Hot, Terrified Babes! “Scream 4” Casting Taking Shape

Hey, it's been a long time since someone made a “Scream” movie, and the world can always use another horror movie crammed with good-looking people getting stabbed and laced with thickly meta humor. Also, I can bust out my Scream mask for Halloween again. Is it the laziest Halloween costume in history? You know it is. Anyway, The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that casting offers have been made. Let’s see who’s up on the chopping block, shall we?

Lake Bell is in negotiations to join the franchise, and offers are out to “Twilight” actress Ashley Greene, “Heroes” star Hayden Panettiere and Rory Culkin (“Twelve”) for key starring roles.

“Scream 4” reunites Wes Craven with Kevin Williamson, who kicked off a horror- movie revival with his “Scream” script in 1996. The story brings back original cast members Neve Campbell, David Arquette and Courteney Cox, though the new flick is seen as a passing of the baton to a new generation of slasher victims, with Williamson already under contract to write a fifth installment.

If deals are concluded, Greene would play Campbell’s cousin Jill, essentially the heroine of the movie, and Panettiere would play her best friend, a nerdy film geek. Culkin would play a potential love interest for Jill.

Panettiere’s character will be nerdy? That’ll be the least convincing nerdy character I’ve seen since my ex-girlfriend made me watch “She’s All That.” Anyway, the fact that Craven and Williamson are back for this installment is pretty cool. I usually hate sequels that “pass on” the franchise to a new generation, but it makes sense for “Scream,” because no one wants to see OLD people having sex and getting stabbed. At least, that’s how I feel about it. Also, this one’s Lillard-free, and no one can argue with that.

Filming starts in July.

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