Kevin Williamson replaced on 'Scream 4'

Scream creator Kevin Williamson has allegedly been replaced as screenwriter on the latest instalment in the horror franchise.

According to Zap2It, director Wes Craven has drafted in Ehren Kruger to work on the script for the currently in-production sequel.

Williamson, who penned the first two Scream films before Kruger came on board to write the third, is now said to have no involvement in the series.

Sources have claimed that Hayden Panettiere is "beyond frustrated with the changes" to the script as her character "used to be really sharp" but has been "dumbed down significantly".

The deputy sheriff role for Marley Shelton, recently vacated by Lake Bell, has also been cut down and Lauren Graham is said to have quit the project after losing screen time in her role as Emma Roberts's mother.

Kruger's other writing credits include Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen and The Ring, while Williamson is a producer on The CW show Vampire Diaries.