Scream fans have been gagging for Patrick Dempsey to return (Picture: Getty Images)

With Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega not returning for Scream 7, there’s room for a certain fan-favourite character to rejoin the franchise with studio bosses scrambling to sign them up. 

Fans have spent years campaigning for Patrick Dempsey to return as Neve Campbell’s – aka Sidney Prescott’s – on-screen husband Detective Mark Kincaid, and it could finally happen in the next instalment. 

Plans for the new sequel are in chaos after Melissa, who played Sam Carpenter, and her on-screen sister Jenna, Tara Carpenter, were confirmed to have departed the iconic horror series this week. 

In The Heights actress Melissa was reportedly fired from the lead role after making controversial comments about Gaza on social media. Hours later, it was revealed that Wednesday star Jenna would also not be returning for Scream 7 with conflicting reports citing her other work commitments and claims that she quit in support of Melissa. 

Even Ghostface must be confused with all the comings and goings but he may have a familiar face to prey on if the movie studio gets its way. 

According to Variety, Spyglass, which produces the franchise, is hoping to sign Grey’s Anatomy star Patrick – who was just crowned People’s sexiest man – up for Scream 7 after fans were left disappointed that he wasn’t cast for Scream VI. He first entered the franchise in Scream 3 as a detective tasked with keeping Sidney and her friends safe while also trying to hunt down Ghostface. 

Jenna Ortega (l) and Melissa Barrera will not be part of the Scream 7 cast (Picture: AP)

Patrick aka People’s sexiest man, joined the horror series in Scream 3 as Detective Mark Kincaid (Picture: Spyglass, YouTube)

After surviving the serial killer, Sidney and Det. Mark sailed off into the sunset and got married. He was briefly referenced in Scream (2022) when it was revealed that he and Sidney had children together. 

Of course, if Patrick returns, it would only make sense to have Neve back as part of a package deal. It’s said that the studio is also keen to bring her back after she refused to return for Scream 6 due to a dispute over her salary. 

Her departure from the franchise was a huge blow to fans as the whole Scream series was based around Sidney as the protagonist. However, when the 2022 sequel rebooted the horror gem, the storyline was shifted to focus on Melissa and Jenna’s characters with Neve, Courteney Cox and David Arquette as supporting legacy characters. 

Neve, 48, recently addressed her exit from the series at Monster-Mania Con, telling fans: ‘I don’t wish these movies ill will. I wanted the movie to be good. It’s not like I’m sitting in my house going, “I hope it sucks, I hope it doesn’t do well.” I care about all the people involved.

‘There’s someone at the top who only thinks about money and that’s their prerogative.’ 

Neve Campbell quit before Scream 6 due to a salary dispute (Picture: Rex Features)

Melissa Barrera was reportedly fired over her controversial posts about Gaza (Picture: Getty Images)

Her on-screen sister Jenna has also departed the franchise in a double shock (Picture: Getty Images)

Melissa was reportedly fired from Scream 7 after saying in an Instagram post that ‘Gaza is currently being treated like a concentration camp,’ while addressing the Israel-Hamas war.

She added: ‘Cornering everyone together, with no where to go, no electricity no water … People have learnt nothing from our histories. And just like our histories, people are still silently watching it all happen. THIS IS GENOCIDE & ETHNIC CLEANSING.’ 

The actress later addressed her controversial comments stating: ‘First and foremost I condemn Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. I condemn hate and prejudice of any kind against any group of people.

‘As a Latina, a proud Mexicana, I feel the responsibility of having a platform that allows me the privilege of being heard, and therefore I have tried to use it to raise awareness about issues I care about and to lend my voice to those in need.’ 

The 33-year-old added that she will ‘pray day and night for no more deaths, for no more violence, and for peaceful co-existence.’ 

‘I will continue to speak out for those that need it most and continue to advocate for peace and safety, for human rights and freedom. Silence is not an option for me,’ Melissa concluded. 

Scream 7 is currently expected to be released in 2025 but could be pushed back with the production delays. James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick are working on writing a fresh script while Christopher Landon is set to direct.

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MORE : Jenna Ortega ‘quits Scream franchise’ after co-star Melissa Barrera fired for Gaza comments

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Plans for Scream 7 are currently in chaos.