Sophia Michaels
Neve Campbell, the original face of the Scream franchise, will not be returning for “Scream 6.” On June 6, 2022, Deadline reported that Campbell decided to opt out of continuing her iconic role as Sidney Prescott for the next movie in the popular franchise. Director Tyler Gillett said that Campbell’s departure affected the script “greatly,” but also saw an upside to her absence. He said that it allowed for the opportunity to “really dig into this new crop of characters.” The cast of “Scream 6” includes Hayden Panettiere, Samara Weaving, and Tony Revolori, as well as the principal cast from 2022’s “Scream.”
In her April 2023 cover story with Elle, Jenna Ortega, one of the stars of the new movie, addressed Campbell’s exit from the franchise. “It was really unfortunate, especially because Neve is the coolest, sweetest, most talented lady,” Ortega said. “The franchise wouldn’t be what it is without her.”
So, why isn’t Campbell returning as Sidney Prescott in “Scream 6”? In a statement to Deadline, she explained that she felt the offer that was presented to her did not equate to the value she had brought to the franchise. In an Aug. 8, 2022 interview with People, she elaborated on her decision not to return. “I honestly don’t believe that if I were a man and had done five installments of a huge blockbuster franchise over 25 years, that the number that I was offered would be the number that would be offered to a man,” she shared. “And in my soul, I just couldn’t do that.”
Courteney Cox, who originated the role of Gale Weathers in the original “Scream,” will be returning for the sixth installment, according to Variety. As for David Arquette’s Dewey, another original character who came back for the fifth Scream film, it’s unlikely he’ll return for “Scream 6” considering he died in the last film.
“Scream 6” hits theaters on March 10.
