AceShowbiz - After months of speculation, Courteney Cox has officially signed on for "Scream 7", according to Variety. Cox will return as Gale Weathers, the investigative journalist who has become a staple of the franchise.

Cox's involvement had been expected, as she has played the role in all six previous 'Scream' films. She joins Neve Campbell, who will also be returning as Sidney Prescott after sitting out the last installment. The announced cast also includes Mason Gooding as Chad Meeks-Martin, Celeste O'Connor, Mckenna Grace, Sam Rechner, Asa Germann, Anna Camp and Isabel May.

Cox's return comes as a relief to fans, as her character has become a beloved part of the series. In March, she expressed dismay over the death of her character's love interest, Dewey Riley (David Arquette), in "Scream 5".

"It was sad, because Dewey is such a beloved character and he's so goofy," Cox said. "I thought he brought such a comedic twist to the whole franchise."

Despite the loss of Dewey, Cox is excited about the future of "Scream". She has repeatedly expressed her desire for Arquette to return as a ghost or in a flashback, and she believes that Kevin Williamson, who wrote the screenplay for the first film and will be making his directorial debut on "Scream 7", can bring something special to the franchise.

"You can't get better than that choice," Cox said of Williamson. "It's going to be fun."

"Scream 7" is set to hit theaters on February 27, 2026.