When it was first announced that Scream creator Kevin Williamson was sitting back down at his computer to write another trilogy of films about the Ghostface killer, we were told that while there’d be room for some of the old faces, Scream 4 would largely pass the baton onto a new, younger crew, who would run around trying not to get killed by whoever the masked murderer actually is this time around.
Since then, there’s been little word about these new people, with most reports focussing on the fact Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, David Arquette and director Wes Craven were all returning. However, with Craven now locked into the directing chair, he’s been looking around to fill the new roles Scream 4 offers, and it look like he’s settled on who he wants.
THR reports that Lake Bell (It’s Complicated) is in negotiations to join the film, while offers are out to Ashley Greene (Twilight), Hayden Panettiere (who’s got time on her hands now Heroes has been cancelled) and Rory Culkin (Signs). If all goes to plan, Greene will essentially become the new Scream queen, playing the lead character, Sidney Prescott’s (Neve Campbell’s) cousin Jill. Panettiere will be her nerdy film geek best friend (because obviously Hayden Panettiere looks exactly like a geek), while Rory Culkin will play Jill’s potential love interest. Lake Bell meanwhile will be a police officer who knew Sidney in high school.
Casting is apparently being held up by the fact the secrecy obsessed Craven and Williamson are refusing to send the script out to agents, with actors excepted to decide whether they want a role, based on a brief character description. However Craven will have to get some people to sign on the dotted line pretty quickly, as the movie is due to start shooting fairly soon, for release April, 2011.