Skeet Ulrich Reveals Shocking Details About His Role in ‘Scream 7’ Before Melissa Barrera’s Firing: A Three-Part Billy Loomis Arc That Could Have Changed Everything
Skeet Ulrich, known for his iconic portrayal of Billy Loomis in the Scream franchise, has revealed explosive new details about what could have been in Scream 7. In a recent interview, Ulrich opened up about the original plans for his character’s storyline, the shocking development of his character’s arc, and how it all unraveled after the unexpected firing of Melissa Barrera, who played Sam Carpenter.
According to Ulrich, the initial plan for his return in Scream 5 and Scream 6 was part of a much larger vision—a three-picture arc that would have seen his character, or at least the manifestation of Billy Loomis, play a central role in the psychological journey of Barrera’s character, Sam Carpenter. However, following Barrera’s unexpected departure from the franchise, the plans for Billy Loomis’ storyline were drastically altered, leading Ulrich to reveal the extent of his involvement.
“I used to know because part of coming back for five and six was being a part of seven. It was a three-picture arc for Billy Loomis, or the imagination of Billy Loomis in Melissa Barrera‘s character’s head,” Ulrich explained. “But when all that went down with her, obviously you lose her and you lose what’s in her head.”
In the Scream films, Billy Loomis was originally revealed as the central antagonist in the first movie (1996), where he and his accomplice Stu Macher, played by Matthew Lillard, were unmasked as the infamous Ghostface killers. The impact of that twist was massive, and Billy Loomis became a legendary figure in the Scream franchise’s lore.
However, Billy’s ghostly return in Scream (2022) and Scream VI (2023) took fans by surprise, as he appeared in Sam Carpenter’s troubled psyche, haunting her with visions that drew on her inherited connection to the original killer. It was a bold narrative decision that added an unsettling psychological element to the storyline. For Ulrich, this was just the beginning, as the original plan for his return was to be much more than a mere cameo.
As Ulrich reveals, the idea was to further explore Billy Loomis’ influence on Sam, taking the story in a direction where she would slowly be pulled deeper into the darkness. This vision would have been central to a trilogy of films, with Billy’s haunting presence playing a pivotal role in her transformation. “It was supposed to be this slow burn,” Ulrich continued. “Billy Loomis was going to be the one pushing Sam towards her darker nature, which was hinted at in Scream VI.”
However, the dramatic shift came when Barrera’s character, Sam, was removed from the narrative, leading to a major reworking of the plot. The removal of Barrera, who had quickly become a central figure in the latest films, had a profound effect on the direction of the franchise. Ulrich’s character, Billy Loomis, was meant to be the psychological antagonist, guiding Sam deeper into her own violent instincts. The change in direction meant that a major storyline was left behind.
Despite this, Ulrich expressed gratitude for his involvement in the franchise’s resurgence. He acknowledged that while the plans for a multi-film arc were scrapped, the ghostly return of Billy in Scream 5 and Scream VI still resonated with fans. “I think it was great to see Billy Loomis still haunting Sam. It was a different take on the character, but it still stayed true to the roots of what Billy represented,” Ulrich shared. “And the fact that I got to be a part of the reboot in some way was very satisfying.”
But with Barrera’s firing, the trajectory of Scream 7 seems to be heading in an entirely different direction. Fans had been hoping for a darker evolution of Sam’s character, but it now seems that the seventh film will likely pivot back to the original Scream heroine, Sidney Prescott, played by Neve Campbell. This new direction has already sparked excitement among fans, especially after Campbell’s return was confirmed following her brief hiatus from the franchise.
Ulrich, for his part, is unsure about what role, if any, he will play in Scream 7. Despite his pivotal involvement in the prior films, the shifting dynamics within the Scream universe, including the abrupt changes in character direction, leave Ulrich in the dark about what comes next. “I know nothing about the seventh,” Ulrich admitted, leaving fans to wonder if Billy Loomis will make another appearance in some form or if the series will fully focus on Campbell’s return as Sidney.
As of now, the future of Scream is uncertain. While some hope for a return to the character-driven psychological horror that made the first few films so beloved, others wonder how the franchise will balance new directions with the legacy of its original characters.
Skeet Ulrich’s honesty about the scrapped plans for Billy’s arc serves as a poignant reminder of how creative decisions in Hollywood can change in an instant. What could have been an epic and darker chapter in the Scream saga now hangs in the balance as the franchise looks forward to its next chapter with Scream 7.
