Marianne Maddalena is an acclaimed American film and television producer whose work has significantly shaped modern horror. As the longtime producing partner of legendary director Wes Craven, she played a pivotal role in redefining the genre. The original Scream (1996) was a global phenomenon, grossing over $173 million and launching a franchise that has become one of the most successful horror properties in history. Its sharp meta-commentary and genre-defining scares revolutionized horror, influencing countless films that followed. Scream also subverted traditional horror tropes by presenting a strong, sexually autonomous female protagonist—a signature of Craven and Maddalena’s work that challenged the genre’s conventional portrayal of women. Maddalena went on to produce Scream 2 (1997), Scream 3 (2000), and Scream 4 (2011), cementing the series as a lasting pop culture touchstone. With the continued success of the modern films, the Scream franchise has now surpassed $1 billion in worldwide box office, securing its place among the most successful horror franchises of all time.

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In 2021, Maddalena returned to the franchise, producing Scream (2022) for Spyglass Media Group and Paramount Pictures. The film reunited original cast members Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette and opened to critical and fan acclaim, famously dethroning Spider-Man: No Way Home from the number one box office position. Its success led to Scream VI (2023), which shattered franchise records with a $45.5 million opening weekend. Maddalena most recently produced Scream 7 (2026), directed by Kevin Williamson, which debuted with the biggest opening weekend in the series’ 30-year history and went on to become a major theatrical success worldwide. The film helped push the overall Scream franchise past the $1 billion mark at the global box office. Following the film’s strong performance, Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group have officially greenlit Scream 8, continuing the legacy of one of horror’s most enduring and influential franchises.
 

On May 6, 2022, Marianne Maddalena was appointed a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by Julie Duhaut-Bedos, French Consul General, at the Résidence de France in Beverly Hills. Established in 1957 and overseen by the French Minister of Culture, this prestigious honor recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves through artistic or literary achievements and have contributed to the influence of the arts worldwide. Marianne joins an esteemed list of recipients, including Meryl Streep, Robert Redford, Eric Clapton, and Tina Turner. She was honored for her lifelong dedication to cinema, her role in shaping contemporary horror, and her commitment to fostering artistic collaboration between France and the United States. As a longtime supporter of French cinema, she is also a sponsor of The American French Film Festival in Los Angeles, dedicated to showcasing the diversity of French film. She is a patron of Villa Albertine, an initiative fostering artistic exchange between France and the United States, often hosting aspiring French directors and writers in residence at her Hollywood Hills home—providing them with a creative space to develop their projects.

 

Born on November 14, 1963, Marianne’s passion for film began early, shaped by her Italian heritage and deep appreciation for European cinema. Very proud of her Friuli roots, she grew up immersed in European culture with Italian grandparents and began studying French at age 12. Inspired by François Truffaut’s The 400 Blows and his interviews with Alfred Hitchcock, she aspired to become a film producer and moved to Cannes during her senior year to immerse herself in the French film industry, culture, and language. She remains a regular at the Cannes Film Festival.

 

Marianne’s career began when she became an assistant to Wes Craven on Deadly Friend (1986). This partnership would span over 20 years, with Marianne producing some of Craven’s most iconic films, including The People Under the Stairs (1991), Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (1994), and Red Eye (2005). While location scouting for Scream (1996) in Santa Rosa, California, she discovered the now-iconic Ghostface mask, unknowingly helping to shape one of the most recognizable horror icons of all time.

 

Beyond horror, Marianne co-founded Craven/Maddalena Films, producing Music of the Heart (1999), which earned Meryl Streep an Academy Award nomination. She has also worked on several major projects, including The Hills Have Eyes (2006) and its sequel, and is currently developing new film and television projects, including a female-led revenge thriller with Red Eye screenwriter Carl Ellsworth and an upcoming project with Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin.

 

Marianne is a longtime member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Producers Guild of America. She splits her time between Los Angeles and London. She is a patron of the Getty, Villa Albertine, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the British Film Institute, and the Film and TV Charity UK.

 

In addition to her contributions to film, she is a patron of many charities, including the Zoe Education Trust in Cape Town, The ALS Association, Planned Parenthood, Act for Equal, RAINN, Futures Without Violence, the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence, CAMFED, My Friend’s Place, and the Foster Children Resource Center in the San Fernando Valley.