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Of all the new characters introduced inScream(2022), Chad Meeks-Martin (Mason Gooding) is one of the most important. He and his sister Mindy Meeks-Martin (Jasmin Savoy-Brown) are thenephew and niece of Randy Meeks(Jamie Kennedy), the horror movie guru who explained all the rules of the genre in the first movie. Chad’s regular high school life in Woodsboro, California becomes chaotic and dangerous when Ghostface attacks Tara Carpenter (Jenna Ortega). Chad is determined to find the killer, along with his friend group.
WhileScreamfans are looking ahead tohowScream 7could break the rules of the franchise, there are lots of discussions aboutwho will be cast in the seventh movie. That begs the question: did Chad die inScream 6?
WhileChad Meeks-Martin doesn’t die inScream 6,he comes fairly close. He moves to New York City with Mindy Meeks-Martin and sisters Tara and Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barrera) who make up The Core Four. Near the end ofScream 6, Chad is at the old movie theater with his friends, andone of the three Ghostface killers attacks Chad. Scream 6 is very different from previous installments, mostly becausethe movie is set in New York City, but also because it’s much gorier. Since Ghostface hurts Chad so badly and he bleeds so much, it seems impossible for him to survive.
However, thefinal scene ofScream 6shows Chad aliveand with his friends. While he will have to deal with the trauma that he has been through, he is of course relieved that the nightmare is over, at least for now. AlthoughGhostface tries to kill Gale Weathers(Courteney Cox) and Chad, fans are pleased that both fan-favorite characters make it through. They may not interact much, but they are both intelligent, perceptive characters who know that anyone could be a killer.
WhileJenna Ortega’s character Tara is the main focus ofScream (2022)since she is the first person who Ghostface attacks in the opening scene, Chad has just as much character development. Hisrelationship with Liv McKenzie(Sonia Ammar) is an important part ofScream (2022)since he realizes she could be Ghostface. This naturally creates some fascinating and necessary tension. In one memorable scene, she wants to spend some time alone, and he says:
“Well, you know, I-I’m not entirely sure you’re not the… killer.”
When Liv is shocked, Chad says:
“No, no, no, no, look! I’m, like, almost one hundred percent certain that you are not, BUT the safest option… is to be down here… with all the people…”
When wondering if Chad dies inScream 6, it’s interesting to note thatMason Gooding’s character was meant to die inScream (2022). As Gooding explained in an interview withEntertainment Weekly, he thought that Chad would die until he was on set shooting the fifth movie in the franchise. Considering that it was amistake to kill Dewey Riley (David Arquette) inScream (2022), it’s great news that Chad survived.
Gooding said:
“I was kind of bait-and-switched. The script that I got the first time around said I died. I don’t think you necessarily go into aScreammovie expecting to live every time. I just kind of accepted my fate. It wasn’t until we began filmingScream 5that I was told that I was going to survive and make it to the next one.”
He continued:
“I didn’t necessarily know that the ‘Core Four’ dynamic was going to take on the level of intimacy that it did, so to speak. Nor did I think I was going to be as thrown off by the killer reveal as I was. People will see why when they watch the movie.”
As of mid-March 2024, it’s unclear if Mason Gooding will return toScream 7and reprise his role of Chad Meeks-Martin. AlthoughNeve Campbell’s return as Sidney Prescott has been confirmed, there isno news about the rest of the cast.
Chad should come back forScream 7so the movie can continue to explore Mindy and Chad’s sibling relationship. While they differ in many ways, especially since Mindy inherited her uncle’s love of horror movies and Chad isn’t as well-versed, they care about each other and that connection motivates them to fight Ghostface.
