By Scream 4 comes out in about a month’s time and director Wes Craven has given an insight into the departure of screenwriter Kevin Williamson halfway through production and the hiring of Ehrud Kruger, whose previous writing credits include the diabolical Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen. Craven intimated that studio interference may have been behind the swap and are generally imposing their will over the direction of the film. In his own words:
In some ways it’s a Wes Craven
film, and in a way it’s not entirely, because it’s not a script I have control of. It’s ultimately controlled by what the studio wants in the script. My job is much more bringing whatever experience and expertise and creativity I can. Look, there was a bumpy period when things shifted over from Kevin to Ehren. I signed up to do a script by Kevin and unfortunately that didn’t go all the way through the shooting. But it certainly is Kevin’s script and concept and ideas and themes.
Studio meddling always sets alarm bells ringing, but then again, this is Scream. Maybe Craven and Williamson wanted to drag the film in some crazy new direction and the studio weren’t happy, but nothing we’ve seen has hinted at that taking place. I have my doubts that even studio interference can do too much damage to a film that a lot of its audience will be going to see for the gorgeous girls in bloodied shirts, rather than intricate plotting. I’d love to be able to speak out for creative integrity, but as long as Emma Roberts and Alison Brie still get screentime, you’ll hear no complaints from me.
[Total Film, via /Film]