3 Years Later, Scream 7 Just Ruined One Of The Best Sidney Prescott Story Reveals From The Reboot Movies

Scream 7 has officially ruined one of the best Sidney Prescott revelations from the Scream reboot. The famous horror franchise has been going through many changes since Scream 7 fired Melissa Barrera. Shortly after, Jenna Ortega also left the sequel, establishing two major blows to the movie. The upcoming Scream 7 secured Kevin Williamson to direct the film and renowned franchise stars such as Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox to star. However, the horror sequel still has much to prove given all the behind-the-scenes changes.

One of Scream‘s most iconic stars, Patrick Dempsey has teased his possible return for Scream 7. Dempsey’s return as Mark Kincaid would have been a step in the right direction for the upcoming film. However, Scream 7 officially cast Sidney Prescott’s husband Mark, and he is a completely different character. Joel McHale will play Mark Evans, Sidney’s husband, who is very much not Detective Mark Kincaid. It is a disappointing surprise, especially because Neve Campbell and Patrick Dempsey had suggested on separate occasions that Mark Sidney was married to Kincaid.

Joel McHale’s Scream 7 Casting Confirms Sidney Isn’t Actually Married To Scream 3’s Mark Kincaid

Mark Evans Is An Entirely New Addition To The Scream Franchise

Custom Image by Yailin Chacon

In Scream 5, Sidney makes a casual reference to her husband, Mark, while talking on the phone with Dewey. At the time, it was widely assumed that Mark was Mark Kincaid, a detective in the LAPD in Scream 3. It fits within the context of Dewey and Sidney’s phone call because Dewey spoke about Mark as if he knew him really well, and there is only one character named Mark in the Scream franchise. However, a recent casting announcement confirmed that Mark is Mark Evans, an entirely new addition to the Scream movies.

Joel McHale is set to portray Sidney’s husband, Mark Evans—a different Mark from what had previously been believed. It comes as a surprise and a disappointment—Neve Campbell and Patrick Dempsey had incredible chemistry in Scream 3, so the franchise finally deciding to capitalize on it was a thrilling moment. Now, the revelation means nothing—Sidney mentioning Mark’s name in her conversation with Dewey does not call back to a previous character. It has no greater significance to the overall narrative, but it does explain some other inconsistencies within the Scream franchise.

Sidney Being Married To Mark Evans Explains Why Patrick Dempsey’s Character Wasn’t Mentioned In Scream 4

Mark Evans Explains Some Inconsistencies While Creating More Plot Holes

Despite Mark Evans not being the Kincaid, this factor does solve some inconsistencies within the horror franchise. For one, Mark Kincaid does not appear in Scream 4; he is not even mentioned in the film. While it was exhilarating to hear he had married Sidney in the end, it was odd that he just reappeared after his mysterious absence in Scream 4. After Mark Kincaid endured Ghostface firsthand, it makes no sense that he would allow Sidney to travel to Woodsboro alone, especially once Scream 4‘s Ghostface killers made themselves known.

Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott in Scream 2022

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Now that Sidney’s husband is a different Mark, it makes sense that Kincaid was not mentioned in the fourth installment because Sidney presumably met Mark Evans afterward. On the flip side, it is entirely possible that Sidney and Mark Kincaid were just taking a break and eventually got back together. Regardless, Sidney Prescott marrying a different Mark makes more sense now. However, this new casting announcement also causes some plot holes. Sidney and Dewey do not keep in touch often; this factor was established in every Scream sequel.

Scream Films

Movie

Release Date

Writer(s)

Director(s)

Scream

December 20, 1996

Kevin Williamson

Wes Craven

Scream 2

December 12, 1997

Kevin Williamson

Wes Craven

Scream 3

February 4, 2000

Ehren Kruger

Wes Craven

Scream 4

April 15, 2011

Kevin Williamson

Wes Craven

Scream (Scream 5)

January 14, 2022

James Vanderbilt & Guy Busick

Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett

Scream 6

March 10, 2023

James Vanderbilt & Guy Busick

Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett

Scream 7

February 27, 2026

Guy Busick

Kevin Williamson

Therefore, the odds of Dewey knowing Mark Evans are not high. Sure, Dewey might know Sidney is married, but for him to talk so casually about her husband seems strange if it is not Kincaid. Dewey most likely never met Evans. Furthermore, Mark Kincaid suddenly becoming Mark Evans is a surprising and arguably frustrating retcon since it was all but confirmed that Sidney was married to Patrick Dempsey’s character.

Joel McHale’s Casting As Sidney’s Husband Completely Changes Scream 7’s Ghostface Expectations

Mark Evans Has The Potential To Be Ghostface

Courteney Cox and Neve Campbell in Scream 5 with Ghostface in background
Custom Image by Yailin Chacon

One positive thing about Sidney’s husband being a new Mark is that the stakes are now higher. Kincaid and Sidney have known each other for 25 years, so the possibility of Kincaid being Ghostface is essentially slim to none—it would be almost like Gale being Ghostface. However, Mark Evans is a new character that Sidney only recently met in the last decade or so. No one else seems to know him except Sidney, so the chances of Evans being Ghostface are much more significant. In fact, it is a real possibility, given Kevin Williamson’s involvement in Scream 7.

The original Scream screenwriter spoke about his ideas for the Scream sequels post-Scream 3, and he described playing with her love life. Williamson talked about the idea of Sidney not knowing who to trust because of her history with Billy Loomis and then believing Derek was one of the killers when he was not. Although Williamson did not write Scream 7, Guy Busick might have taken this into account because Williamson is directing the film. Although it is ultimately disappointing that Mark is not Detective Kincaid, there is still potential for this new character.