Entertainment
30 Years Ago, Scream’s $1 Billion Franchise Was Nearly Ruined by an Interview With Its Star
A great thriller usually has a solid buildup to an unexpected twist. A twist ending is the hook, line, and sinker of the horror genre, and nobody knew that better than Scream Director Wes Craven. The entire 7-film franchise is predicated upon the fact that no one knows who the killer is in any given movie. The twist endings are the lifeblood of Scream (no pun intended.) It’s the reason why audiences continue to flock to the theaters for the final reveal. Sure, all movies have a poignant shift or unexpected ending, but for horror films, the twist has become a staple.
One reason horror films are so successful is their reliance on discretion. Back in 1996, the internet was still in its infancy. Spoilers were very hard to come by, as nobody was on their tiny, rectangular electronic device 24/7. Although spoiling a movie was rare, that doesn’t mean it never happened. One actor almost learned the hard way. While making the press junket rounds for the original Scream film, one rising star let it slip that he was indeed the killer. The culprit? The Billy Loomis actor himself, Skeet Ulrich.
Rising Star Skeet Ulrich Had Three Films Opening the Same Week
1996 was a busy year for Skeet Ulrich. While he was out and about promoting Scream, the actor had multiple films being released (which is obviously not uncommon.) Three films to be exact. Three films premiering the same week in May. The Craft and Last Dance were both released on May 3, 1996, while Boys was released on May 10. With Scream set to be released in December of that year, it’s safe to say Ulrich’s mind may have been elsewhere. Imagine living in a world before Scream. For context, this was before the ghostface mask was an iconic symbol of horror.
There’s no doubt that Ulrich was a teenage heartthrob, but best believe that his success was based on much more than good looks. The NYU alumnus studied under David Mamet and William H. Macy at the renowned Atlantic Theater Company. His training opened up opportunities for extra work, which is where he landed an uncredited role in Weekend at Bernie’s. After a brief appearance on the CBS Schoolbreak Special series, Ulrich began landing more prominent roles in feature films. By 1996, the actor was a hot commodity.
‘Scream’ Would Reunite Ulrich With ‘The Craft’ Costar Neve Campbell
Casting Director Lisa Beach was responsible for assembling the players in Scream. Although Beach did not have a hand in putting together the cast of The Craft, she clearly saw potential in pairing up the duo of Neve Campbell and Skeet Ulrich once again. The move paid off. Together, the actors created such a toxic and complicated relationship between their characters, which ultimately leads up to the unexpected twist during the final act.
Actors typically learn the ins and outs of giving interviews through experience. It’s not something that’s taught in theater school, but rather a skill that is picked up over time. That being said, it’s almost guaranteed that every cast and crew member who had anything to do with the production of Scream would have had to sign an embargo agreement. Basically stating that certain details of the movie could not be leaked, posted, or written about before a certain date, either on or after the film’s release. This is common practice now, especially in the world of social media, but embargoes were most definitely in use in the ’90s as well. So here’s what happened.
‘Scream 7’ Director Reveals Very Different Ending That Test Audiences Rejected
The movie set a franchise record during its opening weekend at the box office.
Skeet Ulrich Interview Nearly Tanked the Entire Franchise
Things went awry very quickly. According to Ulrich, in 1996, circa the release dates of his three films in one week, he was doing a phone interview with Interview Magazine. One of the questions he was asked involved his next role. With Scream set for a December premiere, Ulrich eagerly responded, “Oh, I’m so excited! I get to play this serial killer!” It was only after the call ended, that the actor realized his epic mistake. “I called my publicist right away,” Ulrich would later state.
Fast-forward to 2026. The franchise just released Scream 7, and has surpassed a gross total of $1 billion worldwide at the box office over those seven films. Not to mention the cultural impact that these films have had. The original Scream changed the way audiences look at slasher movies. The ghostface mask is one of the most popular and recognizable Halloween costumes each and every year. The franchise launched the careers of Neve Campbell, Matthew Lillard, David Arquette, Jamie Kennedy, and the actor who almost sabotaged it all, Skeet Ulrich.
It’s hard to imagine the consequences, had Ulrich’s statements not been redacted by Interview Magazine (which they were.) Would Scream be as effective if everyone went into it already knowing the killer’s identity? I truly doubt it. If Scream bombs at the box office, it’s just a blip on the radar. The Wayans Brothers never create Scary Movie. Anna Faris never gets her big break as Cindy. This quickly begins to snowball. A world without Sidney Prescott, Dewey Riley, Gale Weathers, and Billy Loomis doesn’t seem real. Thankfully, Scream King Skeet Ulrich dodged a bullet, something that his character Billy couldn’t do. Spoiler alert.
- Release Date
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December 20, 1996
- Runtime
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112 minutes
- Writers
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Kevin Williamson
- Producers
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Bob Weinstein, Cary Woods, Cathy Konrad, Harvey Weinstein