Scream 7 Cast Salary Post-Dispute Revealed, What Does The Post-Credit Scene Mean For The Franchise?

Scream has been one of the OG horror/thriller franchises for over three decades now. When the first film of the franchise premiered in 1996, it revitalised the slasher genre of classic horror, introducing the iconic Halloween staple, 'Ghostface'. Thirty years later, the Director Kevin Williamson has rebooted the franchise with the release of Scream 7, which officially hit the theatres on Friday, February 27, 2026.

The seventh instalment in the franchise came after considerable dispute and cast exits, leading to a major creative and financial reset. After major actors like Jenna Ortega and Melissa Barrera exited the project, the producers had to make a tough call, and that shift is reflected in the cast salaries for this instalment. Who earned the highest? Let's find out.

How much was Neve Campbell's paycheck for returning to the Scream franchise?

Those who kept tabs on all instalments of Scream are no strangers to the highly publicised exit of Neve Campbell, the main lead, from the franchise. In case you didn't know, Campbell, who plays the main female lead, 'Sydney Prescott', skipped Scream VI over a pay dispute with the production. However, after Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega also left the project, Campbell returned, albeit with significantly more leverage. 

When Scream V was released in 2022, Campbell was reportedly paid around USD 1.5 million for reprising her iconic role, which was significantly lower than Friends star Courtney Cox's paycheck, who reportedly got close to USD 5 million for her role as 'Gale Weathers'. So, when she decided to return this time, she raised the stakes much higher, reportedly securing a USD 7 million salary for Scream 7. Meanwhile, Cox, the only actor to appear in every instalment, reportedly earned around USD 2 million for reprising her role this time.

With the overall film being made on a USD 45 million budget, the other returning cast also earned six to seven-figure salaries, with Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding getting paydays reportedly ranging between USD 750,000 and USD 1 million. On the other hand, Isabel May, who played Sidney's daughter 'Tatum', reportedly earned around USD 500,000.

A short recap of what happens in Scream 7 [Spoiler Alert!]

The latest instalment of the survival thriller swings back to where it all started: the central "final girl" of the franchise, 'Sidney Prescott', with Neve Campbell reprising the iconic character. The 17-year-old Woodsboro girl who became the prime target of Ghostface in the first movie is now a 47-year-old mother who'se willing to risk it all for saving her family. This time, the killer is also going after her daughter. 

Sidney now lives a quiet life with her husband, 'Mark' (played by Joel McHale), and their children, including her teenage daughter, 'Tatum' (played by Isabel May). This time, Sidney's past as a teen final girl comes back to haunt her as Ghostface resurfaces. As bodies begin to pile up, Sidney realises that all the attacks are deeply tied to her past. The killers, now equipped with more advanced mechanisms, use disturbing deepfake videos of former killers who return to torment Sidney psychologically. 

Who is the actual Ghostface? 

For loyal followers of the franchise, it shouldn't come as a surprise that more than one killer is hiding behind the creepy mask. Midway through Scream 7, we learn that one of the Ghostfaces is 'Marco Davis' (Ethan Embry), the psychiatric hospital orderly behind the creepy deepfake videos of old killers and Sidney's departed loved ones.

Perhaps the biggest shock was when Sidney's Neighbour, Jessica (Anna Camp), was exposed as the real brains behind it all. But what was her motive? Well, it's personal. With the shocking reveal, Jessica says that Sidney's memoir once helped her walk out of an abusive marriage; in her mind, Sidney was a symbol of survival. But in Scream VI, when Sidney stepped away from the spotlight during the New York murders, Jessica felt abandoned.

Obsessed with the survival story, she even admitted to murdering her own son, claiming he had "too much of his father in him". Unable to find Sidney, Jessica forced her daughter, Tatum, into becoming the final girl. So, it turns out that the actual brains behind Ghostface is not a man this time; it's a woman and an obsessed fan, Jessica.

Who survives in the end?

Sidney is determined not to back down. With her daughter's life on the line this time, she is not alone; she has her family by her side. Her husband, Mark, though badly injured, gives his all to help Tatum break free, while Sidney shoots Marco. When Jessica makes her one last move to finish them, the mother and daughter join hands to take the villain down, together.

By the end of the movie, not all characters can make it, and the body count is high as always. But this time, the survival seems to be more by choice than by luck. Major characters, including 'Scott', 'Madison', 'Hannah', 'Karl', 'Chloe', 'Lucas', 'Ben', 'Marco', and lastly, 'Jessica', the major survivors include 'Sidney', 'Tatum', 'Mark', 'Gale', 'Chad', and 'Mindy'.

Is this the end of the Scream franchise?

Well, while the movie technically doesn't have a post-credit scene, it does have a mid-credit section that closes with a comical moment. 'Mindy Meeks-Martin' (Jasmin Savoy Brown) finally lands her dream job as a reporter as she covers the Ghostface murders outside Sidney's house, while her twin brother, 'Chad' (Mason Gooding), records her as the cameraman.

Unlike the other instalments that generally hint at what to expect next, Scream 7 ends on a lighter note after the intense finale. With the comical moment where Chad reveals he forgot to press record on the perfect take, it seems like the franchise may be pausing after this chapter. However, it's not clear if there will be a Scream 8 in the future. 

What are your thoughts on the intense ending of Scream 7? Let us know.

Also Read: How Jim Carrey's Death Hoax Started Amid His Unrecognisable Look At 2026 Cesar Awards?

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