Birmingham native Courteney Cox is in the neighboring state of Georgia to portray her most iconic big-screen character for the seventh time – Gale Weathers in the “Scream” franchise. That role and her portrayal of Monica Geller in the popular TV sitcom “Friends” place her in two of the most iconic series in pop culture history.

Cox will be the only actor to star in all seven “Scream” films, other than Roger L. Jackson, whose face is not seen in the films because he plays the man behind the Ghostface mask. The new installment is expected to be released in February 2026.

Variety announced in December 2024 that Cox would reprise her role as the callous and ambitious reporter-turned-author who has been injured various times over the franchise by the Ghostface killers. Cox, who was born in 1964, was 32 when she first played the role and is now 60 years old.

Cox told Variety reporter Emily Longeretta in a 2023 interview how she landed the role in the first “Scream,” which was directed by the late Wes Craven.

“That’s a really fun character, especially at the very beginning when she was so ruthless,” Cox said. “I was known from ‘Friends’ and ‘Family Ties,’ known as the girl next door and sweet. I had to talk to Wes Craven and write him a letter and say, ‘I know that you don’t think of me as this person, but trust me, I really can be an absolute b—-. It was over the top in the perfect way.”

Filming on “Scream 7” began in January. According to IMDb, the shoot will continue at Great Point Studios and on location in Georgia through March 11.

IMDb listed Marietta and Douglasville as filming locales, and atlanta_filming (a fan account on Instagram) reported that the “Scream 7” crew was filming at a historic home in Smyrna, Ga. The 1890 Taylor-Brawner House is a wedding venue restored in 2009, according to Smyrna.gov.

Kevin Williamson, creator of the “Scream” films, is sitting in the director’s chair for the first time. He posted on Instagram in January about the filming experience:

“What an extraordinary day I had working with an amazing and talented cast and crew. They brought their ‘A’ game and had my back every step of the way. I’m so very grateful for this opportunity and to Wes Craven who was on my mind through it all. The profound impact he has had on my life and career is endless. What a day!”

People behind the production are tight-lipped on what kinds of peril Gale Weathers may face in this installment, but we do know she will be joined by original “Scream” castmates Neve Campbell (who portrays Sidney Prescott), Matthew Lillard (Stu Macher) and David Arquette (Dewey Riley), according to Deadline.

Another “Scream” alumnus will pop up in this film, Scott Foley (Roman Bridger). Macher, Riley and Bridger were all believed to have been killed off in previous films: Macher in “Scream 1,” Bridger in “Scream 3” and Riley in “Scream 5.”

Other actors in the cast are Isabel May, Makenna Grace, Sam Rechner and Anna Camp, according to IMDb. Mason Gooding and Jasmin Savoy Brown return from “Scream 5” and “Scream 6” as twins Chad Meeks-Martin and Mindy Meeks-Martin.