Ghostface Takes (and Terrorises) Manhattan in the First 'Scream VI' Trailer

If you like scary movies, then you've likely watched a Scream film or five over the past quarter of a century. And, across that period — ever since the OG flick became a box-office smash in 1996, then delivered 1997's Scream 2, 2000's Scream 3, 2011's Scream 4 and 2022's Scream, plus TV spinoff Scream: The TV Series — you've seen the saga's mask-wearing killer Ghostface slash his way through the fictional Californian town of Woodsboro multiple times, as well as a college in Ohio and then Hollywood.

Until now, viewers haven't witnessed the series' villain follow in The Muppets' footsteps, though. But thanks to Scream VI, which arrives in cinemas in March 2023 and just dropped its first teaser trailer, that's changing. This time around, Ghostface is getting slashy while taking — and terrorising — Manhattan. No, everyone's favourite felt characters didn't quite do that, but they did galavant across the New York City borough first.

When the first Scream VI trailer begins, it's clearly Halloween, and costumes abound on a NYC subway. Among all that spooky attire: more than one black-clad person in a Ghostface mask, making passengers and franchise returnees Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barrera, In the Heights), her sister Tara (Jenna Ortega, Wednesday) and their film-obsessed pal Mindy (Jasmin Savoy Brown, Yellowjackets) more than a little distressed.

Scream VI's trailer doesn't provide any other story detail, but it does still love scary movies, riffing on Alien's famous "in space, no one can hear you scream" tagline. It's also set to bring a few other familiar Scream faces back — sadly not Neve Campbell, after the actor turned down a reappearance after a salary dispute, but seeing Courteney Cox (Shining Vale) return as TV reporter Gale Weathers, Mason Gooding (Fall) pop up again after the last flick and Hayden Panettiere (Nashville) rejoin the fold following Scream 4.

Will this make Panettiere's Kirby Reed the killer this time around, because this franchise does love links when it comes to Ghostface's identity? At this stage, we can only guess. What anyone who has even just heard of the Scream flicks does know, of course, is that stabbing murders and horror movie fandom will combine no matter who's wielding the knife.

Ready or Not's Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett return to helm Scream VI, as they did with 2021's Scream. And yes, why the franchise's titles have gone from Scream to Scream 2, Scream 3 and Scream 4, then back to Scream, and now to Scream VI, makes about as much sense as running up the stairs when someone should be heading out the front door.

Also set to feature in Scream VI: She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and The Other Two's Josh Segarra, Servant and The Grand Budapest Hotel's Tony Revolori, and Australian Nine Perfect Strangers and Ready or Not star Samara Weaving, plus Dermot Mulroney (Umma) and Henry Czerny (another Ready or Not alum).

Check out the first Scream VI teaser trailer below:

Scream VI releases in cinemas Down Under on March 9, 2023.