Poster and interview with Wes.

 

http://www.empireonline.com/images/image_index/original/41429.jpg

 

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: So how did Scream 4 come together?

WES CRAVEN: Bob Weinstein [the head of Dimension Films]felt that 10 years was enough of a wait. He felt it was time to give the original three films their due, so he called Kevin Williamson, who started coming up with ideas. For some years, Kevin had the notion of the general course of the next three movies. There was a point where Bob came to me and said, “We want to start showing you pages — do you want to do it?” And off we went.

 

Did you have any trepidation about revisiting the series so many years down the road?

No, I’m fascinated by what this movie is. I can’t think of another film that has not only a true trilogy, where you’re following a single central character over three pictures, but has the complexity to the story and other characters that also have continued along. And then 10 years later, to come back to those same characters and same actors, and continue that story in a way that’s totally organic. It’s kind of unprecedented.

 

Are Sidney (Campbell), Gale (Cox), and Dewey (Arquette) still going to be the central characters, or are they on the periphery this time?

It’s a total integration of those three and new kids. The story of Sid, Gale, and Dewey is very much a part of the movie.

 

And Sid’s still having problems with Ghostface?

There have been 10 years of no Ghostface, but there has been the movie-within-a-movie Stab. We have fun with the idea of endless sequels, or “sequelitis” as Kevin calls it in the script. Sid goes through these three horrendous things, and Stab was based on those horrible things. And then they’ve been taken by a studio and run into the ground in a series of sequels. She has been off by herself and living her own life, and she’s even written a book that has gotten a lot of critical acclaim. She’s kind of put her life back together in the course of these 10 years. But, certainly, there would be no Scream without Ghostface, so she has to confront him again, but now as a woman who has really come out the darkness of her past.

 

Can you tease what’s happening with Dewey and Gale by this point?

I don’t think Bob Weinstein would be very happy if I disclosed anything. We have been playing CIA with trying to keep everything secret, and we haven’t put any pages out from the current version of the script, except for things we’ve already discarded. Our first experience with casting this time around, the sides [portions of the script used for auditions] that we used were put on the Internet the same afternoon. It was bad back when we made the other movies, too. On Scream 2, we had the first 40 pages of the script show up on the Internet the night they arrived from Kevin, and we had to do backflips to rewrite the opening.

 

Speaking of openings, are you at least going to continue with having a couple killed at the beginning of the film?

That’s a strong possibility. [Laughs] Certainly, you will recognize what Bob calls the DNA of the film: a very complex murder mystery, a shocking action picture, wonderful humor based on character, and lots of surprises, as well as a movie that kind of copies itself. It’s a pretty amazing script.

 

What is your opinion of where the horror genre has gone these past 10 years?

It feels like the end of an era of a certain type of film. There are series of films, a lot of sequels, and a lot of remakes, and part of the humor of Scream 4 is when characters comment on that. “Enough of Saw 25 and all!” [Laughs] A lot of films, directors, and studios are the butts of some of the jokes. In order to figure out what’s happening around them, the characters have to figure out where the genre of horror is. So this is a look at horror after 10 years of a lot of sequels rather than original films coming up year after year. One film is successful, and then they make 25 of them. I think it’s time for something new. I’ve done remakes of my own films, too, with The Last House on the Left and The Hills Have Eyes, but we feel it’s time for something new and different, and that’s what this film is going to be.

 

But then is it ironic that this is the fourth film in a series?

Yeah, but I’ve never felt like these are sequels. This is a film about the progress of, at this point, three core characters, and how all of these events have changed their lives, and how the events in their lives have been reflected in the movies around them, which they might like or might really not like at all. I think that makes it really different.

 

As for the poster’s tagline, “New decade, new rules,” are the new rules going to specifically comment on what’s happened these last 10 years with horror movies?

It’s very much about the last 10 years, and where we are right now. “New decade, new rules” is very much the keynote of the film, that is, trying to figure out what sort of rules (the new Ghostface) is following. How do we fight this killer without a road map? We have to figure out where we are.

 

Are you returning to Santa Rosa, Calif., to shoot?

We’re actually going to Michigan. We found a wonderful small town that looks very much like the town we had in Northern California. Frankly, the tax breaks in Michigan are enormous, so we’ll be able to put a lot more movie on the screen.

 

But this Michigan town is still supposed to represent (the series’ fictional town of) Woodsboro?

Yeah. I guess I just gave something away. [Laughs]

 

Can we count on Scream 4 remaining an R-rated movie with blood and guts and all that fun stuff?

I think that’s safe to say. I’ve very excited about it. At this point in my career, Scream is one of the longest running stories I’ve told. It’s fascinating to still have actors who are very much into continuing their roles and have great chemistry. Part of the reason these three characters are still alive is because they’re so great. We haven’t wanted to kill them.

 

And, should Scream 4 become a hit, you are signed on for Scream 5 and 6, right?

Yeah, I’m signed on for the duration.

Poster and interview with Wes.

 

http://www.empireonline.com/images/image_index/original/41429.jpg

I love it :wub: I'm so glad this is now happening, after years of stopping and starting.

 

Scream is the only horror series where I genuinely love the characters, I can't wait to see Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox and David Arquette back together on screen again. I'm glad to see Wes Craven also shares this sentiment - he said in the interview the reason they haven't killed any of the main characters yet is because they have great chemistry together. So I doubt they will bump any of them off in Scream 4. Personally, I wouldn't want them to anyway because I think it could, especially if this is the start of a new trilogy, kill the dynamic. Maybe at the end of the 6th film, it would be a powerful way to end the series with all of them dying?

 

I'm in the mood now to dig out my old Scream boxset, and have a marathon session :heart:

Edited April 29, 201015 yr by Daniel Gleek

Wow! So Wes IS going to direct it!

Wow! So Wes IS going to direct it!

 

Yup, thankfully :cheer: And if it's a success, we'll get more!

Wow! So Wes IS going to direct it!

I am just as happy that Kevin Williamson also agreed return to write the script and the three main actors all agreed to reprise their roles. I don't think a 4th one would work without the original team working on it.

Yup, thankfully :cheer: And if it's a success, we'll get more!

Aren't they all (studio included) contracted for another two films? I thought from the context of the interview that a 5th and 6th film would be made regardless of how Scream 4 does at the box office, or does it all depend on the numbers?

Edited April 30, 201015 yr by Daniel Gleek

And, should Scream 4 become a hit, you are signed on for Scream 5 and 6, right?

Yeah, I’m signed on for the duration.

Nooooooooo! :cry: Stop after 4. PLEASE!? :(

I don't like how they're taking the p*** out of multiple sequels, yet they're planning to do SIX movies?!

 

I am very excited that the original team are on board though :wub: I'm a very new Scream fan as well, I only watched the movies a few months ago.

Really excited for this. :wub: 'Scream' is probably my favourite movie ever and the 2nd and 3rd ones were pretty good too (although the 3rd one could've been executed better). So glad that Courtney and Neve are going to return too, it definetly wouldn't be the same without either of them - oh and that Wes Craven is going to direct it as well.

 

Probably the most excited for a film I've ever been! :o

Nooooooooo! :cry: Stop after 4. PLEASE!? :(

I think Kevin and Wes have always planned to return with a trilogy (I remember it being strongly rumoured a couple of years back) - so I assume that they have stories planned out for the other two films as well. I would be a little dubious if they only planned to return for one film, and then only decided to make a 5th because the new one was a financial success. As far as I can tell, they all seem really passionate about where they are heading story and character wise over the course of not only this film, but the 5th and 6th ones as well which is a far cry from the endless Saw films: and because of this it seems to me, that money is not the primary focus, but I might be a bit naive here. Regardless, I think if the whole crew is back I can't see it being terrible, actually the oppositie (although I'm willing to eat my words if I'm wrong).

Edited April 30, 201015 yr by Daniel Gleek

I'm really glad Wes is on board for this.

Woho i love scream the opening is one of the best openings i have seen in a horror/Slasher film! and i think Courtney cox needs a new movie!

Edited April 30, 201015 yr by Jmh123

Can't wait, i will be old enough to see it in the cinema when it is released (most likely an 18 cert)

Can't wait to see the godly Courteney Cox return as Gale Weathers (Riley?)

I'm rewatching the trilogy now. Currently on the first, original 'Scream'. It really does never get old and that first scene is still as tense as ever. One of my favourite movies ever by a long shot.

I'm rewatching the trilogy now. Currently on the first, original 'Scream'. It really does never get old and that first scene is still as tense as ever. One of my favourite movies ever by a long shot.

 

Same here :lol: the second ones a bit :mellow: iffy for me though, Gail Weathers :wub:

Same here :lol: the second ones a bit :mellow: iffy for me though, Gail Weathers :wub:

Haha I love the second one! The third one is the only one that's iffy for me really, but that still has it's good moments too.

 

I don't think I liked the long winded ending of the second/third films though. :(

Haha I love the second one! The third one is the only one that's iffy for me really, but that still has it's good moments too.

 

I don't think I liked the long winded ending of the second/third films though. :(

 

Its that news reporter turning out to be part of the killing thing in the second one, doesn't seem right :lol:

Its that news reporter turning out to be part of the killing thing in the second one, doesn't seem right :lol:

Yeah but isn't she Billy's mother as well? :P Kind of makes sense tbh.

2nd one if my favourtite. Only because of the scene at the School of Film with Gale ducking and diving from Ghostface behind those wall

things.

Oh yeah that's one of my favourite scenes too <3.

Emma Roberts, Hayden Panettiere and Rory Culkin join cast :)

 

Emma Roberts has been cast as the lead of Dimension Films’ Scream 4, a continuation and quasi-reboot of Wes Craven’s meta slasher series.

 

As we previously reported, Ashley Greene was in talks for the part of the central heroine, Jill, the cousin of Neve Campbell’s Sidney character from the original trilogy. That deal fell through, however, and Roberts will fill the part instead. This is just speculation on my part, but the switcheroo may have been due to Greene’s higher asking price as a result of playing hardball on Twilight: Breaking Dawn.

 

Roberts, 19, is the face of Neutrogena, the mind of Nancy Drew, and the genetics of actor/father Eric Roberts and aunt/star Julia Roberts. She’s also starring in Milk screenwriter Dustin Lance Black’s directorial debut, titled What’s Wrong with Virgina.

 

Hayden Panettiere and Rory Culkin have been confirmed as Roberts’ movie geek friend and love interest, respectively. Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette are all set to reprise their roles that will hand off the series to the new cast for a new trilogy.

 

Kevin Williamson (Scream, Scream 2) wrote the script and is contracted for a fifth. To keep the plot twists a secret, the script is not being sent to agencies which is making for a slow and difficult process.

 

Producer/director Wes Craven summed up how I feel about the choice in a press release statement. “I’m absolutely delighted that Emma will be joining the cast of Scream 4. Her talent, beauty and range will add immensely to the sophistication, intensity and fun of the Scream franchise as it returns to the screen once more.”