| “ | I know what it's like to see ghosts that don't go away. To be watching a scary movie in your head, whether you want to or not, watching it alone. | ” |
–Mark to Sidney Prescott. | ||
Detective Mark Kincaid was a homicide detective and supporting character in Scream 3 (2000 film). After assigning Gale Weathers to help him investigate the Stab 3 murders following Cotton Weary and Christine Hamilton's murders, he develops an interest in Sidney, her mother and their story.
He attempts to bond and subtly flirt with Sidney amid the investigation connected to her mother's murder, something that his partner, J. Wallace points out.
After surviving the third Ghostface killings, also known as the Hollywood Murders, he joined Sidney and engaged couple, Dewey Riley and Gale Weathers to watch a movie, a possible double-date. Since the epilogue of Scream 3, he has not been seen since.
He was portrayed by Patrick Dempsey.
Biography[]
Early Life[]
Mark confesses that he lived in Hollywood his entire life, growing up there and so, he knew his way around the studios, thus being assigned to many of the cases involving show business. At some point, he became a police officer, eventually being promoted to Detective.
The Hollywood Murders (2000)[]
| “ | The only thing I know about trilogies is that in the third one... all bets are off. | ” |
Mark made his first appearance at a seminar at a university to see reporter, author, and Ghostface killing spree survivor, Gale Weathers. He pulled her aside and explained to her that Cotton Weary had been murdered, as well as his girlfriend, Christine Hamilton. The killer also left a photograph of a woman on one of the bodies. Mark hands it to Gale, who identifies the woman as Maureen Prescott, Sidney Prescott's mother.
Mark arguing with Dewey.
He is next seen with his partner, Detective J. Wallace, at the studio set of Stab 3. However, he and Wallace are only seen briefly and Mark doesn't even have a line in the scene. The scene shows them exiting the studio lot, when they are asked by one of the executive producers. John Milton, whether Cotton's death may have been inspired by his involvement in Stab 3. His partner replies: "He was making a movie called Stab. He was stabbed."
His next appearance shows Wallace present as well, where he is at another official crime scene that happened, this time at Stab 3's production office and the murder being of another Stab 3 cast member, Sarah Darling. He informs Gale that whoever the killer is, he's killing his victims in order of how their characters die in the script for the film, Stab 3. However, there were about three different rewrites, meaning that three different characters die next, and they don't have any clue as to which script the killer has read.
He questions Roman Bridger, the director of the movie, about the death of Sarah and accuses him of calling her before Sarah's death, although Roman didn't say anything about calling her. Distraught, he and his partner take him down to the station for further questioning. They let him go when they discover that his cellular phone record is clean.
After the murders of Jennifer Jolie's bodyguard, Steven Stone, and another Stab 3 actor, Tom Prinze, Mark investigates the discovery of another photo of Maureen Prescott from nearly thirty years ago, only with this one suggesting the Ghostface responsible for the Stab 3 murders was also involved in the murder of the first Ghostface victim, Maureen.
While at the station, Sidney goes to see her old friend, Deputy Dewey Riley and meets Mark for the first time. Sidney tells Mark about the fact that the killer called her. He shows her the photographs of her mother that the killer leaves behind after every murder. She asks him what he "knows about trilogies". He explains his knowledge of movie trilogies, leaving Sidney unsure if she can trust him or not.
During the final act, Mark follows Sidney to John Milton's mansion, where he quickly becomes aware of the kidnappings of Gale and Dewey and the murders of three more Stab 3 cast members, Angelina Tyler, Tyson Fox, and Jennifer Jolie.
Sidney mistakes Mark for the killer.
He arrives just as the killer flees, rendering Sidney suspicious of Mark. But then, the real killer appears from behind Sidney. Mark manages to push her out of the way of the knife and, as a result, is stabbed in the chest and brutally wounded. He later hands Gale and Dewey one of his guns after they are freed.
He places his other gun in his hand and navigates the area before finding Sidney and a recently murdered John Milton in a hidden theatre room where he is knocked unconscious by a surprise attack from the killer, who at this point was revealed to have been Roman. He ultimately survives his injuries with assistance from the other remaining survivors.
In the epilogue, Mark can be seen in Sidney's home, putting on a movie to watch with her and engaged couple, Gale and Dewey (a possible double-date). He does not specify the genre when she asks, telling him, "You'll have to come and see".
Aftermath[]
At the time of the Second Woodsboro Murders in 2011, Rebecca Walters mentions to herself that Sidney "never gets laid", indicating that Mark's relationship with Sidney had not matured. It's unknown how Mark's life went on. He may still be working for the police department, or he may have retired.
Relationships[]
Allies[]
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Enemies[]
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Trivia[]
- He was described as "mid-thirties. Handsome with piercing eyes" in the script.
- Implied love interest trope: Many fans debated the implied romantic tension between Sidney and Mark, which was eventually revealed.
- Patrick Dempsey was offered to reprise his role as Det. Kincaid in Scream 4, but he declined due to his commitment to Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011 film). Kincaid's character was then written out of the script.
- Dempsey would later star in TV series Grey's Anatomy (2005-present), which featured his Scream 3 co-star, Neve Campbell in a two-episode supporting role as his character's sister. Neve Campbell recalled this role during the promotion of Scream (2022) and noted it was funny given Mark Kincaid was Sidney's husband.
- In the original script of Scream VI, Mark was now sheriff and is the father of Sidney Prescott's three daughters (10-year-old Hanna and two more girls aged 8 and 4). His role was minor as he was aimed at avoiding and warning Sidney not to go to New York. Afterwards, Mark calls her and Sidney informs her of Gale Weathers' condition.[1]
- While never confirmed on-screen, he was alluded to be Sidney's husband in the fifth film, Scream (2022 film), and its sequel, Scream VI (2023 film), confirmed to be the same character by the movies' directors, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett behind the scenes. Patrick Dempsey was also in talks to return in Scream 7 (2026 film), however, Sidney's husband has since been set to be introduced as a brand new character named Mark Evans, leading to Mark Kincaid's return being scrapped once again.
- On March 2, Patrick Dempsey commented on his departure from Scream 7:
- "It just didn’t work out and we were dealing with the fires and everything that was going on and the schedule didn’t work out, unfortunately".[2]
- On March 2, Patrick Dempsey commented on his departure from Scream 7:
Gallery[]
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Mark Kincaid has a Photo Gallery. |
Appearances[]
- Scream 3 (2000 film)
Character Guide[]
| Scream 3 Characters | ||
| Principal Characters | Sidney Prescott • Gale Weathers • Dewey Riley • Ghostface | |
| Recurring Supporting Characters | Randy Meeks • Cotton Weary | |
| Supporting Characters | Angelina Tyler • Christine Hamilton • Jennifer Jolie • John Milton • Mark Kincaid • Martha Meeks • Roman Bridger • Sarah Darling • Steven Stone • Tom Prinze • Tyson Fox | |
| Recurring Minor Characters | Neil Prescott • Maureen Prescott • Hank Loomis | |
| Ghostface | Roman Bridger | |