Former 'Scream 7' Directors Share Loose Ideas for Sequel

Radio Silence duo Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett reveal their plans before departing the franchise.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Former 'Scream 7' directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, known as the directing duo Radio Silence, share new details about their loose ideas for the seventh installment of the horror franchise before they left the project. They say their plan was to make Scream 7 'f--- you up' after Scream VI was a 'secret feel-good movie.' The duo also responds to Skeet Ulrich's past comments about the original plan for Sam Carpenter to become the new Ghostface killer.

Why it matters

The 'Scream' franchise has been a long-running and influential horror series, with the latest installments attempting to expand the story in new directions. The behind-the-scenes details about the planned Scream 7 provide insight into the creative vision the filmmakers had for continuing the series before production changes led to a different direction.

The details

Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett, who directed the previous two 'Scream' films, say they never read a full script for Scream 7 before departing to work on another project. However, they had discussed making the seventh film much more intense and contained compared to the more expansive Scream VI. The duo also responds to Skeet Ulrich's past comments about the original plan for his character Billy Loomis' daughter Sam to eventually become the new Ghostface killer, saying they were unaware of those specific plans.

  • Scream 7 is opening in theaters this weekend.

The players

Matt Bettinelli-Olpin

One half of the directing duo Radio Silence, who were originally set to direct Scream 7.

Tyler Gillett

The other half of the directing duo Radio Silence, who were originally set to direct Scream 7.

Skeet Ulrich

Actor who played the original Ghostface killer Billy Loomis and commented on plans for his character's daughter Sam to become the new killer.

Melissa Barrera

Actress who played Sam Carpenter, the secret daughter of Billy Loomis, in the recent Scream films.

Kevin Williamson

The original screenwriter of the Scream movies, who was tapped to write and direct Scream 7 after other directors departed.

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What they’re saying

“[If] Scream VI is like a secret feel-good movie, Scream 7's going to f--- you up.”

— Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Director, Radio Silence (EW)

“Given that we expanded the sort of scope of the story by going to New York, the other thing that we had talked about — just Matt and I, by the way, it wasn't a conversation with the writers — was, 'How do you do the opposite for 7?' Like, shrink it down and make it this like ultra-contained, almost continuous, like minute-to-minute thing.”

— Tyler Gillett, Director, Radio Silence (EW)

“When we talked about coming back for 5, it was a three-picture arc for Billy Loomis to slowly turn his daughter into the killer.”

— Skeet Ulrich (EW)

What’s next

Scream 7, directed by Kevin Williamson and centered around Neve Campbell's Sidney Prescott and her teenage daughter, is currently playing in theaters.

The takeaway

The behind-the-scenes details about the planned Scream 7 from the former directors provide insight into the creative vision the filmmakers had for continuing the long-running horror franchise before production changes led to a different direction for the latest installment.