For the most part, sequels past 3 are rarely any good, let alone big name theatrical releases with an ensemble cast. Especially those films that fall into the “horror” or “slasher” genre. This time, things look to be different, as just about everyone (alive) is coming back for Scream 4.

Even original writer and director Kevin Williamson and Wes Craven are returning to revisit this franchise 10 years later. From what we can tell this far into production, the reasoning is to revamp the franchise for the brand new generation of tweeting, texting, and underage drinking teens. Here’s the plot rundown.

SIDNEY PRESCOTT has been living the last few years of her life in relative silence. Now a guidance counselor for Woodsboro High School, her alma mater, she finally lives her life out of the media spotlight.

But with the discovery of a murdered student, Sidney Prescott’s world will once again be ripped apart by the reemergence of Ghost Face.

We got a less-than revealing teaser a few months back, but now we’re finally getting the goods, and plenty of Hayden Panettiere as the new ditzy blond (who very well could be the new Ghost Face).

Check out the full trailer after the jump, and catch Scream 4 in theaters April 15th.

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In addition to the recent casting of Adam Brody and Marley Shelton in Wes Craven’s Scream 4, we can also add one of our favorite actresses from one of our favorite shows: Alison Brie of NBC’s hit show Community. And we couldn’t be happier about it.

Brie joins a host of young acting talent lining up to be slashed in the Dimension Films reboot of the franchise including Emma Roberts, Hayden Panettiere, Rory Culkin, Nico Tortorella and Erik Knudsen. In addition, as we mentioned earlier, surviving original franchise stars Neve Campbell, David Arquette and Courteney Cox also will return for the film.

In the film Brie will play Rebecca, the ambitions person assistant to Campbell’s character who secretly envies her boss’ reluctant fame and fortune. Do we sense a catfight brewing? Perhaps.

Filming on Scream 4 recently began in Michigan with the intent of an April 15th, 2011 release. You can bet we’ll be following this one closely.

The cast of Wes Craven’s upcoming fourth installment of the hugely successful Scream franchise has just grown by one more. Emma Roberts (Valentine’s Day, Hotel For Dogs and the upcoming It’s Kind of a Funny Story) will join returning original cast members Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox and David Arquette in Scream 4, which is also being scripted by original Scream writer Kevin Williamson.

Roberts will play “Jill,” one of the heroines in the new film and probably help solve yet another series of grisly murders perpetrated on the citizens of Woodsboro. Poor citizens. Obviously, Roberts is thrilled at the news.

“I am so excited to be part of this ground-breaking franchise,” said Roberts. “As a huge fan of the previous films, I jumped at the opportunity to work with the original Scream team of Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson. It’s the perfect opportunity for me to do something completely different than I’ve ever done before. With Bob Weinstein and Dimension, and the return of original cast members Neve, Courteney and David, I have no doubt Scream 4 will live up to fan expectations.”

Producer/director Wes Craven added, “I’m absolutely delighted that Emma will be joining the cast of Scream 4. Her talent, beauty and range will add immensely to the sophistication, intensity and fun of the SCREAM franchise as it returns to the screen once more.”

Well, there you go. if he doesn’t know, nobody does. Shooting on the film will begin in June in Michigan. Scream 4 hits theatres in April 15, 2011.

UPDATE: Looks like we can add Hayden Panettiere and Rory Culkin to the cast now also. Dimension Films just confirmed their casting.

Well, well, well, look what came to our inboxes today here at The Flickcast offices. It’s the brand new teaser poster for the next installment of Wes Craven’s Scream franchise. The film, which will bring back most of the original cast including Courtney Cox, David Arquette and Neve Campbell, has the current title of Scream 4.

We brought you news of this film before. But in case you can’t remember that far back, the film, being written by original scribe Kevin Williamson, will reunite the gang in search of clues to solving a brand new series of murders. Who’s the killer, what’s their motivation and what are these new rules? Fear not, all will be explained soon enough.

Until then, take a look at a larger version of the poster after the jump. Scream 4 is scheduled to hit theaters April 15, 2011.

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While it was hinted at for quite some time, news broke yesterday that made it official. It looks like Dimension has officially greenlit Scream 4, with not only original writer Kevin Williamson and director Wes Craven returning, but Neve Campbell, David Arquette, and Courtney Cox Arquette as well. From a Dimension Films press release:

“SCREAM has been such an integral part of Dimension’s history, and I look forward to continuing the franchise,” said Bob Weinstein, co-chairman The Weinstein Company. “I’ve worked with Kevin Williamson and Wes Craven on so many films at Dimension and hope to continue our successful collaboration.”

Wes Craven added, “I am delighted to accept Bob Weinstein’s offer to take the reins on a whole new chapter in SCREAM history. Working with Courteney, David and Neve was a blast ten years ago and I’m sure it will be again. And I can’t wait to find the talent that will bring new blood to the screen as well. Kevin is right on his game with the new script  – the characters and story crackle with energy and originality – to say nothing of some of the most hair-raising scares I’ve seen in a script since… well, since the original SCREAM series.  Let me at it.”

The original franchise, which spanned 3 films, grossed more than $500 million in the worldwide box office, which should mean some success for a return to the world of Scream.

The film currently has a release date of April 15th, 2011.

While attending the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour to promote The Vampire Diaries, writer Kevin Williamson gave us some updates and the current status of Scream 4:

“I’m almost done with the first draft of Scream 4. I’m trying to get that together for Wes Craven. We’ve got to get going on that, during the hiatus. We have Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and Dave Arquette. I was always holding out hope because the pitch was about those three characters. I didn’t want to have to re-route the whole story. We don’t have to do that. I can do it exactly the way I want wanted. The story is going to be told the way I originally conceived it.”

The immediate good news for fans of Scream are that all the principals are back, hopefully this will mean Wes Craven will return to direct. Films like this do best when you can bring back that core creative element. Of course, few of the other characters survived the first three films to return anyway.

Some may wonder if jumping back into the world of Scream is a good or bad idea. The horror genre has changed considerably since the first Scream movie came out in 1996. Scream 3 alone is ten years old. The big money makers these days are franchise films like Saw and unexpected indie hits like Paranormal Activity. The closest films to what Scream was would be the recent Halloween reboots, and even that’s a stretch.

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I’m not sure who exactly was waiting with baited breath for this, but whomever it was should be happy to read this post. To what am I referring? I’m talking about the announcement today that both David Arquette and Courtney Cox are signed up for another chapter in the Scream franchise which, at the moment, carries the clever title Scream 4.

According to Marc Malkin of E! Online, the duo are onboard the new film and, especially in the case of Arquette, thrilled to be doing it. “I fell in love with my wife on Scream, so the opportunity to bring [Dewey] back to life and for my wife to play that really bitchy character again, it’s just going to be really fun,” he said in the article.

Also according to Malkin, Kevin Williamson is busy working away on a script which apparently includes all the characters, even though Neve Campbell (currently seen in NBC’s The Philanthropist) has so far refused the idea of playing Sidney Prescott again. Of course, everyone involved wants Wes Craven to return to the director’s chair but so far, unlike Campbell, he’s not saying anything at all about returning.

Of all the people involved in Scream who might be excited for another installment (besides Arquette), I can’t think of anyone who probably needs it more than Kevin Williamson. After his huge success with projects like the first two Scream films, I know What You Did Last Summer and Dawson’s Creek, he seemed pretty much able to do anything he wanted.

Unfortunately, his star has faded after several less-than-successful film and TV projects like Hidden Palms and Cursed, so he’s probably ripe for a comeback and is looking for a way to make it happen. And what better way to do that then by going back to the material that made your career in the first place?