Neve Campbell is ready to face off against Ghostface once again. While both Scream (2022) and Scream VI focused primarily on a newer generation of teens being stalked by the masked killer, Campbell revealed to ET’s Rachel Smith that the seventh installment will take the franchise back to its roots and focus on Sidney Prescott, the central character of the first four films.
“We are going to follow Sidney,” Campbell confirmed, adding that the idea is in the same vein as Jamie Lee Curtis’ highly publicized return to the role of Laurie Strode in the Halloween franchise, 40 years after the original.
“They did pitch the concept to me, and it’s the reason that I jumped on board,” Campbell added, after admitting she has not received a final script just yet 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,” Campbell gleefully admitted.
The first Scream was released in theaters nearly 30 years ago in 1996.
“The fandom is nuts, they are incredible and very passionate about these films,” she added. “I’m excited to give them a new one!”
The seventh Scream film is set to begin production in December and is being directed by Kevin Williamson, who wrote the screenplays for Scream, Scream 2 and Scream 4. He was on board as a producer for Scream 3, Scream (2022) and Scream VI.
Aside from Campbell, no other cast members have been confirmed for the sequel, and she remained coy when asked about other legacy characters returning with a cheeky “may-haps.”
Those cast members include Courteney Cox – who has starred as cutthroat reporter Gale Weathers in all previous six films, and Patrick Dempsey – who has not appeared since Scream 3 back in 2000, but his character, Mark Kincaid, has been name dropped multiple times in the recent sequels, revealing he is Sidney’s husband and the father of her children. Both Cox and Dempsey have been in talks to reprise their roles alongside Campbell.
While Campbell returned for the legacy reboot Scream (2022), she was noticeably absent from Scream VI following a pay dispute. The actress spoke out publicly in 2022 that she would sadly not be returning because she “felt the offer that was presented to me did not equate to the value I have brought to the franchise.” In a rare move, the production studio behind the films, Spyglass Media Group, listened to Campbell and came back to her with a proper offer for this next sequel.
The Party of Five actress 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 before adding she hopes it inspired others in the industry too.
And at the stunning age of 50, Campbell is booked and busier than ever. In addition to returning full-time for season 3 of Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer, and the upcoming Scream sequel, she is promoting her new documentary, Swan Song, following the National Ballet of Canada’s production of Swan Lake, as dancers deal with issues of racism and sexism. Campbell serves as an executive producer on the project.
“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. The actress was a dancer for most of her childhood before pivoting to acting, though she did combine both passions in Robert Altman’s film, The Company, in 2003, which offered 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 Lake] and to be able to honor the dancers and really shed more light on what amazing athletes and artists these people are,” Campbell shared.
Swan Song is in theaters and available on demand now.
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