Patrick Dempsey has revealed the reason he won't be returning for Scream 7.
The Grey's Anatomy star first appeared in the 2000 sequel Scream 3 as Detective Mark Kincaid, but was unable to return for the fourth instalment as he was filming Transformers: Dark of the Moon.
Though Dempsey expressed an interest last October in rejoining the horror franchise, it was later revealed that he would not be reprising his role for Scream 7.
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In an interview with Variety, the actor explained why he won't be starring in the upcoming movie, and it seems that timing is once again to blame.
"It just didn't work out and we were dealing with the fires and everything that was going on and the schedule didn't work out, unfortunately," Dempsey said, referring to the recent wildfires in California, where he lives.
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While Mark Kincaid may not be making an appearance, new character Mark Evans will be soon joining the action. Originally mentioned in Scream 5, Mark is Sidney Prescott's husband and will be played by Community star Joel McHale.
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Elsewhere, original cast members Neve Campbell (Sidney Prescott), Courteney Cox (Gale Weathers) and Matthew Lillard (Stu Macher) have all been confirmed to return for Scream 7.
Mason Gooding and Jasmin Savoy Brown, who appeared in the fifth and six movies as siblings Chad and Mindy Meeks-Martin, are also coming back. New cast members include Isabel May (as Sidney's daughter), Mark Consuelos, Asa Germann, Mckenna Grace, Sam Rechner and Anna Camp.
Scream writer Kevin Williamson will be making his franchise directorial debut for the with the seventh movie.
Scream 7 will be released in cinemas on February 27, 2026.
Divya is a freelance writer with experience in entertainment and lifestyle news. Described as a "telly addict" since childhood, Divya was able to translate her interests into a BJTC-accredited, Honours degree in Journalism and Media. After working in communications and marketing, Divya joined Digital Spy as a Freelance News Reporter. She has also written for various publications including Metro, Asian World News and TwitCelebGossip; as well as interviews, features and reviews on her own blog. Divya prides herself on her TV, film and showbiz knowledge, always offering (not so) fun facts to her long-suffering friends and family. From soaps to superheroes, Divya is the go-to person for tailored recommendations and up to date information.
