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'Scream' reboot in development with the directors of 'Ready or Not'

Drew Barrymore appears in the famous opening sequence of 'Scream' in 1996. (Credit: Dimension Films)
Drew Barrymore appears in the famous opening sequence of 'Scream' in 1996. (Credit: Dimension Films)

The team behind 2019 horror hit Ready Or Not are set to tackle a reboot of the Scream slasher franchise, according to The Hollywood Reporter. It’s not clear whether it will be a direct sequel to the four-film franchise, or a fresh start for the series.

Co-directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett and producer Chad Villela, the horror filmmaking group known collectively as Radio Silence, are said to be working on the project for Spyglass Media.

The original 1996 slasher horror movie, directed by Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson, was released by the Weinstein Company.

Read more: New Texas Chainsaw Massacre sequel in the works

The rights now lie with Spyglass, a company formed by Lantern Entertainment which took on the rights to Miramax sequels following the collapse of TWC in the wake of sexual harassment allegations against Harvey Weinstein.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 22: (L-R) Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Chad Villella, Tyler Gillett attend the Build Series to discuss "Ready or Not" at Build Studio on August 22, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jim Spellman/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 22: (L-R) Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Chad Villella, Tyler Gillett attend the Build Series to discuss "Ready or Not" at Build Studio on August 22, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jim Spellman/Getty Images)

The first film in the slasher series, which saw a masked killer dubbed Ghostface terrorising a group of teens, was credited with revitalising the horror genre in the 90s. It spawned three sequels in 1997, 2000 and 2011, and a TV series that ran for three seasons from 2015-2019.

A fifth film in the franchise has been mooted ever since the release of Scream 4 in 2011 when director Wes Craven said he was contracted to make Scream 5 and 6, however those plans seem to have fallen through.

The masked Ghostface Killer first appeared in 1996 slasher movie 'Scream'. (Credit: Dimension Films)
The masked Ghostface Killer first appeared in 1996 slasher movie 'Scream'. (Credit: Dimension Films)

Horror hit factory Blumhouse Productions (The Invisible Man/Get Out) expressed an interest in revitalising the franchise, but this Spyglass reboot was confirmed in November, 2019, and it looks like the Ready Or Not team may be the ones who can make it happen.

Read more: Do belated horror sequels ever work?

Starring Samara Weaving as a woman whose wedding day descends into murder after she marries into a rich but cursed family, Ready or Not was a hit with critics (we named it one of the best horrors of last year) and audiences, and was praised for its heady mix of humour and horror.