Neve Campbell has chosen not to reprise her iconic role as Sidney Prescott in the upcoming Scream 6, according to Deadline. The Saturn Award-winning actress confirmed the news today in a statement by saying: “Sadly I won’t be making the next Scream film.”
Campbell’s official confirmation comes after reports began to spread recently on the convention circuit that she may not return to the series. She previously said that her return was still in negotiations while she spoke about the next sequel during a panel at the Mad Monster Party convention in North Carolina in February.
“As a woman I have had to work extremely hard in my career to establish my value, especially when it comes to Scream,” the actress also stated about her role in the slasher horror comedy series, which has grossed over $744 million worldwide throughout its 26-year run. “I felt the offer that was presented to me did not equate to the value I have brought to the franchise.
“It’s been a very difficult decision to move on. To all my Scream fans, I love you. You’ve always been so incredibly supportive to me. I’m forever grateful to you and to what this franchise has given me over the past 25 years,” the Campbell added.
The latest installment in the Scream franchise, which was released in theaters by Paramount Pictures on January 14, earned $140 million at the worldwide box office. Campbell returned to the series with several of her co-stars from the original four movies, including Courteney Cox and David Arquette.
Cox is expected to reprise her role of Gale Weathers in Scream 6. She’ll be joined by several of her fellow franchise co-stars, including Hayden Panettiere, who will reprise her role of fellow Ghostface survivor, Kirby Reed from Scream 4.
The news of Campbell’s departure comes after it was recently reported that Dermot Mulroney has been cast in the series’ upcoming fifth follow-up. The actor, who previously appeared in such horror films as Umma and Insidious: Chapter 3, will reportedly play a police officer in the next Scream.
Fellow franchise cast members Jenna Ortega, Melissa Barrera, Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding, who all made their debuts in Scream (2022), will also be starring in the next movie. In the series’ next entry, the four young survivors of the Ghostface killings leave Woodsboro behind and start a new life.
Scream 2022‘s filmmakers have also signed on to return for the franchise’s next installment. Ready or Not directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, from the filmmaking collective Radio Silence, are set to return to the Scream series to helm its latest sequel. James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick are also set to return to the franchise to write the script for its fifth follow-up.
Scream 6 is scheduled to shoot this summer. Paramount Pictures is set to release the movie in theaters on March 31, 2023.
With Campbell deciding not to return to the Scream series for its sixth installment, she can instead be seen currently starring on the Netflix legal drama television show, The Lincoln Lawyer.
The Party of Five alum has also reportedly joined the cast of Peacock’s action comedy series, Twisted Metal, in a recurring role as Raven. She’ll be starring alongside Anthony Mackie, Stephanie Beatriz and Thomas Haden Church.