Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett‘s horror “requel” “Scream” was a surprise success this past January. And everyone knows what that means: “Scream 6” is on the way, and fast. The sequel hits theaters next March, with Ghostface leaving Woodsboro for the first time to track down survivors from the last film. A slasher icon like Ghostface in NYC? Let’s hope “Scream 6” doesn’t end up like “Friday The 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan.”
“Scream” star Melissa Barrera shut down any fears like that about the sequel in a new interview with Collider. In fact, Barrera thinks the upcoming film may be the goriest one in the franchise yet. “There was a saying on set because (directors) Matt and Tyler were always asking for more blood and more sweat,” said Barrera. “They always just wanted more. “More blood spritz” was the saying because they would just always want more. With the last “Scream,” they were tip-toeing and trying to be very respectful of what the franchise had been, up until that point, and keeping their inner gory dreams at bay. But with this one, they were like, ‘we’re going all out.’ It’s potentially a hundred times gorier.”
A hundred times gorier? All embellishment aside, Barrera insists that Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett’s new sequel will do the franchise justice, even as it leaves Woodsboro behind. “There’s also something really, really special and unique about the “Scream” fandom,” continued Barrera. “They know that they’re a part of the team. They know that they have to show up for us if they want another one, and they did.” Plus, Barrera doesn’t mind “more blood spritz” at all. “It’s fun to be covered in blood,” the actress joked, “I personally love being dirty and bloody.”
“Scream 6” sees Barrera return to lead the franchise’s new cast of central characters, which also includes Jenna Ortega, Jasmin Savoy Brown, and Mason Gooding. But “Scream” veterans like Courtney Cox and Hayden Panettiere will be back for the sequel, too. Sadly, Neve Campbell won’t return as franchise hero Sydney Prescott this time. Newcomers for the sixth installment include Dermot Mulroney, Samara Weaving, Henry Czerny, and Liana Liberato, among others.
With a new setting in NYC, amped-up gore, and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett at the helm, expect “Scream 6” to be one of the better horror movies of 2023. The film hits theaters everywhere on March 10 next year, from Paramount Pictures.