Mason Gooding, a prominent figure in the upcoming horror film **Scream 7**, has revealed that he filmed his scenes while grappling with an E. Coli infection. The actor, who plays Chad Meeks-Martin, spoke candidly about his experience while promoting the film, which is set to hit UK cinemas on February 27, 2026.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/mason-gooding-022526-95505402bad7447fb574249d850f91a4.jpg)
In an interview with *Entertainment Weekly*, the 29-year-old actor recounted the challenges he faced on set. Gooding disclosed that his illness struck just a day before filming began. Despite his condition, he remained committed to his role, though he admitted that his mind was often elsewhere during filming. “I was mentally present for none of it,” he confessed.
Gooding’s experience was far from ordinary, as he described having to utilise a Home Depot bucket to vomit in between takes, which he cleverly concealed under the bar where the filming took place. “They would call cut, and I’d pull this Home Depot bucket up from under the bar, and I’d…uh, you know, do what you have to do to not feel sick anymore,” he explained. Once the scene resumed, he quickly cleaned the bucket and returned to filming, with the commitment of a true professional.
Interestingly, Gooding reflected on how his unintended suffering contributed positively to his portrayal of Chad. “There’s a scene where I look like I’m dying, and it’s arguably because I am, but it works for the character,” he noted. This kind of method acting, while unorthodox, seems to have resonated well with the themes of the film, which features a new Ghostface terrorising its central characters.
Chad Meeks-Martin, Gooding’s character, is depicted as being emotionally undeveloped and weary from past horrors, stemming from the franchise’s legacy. “He has been through it and is not really game emotionally for getting back into it,” Gooding stated, hinting that his character’s journey in the film is laden with trauma and struggle.
The nature of Gooding’s illness, E. Coli, is often associated with contaminated food or water, leading to symptoms such as watery diarrhoea and fever. The Cleveland Clinic describes the infection as typically arising from “fecal-oral” transmission, raising concerns about hygiene and food safety. However, the actor chose to keep the details about how he contracted the bacteria private.
Despite the toll it took on him — including significant weight loss — Gooding remains upbeat about his experience. “But here I am. I survived. It was really unfortunate. But also, again, I think it added to Chad’s demeanor. So you take the good with the bad,” he remarked, illustrating a positive perspective on a trying situation.
As anticipation builds for **Scream 7**, Gooding’s resilience and dedication to his craft are notable. Fans of the franchise can expect a gripping storyline that revisits familiar themes of horror, trauma, and survival. While the specifics of the plot remain largely under wraps, it promises to deliver the thrills and chills that audiences have come to love.
The film marks Gooding’s continued involvement in a franchise that has shaped his career, connecting him to the legacy of horror established by his character’s uncle, Randy, played by Jamie Kennedy in earlier films. As Gooding navigates his character’s complex emotional landscape, audiences will likely see a performance deeply influenced by his real-life challenges.
In summary, Mason Gooding’s unique experience filming **Scream 7**, coupled with his serious health scare, showcases both the commitment of actors to their roles and the unpredictable nature of making films. The actor’s ability to infuse his struggles into his performance underscores the intersection of life and art in the world of cinema.