Courteney Cox pays tribute to the late horror maestro Wes Craven as she celebrates a wrap on filming Scream 5
Scream fans were left annoyed on Wednesday after it was revealed that the upcoming Scream 5 would officially be called Scream, just like the first entry in the long-running horror series.
But Courteney Cox steered clear of the controversy on Thursday as she paid tribute to the man who made it all possible: Wes Craven.
The 56-year-old former Friends star shared a photo of herself with the acclaimed horror filmmaker to celebrate the end of filming on the fifth film in his Scream series.
Looking back: Courteney Cox, 56, paid tribute to the original Scream director Wes Craven in an Instagram post on Thursday as she celebrate the end of filming on Scream 5
Courtney’s photo showed her on the set of the original Scream film in a costume featuring a scarlet jacket, a white blouse and a white and red plaid skirt.
She leaned over and embraced Craven, who was seated in his director’s chair.
‘Scream just wrapped. This all started 25 years ago directed by the beloved Wes Craven,’ she began her caption.
‘Walking back on the set 25 years later, I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I found was an incredible new cast and two uber talented directors. I’m sure Wes will be so proud. Thank you @kevwilliamson for creating this legacy,’ she concluded, tagging the screenwriter Kevin Williamson, who penned the original film, as well as the second and fourth entries in the series.
Cut!: ‘Scream just wrapped. This all started 25 years ago directed by the beloved Wes Craven,’ she began her caption, while also posing with new directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett
The mastermind: She also reposted a selfie taken by Executive Producer Kevin Williamson. He announced the new film would simply be called Scream, like the original, which irritated fans
Courteney also shared a new photo from the Scream 5 set featuring its two directors, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, as well as a photo of herself with series star Neve Campell and Williamson that he previously shared.
They were serving in place of Craven, who died in 2015 of a brain tumor.
The meta-horror of Scream (1996) remains one of his most popular films, but he had established himself as a horror legend long before with a string of acclaimed films including The Last House On The Left (1972), The Hills Have Eyes (1977), A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984) and The People Under The Stairs (1991), among many others.
Iconic: Craven, who died of brain tumor in 2015, was a horror legend who directed classics like A Nightmare On Elm Street and The Hills Have Eyes; still from A Nightmare On Elm Street 3
Bad memories: On Halloween, Courteney joked about having to wear the severe bangs she debuted in 2000’s Scream 3
Snoop: The actress has been featured in each of the movies in the series as the TV reporter Gale Weathers, who chases scoops on the kills in each of the films; still from Scream 3
Courteney understandably had Scream on the brain on Halloween, when she shared a photo of herself and someone in the film’s recognizable Ghostface mask as they pretended to give her the same severe bangs that she infamously wore in Scream 3 (2000).
‘Not the bangs!!!!!!!!’ she joked.
The actress has been featured in each of the movies in the series as the TV reporter Gale Weathers, who chases scoops on the kills in each of the films.
In addition to her costar Neve, Courteney’s ex-husband David Arquette will be returning for the fifth Scream installment. The two were married from 1999–2013.
Scream is expected to hit theaters in January 2022.
Back for more: Cox is reuniting with her ex-husband and former costar David Arquette in the upcoming Scream film, which is expected out in January 2022; still from Scream (1996)