Patrick Dempsey Confirms Scream 7 Talks & Teases Potential Return

Scream 7 may have lost the Carpenter sisters, but Patrick Dempsey has teased his potential return as Scream 3’s Mark Kincaid. Originally joining the long-running horror franchise in 2000’s Scream threequel, Dempsey’s character was depicted as a Hollywood detective assigned to investigate the murders of the in-universe Stab 3 cast. Despite his character surviving the events of Scream 3, Dempsey has not returned for any of the subsequent sequels, despite his character eventually becoming Sidney Prescott’s husband and father to her three children.

During a recent appearance on the Today show, Dempsey confirmed that he has been approached to reprise his role in Scream 7, though admitted he is still yet to see a finished script for the project. However, he did point out the potential irony in returning to play Neve Campbell’s husband, given that his Scream 3 co-star previously played his sister on Grey’s Anatomy. When asked if he would return to the role, Dempsey cheekily replied, “It’s always good to have a job.” Check out his comments and the original video segment below:

I’m waiting on the script. There has been a conversation about it. I haven’t seen anything yet. So, we’ll see what happens, but Neve was actually on the show. Which is oddly enough, she played my sister on
Grey’s Anatomy
and we worked together almost 26 – 27 years ago. I think it was ’99.

Yeah. You know, it’s always good to have a job.

What Patrick Dempsey’s Potential Return Means For Scream 7

Producers May Be Laying The Groundwork For A New Generation Of Leads

While the original plans for Scream 7 focused on continuing the story of Melissa Barrera’s and Jenna Ortega’s Carpenter sisters, the franchise was forced to rapidly overhaul its approach to the new sequel following Barrera’s firing. Shortly after Spyglass Media announced they had parted ways with their new franchise lead following social media posts Barrera had made relating to the Israel-Hamas conflict, Ortega revealed that she would also not be returning due to scheduling conflicts. Meanwhile, director Christopher Landon would also follow suit, suggesting his “dream job [had] turned into a nightmare.”

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Faced with a complete creative overhaul, the new approach for Scream 7 now appeared to be centered on luring Campbell back to the role as the Scream franchise’s original final girl. Moreover, rumors that Dempsey was also being courted to return emphasized the important role that would be assumed by Sidney’s family. While Sidney and Mark’s relationship and children were previously referenced in the most recent movies, it would seem the plan was to now bring them directly into the spotlight.

Yet while some may suggest that bringing Campbell and Dempsey back is primarily motivated by leveraging their characters’ nostalgic appeal, Scream 7 producers may secretly be planning to introduce their characters’ children as the franchise’s newest leads. Having now lost both Barrera and Ortega, if the Scream franchise hopes to continue beyond Scream 7, it will need to hand the torch off to a new generation once more.

Our Take On Sidney And Mark’s Children Taking Over The Scream Franchise

Could The Prescott-Kincaid Kids Be The Next Carpenter Sisters?

Few horror franchises have successfully handed over ownership to a younger generation of leads, and 2022’s Scream was unique in its ability to position Barrera and Ortega as viable replacements for Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette. Yet, despite having already accomplished the feat once, Scream 7 may need to once again prove that other characters can shoulder the franchise’s future without Sidney’s continuing presence.

While Campbell and Dempsey may indeed find themselves back in the main roles for Scream 7, all eyes will likely be on whomever is selected to play their children as their most likely successors. Whether they will be able to accomplish this with the same level of acclaim and widespread acceptance that the Carpenter sisters once commanded remains to be seen, though Dempsey’s return could help provide a much stronger link between the franchise’s past and its ongoing future.

Source: Today