rewrite this title Kevin Williamson has no intention of directing Scream 8

The slasher sequel Scream 7 took a bumpy road to production, losing some cast members and directors along the way, but it has now made its way out into the world. The reaction is split (you can read a 5/10 review from Tyler Nichols HERE and an 8/10 second opinion review from Mike Conway at THIS LINK), but the opening weekend box office was good, with the film setting the record for the highest opening weekend of the franchise. It had a steep decline in its second weekend, indicating poor word of mouth – but I don’t think there’s any chance we’re not going to be getting a Scream 8 soon. Even if it has a different creative team. And, for his part, Scream 7 director Kevin Williamson has said that he has no intention of directing the next sequel.

A Lot of Ideas

In the build-up to the release of Scream 7, we were already hearing rumblings of an eighth film, with producer Marianne Maddalena suggesting that it could go into production as soon as this fall.

Williamson, who wrote the screenplay for the original Scream, directed the seventh film from a screenplay by 2022’s Scream and Scream VI writer Guy Busick, who crafted the story with his co-writer on the fifth and sixth films, James Vanderbilt. (Vanderbilt is also a producer on the most recent sequels.) Williamson also did enough work on the script to earn a “screenplay by” credit alongside Busick. He told Variety that he had “a lot of ideas” for Scream 8.

“If this film is successful and there’s an audience for it, you know we’ll make it because 1, I think the studio would like to make it, and 2, we the people who make these movies would love to make it because… they’re a blast to make and they’re so much fun.“

Now, he’s talking about taking a step back.

Other People Can Take the Reins

Speaking with Hello Sidney, with thanks to our friends at Bloody Disgusting for the transcription, Williamson said, “I think the next Scream I’ll probably step back. “I want to direct another film that I have written. That is just waiting for me to find the time to direct. Right now I’m working on a couple TV shows. Maybe I’ll direct one of those. Who knows. … I have some ideas of where it could go, but I’m anxious to see what another storyteller could do with it. It’s nice to be part of the Scream family. That doesn’t mean I always have to be front and center. I don’t always have to write or direct… other people can take the reins. And I’m excited to see what other storytellers come up with.“

So, if the producers do want to get the next film into production by the end of this year, they should get the director search started.

What do you think of Kevin Williamson taking a step back from Scream 8? Share your thoughts on this one by leaving a comment below.