Neve Campbell will reprise her leading role of iconic final girl Sidney Prescott in Scream 7. The actress revealed she will appear in the next installment of her hit horror franchise during to ET.
The actress’ announcement comes after the series’ previous two entries, Scream (2022) and Scream VI focused primarily on a new generation of teens being stalked by the Ghostface killer. She revealed to ET‘s Rachel Smith that the upcoming sequel will take the franchise back to its roots and focus on Sidney. The character served as the protagonist in the first four films.
“We are going to follow Sidney,” Campbell confirmed. actress added that the idea is similar to Jamie Lee Curtis reprising her role of Laurie Strode in the Halloween series, 40 years after the original movie.
“They did pitch the concept to me, and it’s the reason that I jumped on board,” Campbell continued. She added that she has not yet received a final script for Scream 7, but is hoping to receive it this week.
“I love these movies, they are so much fun to be a part of, I’m so grateful for them, I could never have imagined being a part of a movie that would have lasted this many decades,” the actress also admitted.
“The fandom is nuts, they are incredible and very passionate about these films,” Campbell added. “I’m excited to give them a new one!”
The sixth Scream follow-up is set to begin production in December. The movie will be directed by Kevin Williamson. The filmmaker previously wrote the screenplays for the first, second and fourth installments in the franchise. He also produced Scream 3, Scream (2022) and Scream VI. The filmmaker made his directorial debut with the 1999 thriller, Teaching Mrs. Tingle. Scream 7 will be his second directing credit.
Aside from Campbell, no other cast members have been confirmed for the seventh entry. She remained coy during the interview when she asked if any other legacy characters will be returning to the series.
Those cast members include Courteney Cox, who has starred as ambitious reporter Gale Weathers in all of the previous six movies. Patrick Dempsey, meanwhile, only appeared on screen in Scream 3 when it was released in 2000. However, his character, Mark Kincaid, has been discussed multiple times in the most recent sequels. He is now married to Sidney and is the father of her children. Both Cox and Dempsey have been in talks to reprise their roles alongside Campbell in Scream 7.
Campbell returned for the legacy reboot Scream (2022). However, she was absent from last year’s installment after a pay dispute.
The actress publicly revealed in 2022 that she would not be returning for the fifth follow-up. She “felt the offer that was presented to me did not equate to the value I have brought to the franchise.”
As a result, the production studio and distributor behind the films, Spyglass Media Group and Paramount Pictures, listened to Campbell. The company offered her a proper offer for the franchise’s next sequel. The decision came after the departure of Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega, who played the lead roles of Sam and Tara in the last two entries.
The Party of Five alum admitted it was “so satisfying” to be heard by the studio. “I’m super grateful that they came around on it. [Scream VI] just didn’t feel right. I couldn’t after this many decades of carrying a franchise, to feel undervalued and underpaid and to know that it wouldn’t have happened to a man in that way. It just wouldn’t make sense for me to walk on that set. So, I’m glad I stood up for myself,” Campbell said. She added that she hopes her decision will inspire others in the industry too.
Spyglass Media and Paramount Pictures once intended to make Scream 7 that would have starred Barrera and Ortega. Freaky and Happy Death Day helm Christopher Landon was hired to direct the sequel.
But those plans were scrapped by the studios. Ortega allegedly asked for a substantial pay raise, after she received acclaim for her Emmy-nominated portrayal of the titular character on the Netflix series Wednesday. The reported request came even after Campbell dropped out of Scream VI due to her pay dispute.
Then Barrera was fired from the upcoming project after comments she made about the Israel-Hamas war were criticized by Spyglass executives. Landon dropped out the of the film soon after. As a result, Scream 7 has been re-developed with Campbell.
Besides starring in Scream‘s sixth follow-up, Campbell will return full-time for season 3 of Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer. The Canadian-born filmmaker’s also promoting the documentary, Swan Song, on which she served as an executive producer. The movie follows the National Ballet of Canada’s production of Swan Lake, as dancers deal with issues of racism and sexism.
“I saw the Nutcracker ballet when I was six years old, my dad took me as my Christmas present, and I said, ‘I have to do that.'” Campbell shared. She was a dancer for most of her childhood before turning to acting.
However, the entertainer combined both passions in director Robert Altman’s 2003 film, The Company. The drama offers a look at the life of a dancer in a company over the course of a year.
“I was very excited to be a part of [Swan Song] and to be able to honor the dancers and really shed more light on what amazing athletes and artists these people are,” Campbell shared about the new movie. The documentary is now playing in theaters and is available on demand now.
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