Who’s the New Ghostface Killer?
A List of Theories About the Upcoming Scream VI Villain(s)
There’s never been one like me before.
This line from the ‘Scream VI’ trailer made me, as well as the rest of the horror community, curious as to whom the new Ghostface killer may be.
Get ready for a lot of different theories on this post, as I, a self-proclaimed horror expert and aspiring fiction author, dive into possible theories.
Some theories are far-fetched, some well within reason. Most of them probably fall somewhere in between the two.
Let’s dive into who may be the new Ghostface killer in the upcoming ‘Scream VI’ film (coming to theatres Friday, March 10, 2023).
Past Ghostface Killers
To eliminate who might be the new Ghostface killer, it only makes sense to see who the past villains were.
In ‘Scream’ (1996), there were two Ghostface killers: Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich) and Stu Macher (Matthew Lillard). They’re high school students and friends.
In ‘Scream 2,’ there were, yet again, two killers: Billy Loomis’ mother, Debbie Loomis (Laurie Metcalf) and Mickey Altieri (Timothy Olyphant), who is a college student.
In ‘Scream 3,’ there was only one killer, the secret half-brother of protagonist Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), Roman Bridger (Scott Foley).
In ‘Scream 4,’ there were two Ghostface killers, like in ‘Scream’ (1996) and ‘Scream 2.’ Like the third ‘Scream’ film, another relative of Sidney’s is a Ghostface killer. Sidney’s cousin Jill Roberts (Emma Roberts) and Jill’s friend/lover Charlie Walker (Rory Culkin), who are high schoolers, are the Ghostface killers.
In ‘Scream’ (2022), there are two Ghostface killers, just like three of the previous ‘Scream’ films in the series. A new protagonist’s boyfriend, Richie Kirsch (Jack Quaid), and his secret high school lover/side chick, Amber Freeman (Mikey Madison), are the Ghostface killers.
Now that we know who all the previous Ghostface killers were, let’s list the characteristics of all of them down below.
[A little side note before we continue: Please be advised that this post nor the list below are intended to offend anybody whatsoever. And, one more side note: Please DO NOT spoil it for people in the comments if you’ve seen a pre-screening of the film. Most of us haven’t. Don’t be a douche.]
Characteristics of Previous Ghostface Killers
Here’s a quick list of some of the characteristics of past Ghostface killers:
- Student
- Age range: late teens to forties, possibly fifties (Loomis' mother could’ve possibly been in her fifties)
- Race/Ehtnicity: white - Related to protagonist: Sibling, cousin -Related to an antagonist (Loomis' mother)
- Ghostface killers have been friends, lovers
- There have been duos
- There has been one Ghostface killer acting alone
My Theories on Who the Next Ghostface Killer(s) Could Be
1) A Person of Color
One commonality that every past Ghostface killer shares is that they are white.
Not a single past Ghostface killer has been a POC.
Could the new Ghostface killer be a person of color?
2) It’s a Group of Three or More
There’s been a single Ghostface killer before, and there have been plenty of duos. However, there’s never been a trio or a larger group of Ghostface killers.
The trailer hints at the possibility of a large group of Ghostface killers when the victims are stuck on a New York subway and see multiple people wearing Ghostface masks on the train. There are other people wearing various costumes, hinting that the film could be set in October around Halloween, so it is possible that it’s purely coincidental.
But, I don’t think it’s just a coincidence. There’s also a big warehouse that contains a shrine of all the past Ghostface killers and murders. It seems like such a big operation to pull off for one or even two people. It makes more sense that this is a larger group of Ghostface killers.
3) A Previous Killer Returns
‘Scream 3' was originally supposed to have Stu Macher escape prison or a mental hospital and come back as the Ghostface killer. He was supposed to return and terrorize high school students.
But, due to the Columbine High School Masscare, the production team thought it would be in poor taste to go that route. It’s completely understandable that they decided to take a different route when it came to the third film.
Since Stu couldn’t come back in ‘Scream 3' like production wanted him to, perhaps he, or another previous killer, makes a comeback in the upcoming sixth film.
Another reason I believe Stu (or another past killer who may come back) is the killer is because the Ghostface mask the killer is wearing is dirty, scratched up.
Did Stu find his old mask? Did another previous killer find their old mask? At the end of ‘Scream’ (1996), we see Stu pass out from blood loss. But we don’t actually see him die. We just assume he does because he passes out from all of the blood loss.
Billy Loomis and Jill Roberts were both killed by Sidney, after they received unsurvivable head wounds at the end of their respective films. So, there’s no way Billy or Jill could return... or could they?
4) A Previous Killer Returns... From the Grave
The lamest theory I have so far is that a past killer who actually died comes back from the grave. It’s unlikely, but it’s worth mentioning.
Some horror franchises have been known to take a supernatural spin on some films/series that weren’t originally supernatural or paranormal, so it is a possibility.
However, like myself, I think most fans would find it lame and kind of lazy to have a past killer magically rise from the grave to kill again.
5) It’s a Past Victim
Victimsof trauma and violence can do some crazy things, like try and replicate the trauma they’ve experienced onto someone else.
I believe there may be a possibility that the Ghostface killer could be a previous victim. It may seem unlikely, as most victims of trauma don’t replicate their past trauma onto others, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.
Kirby Reed (Hayden Panettiere) was a victim in the ‘Scream 4' film. She’s set to come back in the ‘Scream VI’ film, helping the new protagonists, sisters Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barrera) and Tara Carpenter (Jenna Ortega) defeat the new killer.
But, just because Kirby is "helping," doesn’t mean she isn’t the killer (or one of them).
6) The Killer is a Cop
Former Police Chief Dewey Riley (David Arquette) and Police Chief Judy Hicks (Marley Shelton) both met their demise in the past film, ‘Scream’ (2022).
We witnessed Dewey’s unfortunate death and we know he’s not coming back. Or, is he?
I think if the killer is a cop, or former cop, it would be Chief Judy Hicks or another officer who’s been on (or inserted themselves into) many of the Scream cases.
Judy Hicks went to high school with Sidney, as she reminds Sidney in ‘Scream 4' when Hicks is currently a deputy on the force. Gale Weathers-Riley (Courtney Cox) suspects Hicks of making advances towards her husband, Chief Riley. But, Gale also suspects her of possibly being involved in the killings. Gale’s intuition has been right in many of the past films.
Could Gale have been right, just not at the right time? In ‘Scream’ (2022), Chief Hicks dies. We see her stabbed repeatedly in the stomach. But that doesn’t mean she didn’t survive.
If the new Ghostface killer is a member of law enforcement, I believe it’s someone who’s a psycho fan of the past killers. I believe that this type of Ghostface killer became a part of law enforcement to blend in with the investigations and not be considered a suspect.
Concluding Thoughts
I fully believe Stu Macher is coming back as the killer in this film.
Though I also like the theory of a past victim and the theory of a cop being involved in this, I really believe Stu is going to be the new killer... and, he won’t be acting alone.
My expert opinion is that Stu Macher escasped prison or a mental institution. And, he’s gathered up a large group of fans/followers to continue what he started years prior.
Either way, I’m excited to see what events take place in the new film. And, I’m curious who the new killers in ‘Scream VI’ are.
What do you think of the theories I’ve mentioned? Do you have any theories of your own?
Watch the Official Trailer through the link below and let me know what you think in the comments.
Again, if you know who the killer is, don’t ruin it for the rest of us.
