writer on both this, Scream VI, and now Scream 7. The upcoming movie is directed by Kevin Williamson.
While speaking with Comicbook.com, Busick spoke further about the setting of Scream 7. The writer kept it pretty vague as to where and when the seventh film is set. He confirmed that the movie will not be set in New York, but did not “want to be the one to spoil where it is.” Timing-wise, he thinks that it takes place “more than two years” after the events of Scream VI, but said that it is ultimately “an unspecified amount of time.” Check out the full quote from Busick below:
“It’s not New York. I don’t want to be the one to spoil where it is. It’s an unspecified amount of time [after VI]. I might get contradicted by other people, but in my mind, more than two years. I would say at least two years. It could be two years, but I would say two years plus.”
What This Means For Scream 7
The Film Forges Ahead Without The Carpenters
The Scream franchise is primarily set in the fictional Woodsboro, California, but the films also feature additional locations. Scream VI famously changed franchise tradition by moving out of Woodsboro and instead being set in New York City. This led to some big changes in the types of environments featured in the film, such as subways and bodegas. Now, this new detail implies that the location will not be the connective tissue between Scream VI and its successor, even if the exact setting still remains unknown.
The pᴀssage of time makes sense given the behind-the-scenes drama surrounding the movie. In 2023, Sam Carpenter actor Melissa Barrera was fired after comments she made online regarding the war in Israel and Palestine were interpreted to be antisemitic. Not long after, Tara Carpenter actor Jenna Ortega also left the franchise. Scream 7 will have to find a way to explain the absence of the two Carpenter sisters, even though they survived the events of the 2023 film. A time skip, coupled with the location change, would be one big way to make this make sense.
Our Take On This Scream 7 News
So Much Remains Unknown
Though Scream 7 is less than a year out, this quote is a good reminder of how much is still unknown about the film. Campbell is confirmed to be returning as Sidney, but even where her character was hiding for the duration of the previous movie remains unknown. The plot has also yet to be revealed. While this can lead to some frustration as audiences grapple with major unanswered franchise questions, this will hopefully create intrigue as to the plot of Scream 7 as it prepares for release on February 27, 2026.
Source: Comicbook.com
