The new month has brought fresh and much-awaited news forScreamfans everywhere, as we’re finally finding out whyPatrick Dempseywon’t be reprising his role in the seventh installment. Dempsey, who appeared as Detective Mark Kincaid in 2000’sScream 3, was long thought to be part of the upcoming title but wasofficially ousted back in January. Rumors had been brewing of Dempsey’s return for years, thanks to the mention of his character in 2022’sScream, followed by comments made by the actor back in the fall. TheGrey’s Anatomyalum previously toldThe Today Showthat when it came to the eagerly-anticipatedKevin Williamson-helmed slasher:
“There has been a conversation about it.I haven’t seen anything yet. So, we’ll see what happens.”
Our hopes and dreams were diced into teeny tiny pieces over a month ago, when it was revealed that instead of Dempsey, comedianJoel McHalewould be appearing inScream 7as Mark — the husband ofNeve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott. Finally giving us some insight into what made the deal go off the rails, Dempsey toldVariety:
“It just didn’t work out, and we were dealing with the fires and everything that was going on, and the schedule didn’t work out, unfortunately.”
“Unfortunately” is right. The romantic vibes between Sidney (Campbell) and Mark (Dempsey) inWes Craven’s third title in the series were a driving point of the plot — especially since Sid never seems to have very good luck with boyfriends. WithScream(2022) teasing that things had worked out between the pair, we hoped to see their love unfold, but, alas, it’s just a different Mark. Still, audiences can expect to see long-running legacy stars Campbell andCourteney Coxreprise their roles inScream 7as well as newer legacy actors,Mason GoodingandJasmin Savoy Brown.
There’s Still Hope For Patrick Dempsey To Return To Horror
Even thoughScreammight not be it, there’s still a very good chance that audiences will see Dempsey again sometime soon(ish) in a slasher flick. The actor was part of the stacked cast forEli Roth’s (Borderlands) 2023 holiday horror hit,Thanksgiving, appearing as a seemingly good police officer hunting down a depraved killer. By the end of the film (spoiler for a movie that came out a year and a half ago), it was revealed that Dempsey’s Sheriff Ericwasthe masked madman known as John Carver. And — although he met his demise — it seems like there’s a solid chance he somehow cheated death and will be back with a vengeance in the movie’s hopeful sequel.
Scream 7is set for a theatrical release on July 05, 2025.
