Courteney Cox would like to direct a Scream

Courteney Cox’s acting career eclipses her work as a director, though that could change once people see her new “pizza bomber” film, Evil Genius, based on the Netflix true-crime documentary of the same name. For now, Cox is busy promoting her latest directorial effort at the Toronto International Film Festival, though the business of selling the film hasn’t quelled speculation about her auteurist future. Speaking to Deadline, Cox was asked about the prospects of directing a sequel in the Scream franchise, in which she has appeared as tabloid journalist Gale Weathers since Wes Craven’s Scream premiered in 1996. 

“I think I should, honestly,” she said, as Evil Genius co-stars Patricia Arquette and David Harbour showd their support with encouraging “yeahs” and “wows.” “Nobody knows more about that movie than I do—I mean, and the creator, and Wes Craven, and the writers, and everybody who’s been in it—but I think it’d be great and fun and a good publicity thing. Get on it.” 

The latest entry in the slasher franchise, Scream 7, grossed just shy of $208 million worldwide despite crummy reviews and a call to boycott the film following Spyglass Media’s 2023 firing of former lead Melissa Barrera over the actor’s social media posts concerning the Israel-Hamas war. Co-star Jenna Ortega and previously attached Scream 7 director Christopher Landon left the project soon after. Original Scream screenwriter Kevin Williamson took over directing duties , though he’s said he won’t return for the next film, leaving the door open for Cox to seize the means of Ghostface production.