After a hiatus of more than 20 years, it looks like Patrick Dempsey could be returning to the Scream film franchise.
In an interview with PeopleThe actor, 58, confirmed that he has been in talks to reprise his role as Detective Mark Kincaid for the upcoming Scream 7, which already includes original star Neve Campbell.
“Well, they’ve been talking to me about it and I think they’re still working on the script,” Dempsey revealed. “And of course Neve (Campbell) has signed, so I guess we’ll see.”
dempsey is eagerly awaiting the script to be sent to him, hoping to keep the film and his role on track toward the start of production.
“I’m waiting to read the script and see if it really works,” the Lewiston, Maine, native explained. ‘In this business, you never know what’s going to happen. But if the opportunity presents itself and it becomes a reality, I will definitely take it seriously.”
Patrick Dempsey, 58, revealed that he has been in talks to join the cast of the Scream film franchise for the upcoming Scream 7; (L) seen in 2023; (R) seen in a still from Scream from 2000.
The first two films in the franchise, Scream (1996) and Scream 2 (1997), were box office hits, grossing $173 million and $172 million respectively.
The veteran Grey’s Anatomy star appeared in one of the franchise’s films, Scream 3 (2000), which was directed by the late legendary Wes Craven, who worked from a script by Ehren Kruger, who had replaced Kevin Williamson. after he wrote the first two. quotas.
He played the husband of Campbell’s Sidney Prescott in the film which also starred Courteney Cox (Gale Weathers) and David Arquette (Dewey Riley), as well as Scott Foley (Roman Bridger), Lance Henriksen (John Milton), Matt Keeslar (Tom Prince). ), Jenny McCarthy (Sarah Darling), Emily Mortimer (Angelina Tyler), Parker Posey (Jennifer Jolie), Deon Richmond (Tyson Fox) and Liev Schreiber (Cotton Weary).
In the film, Dempsey’s Kincaid helps investigate the Stab 3 murders, while developing a romantic interest in Sidney.
Ultimately, Scream 3 became a global box office hit, grossing $161.8 million in revenue against a $40 million budget.
Campbell confirmed his return to the Scream fold last March after first playing the character in the original Scream (1996).
Directed by Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson, the first in the series also starred David Arquette, Courteney Cox, Matthew Lillard, Rose McGowan, Skeet Ulrich and Drew Barrymore.
Set in the fictional town of Woodsboro, California, the story follows high school student Sidney Prescott (Campbell) and her friends, who, on the anniversary of her mother’s murder, become the target of a known costumed serial killer. like Ghostface.
The murder mystery film ended up being a global box office hit, grossing $173 million after spending between $14 and $15 million on production.
Dempsey joined the franchise for the third installment, playing Det. Mark Kinkaid, who is married to Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell)
Ultimately, Scream 3 became a global box office hit, grossing $161.8 million against a budget of $40 million.
Craven and Williamson reteamed for Scream 2 (1997), with Arquette, Campbell and Cox reprising their roles, along with cast newcomers Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jamie Kennedy, Laurie Metcalf, Jerry O’Connell, Jada Pinkett and Liev . Schreiber.
The first sequel proved to be as successful as the original, grossing $172 million at the global box office, only this time the budget jumped to $24 million.
Williamson returned to the franchise for Scream 4 (2011) alongside Craven as director, but it fell flat in the money-making department, earning $97.2 million on a $40 million budget.
While Dempsey did not appear in the third sequel, Dewey mentioned his character in the fifth film, simply titled Scream (2022), and again in Scream VI (2023) when Gale reveals Det. Kincaid would be hiding.
The fifth installment marked the first in the series not directed by Wes Craven, who died in 2015 and to whom the film is dedicated.
It brought in a host of new cast members like Melissa Barrera, Mason Gooding, Jenna Ortega, Jack Quaid and Marley Shelton, along with Courteney Cox, David Arquette and Neve Campbell.
The fourth sequel’s box office receipts recovered and eventually amounted to $138.9 million, while it ended up costing $24 million to produce.
The most recent in the franchise, Scream VI (2023), saw the return of Melissa Barrera, Cox, Ortega and Gooding while introducing the likes of Jasmin Savoy Brown, Jack Champion, Henry Czerny, Liana Liberato, Dermot Mulroney, Devyn Nekoda, Tony Revolori, Josh Segarra, Samara Weaving and Hayden Panettiere.
While Dempsey did not appear in the third sequel, Dewey mentioned his character in the fifth film, simply titled Scream (2022), and again in Scream VI (2023) when Gale reveals Det. Kincaid would be hidden; Stars Melissa Barrera, Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox appear in the photo.
Campbell confirmed that he will reprise his role as Sidney Prescott in Scream 7
After the fifth installment, Scream (2022) returned the franchise to movie status, the next one, Scream VI (2023) also did well and earned fans $169 million with a production that was said to cost between $33 and $35. millions.
With Dempsey likely to join the cast, Scream 7, with Kevin Williamson directing, is scheduled to hit theaters on February 27, 2026.
Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, who worked from a script by James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick, the sixth installment proved to be a winning combination, grossing $169 million, while the production was said to be between $33 and $35 million. of dollars.
News of Scream 7 was announced in August 2023, with Christopher Landon set to direct, but months later the filmmaker, whose resume includes Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones (2014), Freaky (2020) and Happy Death Day (2017), announced on X (formerly Twitter) that he is no longer linked to the production.
Melissa Barrera will not return after being fired from the franchise in November 2023 for pro-Palestinian posts that, according to production company Spyglass Media, ‘crossed the line into hate speech.’
Scream 7, which is now directed by Kevin Williamson, who wrote several of the previous franchise films, will hit theaters on February 27, 2026.