Neve Campbell is planning to return for Scream 8 after the franchise faced several cast exits and controversy behind the scenes.
“I’ve got two shows that I’m developing. One I’ve sold, and Scream 8. So, you know that’s in the pipeline as well,” Campbell, 53, revealed in a recent interview with AP Entertainment, confirming she will reprise her role in Scream 8.
When asked whether she could share any details about the film, Campbell replied, “No. You know I could never tell you anything about Scream 8. I’ll be in it.”
Campbell rose to stardom after starring as Sidney Prescott in the slasher films from 1996 to 2011 alongside Courteney Cox and David Arquette. Campbell reprised her role in 2022’s Scream, but she didn’t return for the sixth film after rejecting the studio’s salary offer.
A killer concept. Following the success of the Scream franchise, MTV introduced a more long-term slasher concept in the form of a TV series. In 2015, Scream premiered as a separate entity based on murders that take place in the fictional town of Lakewood. Emma Duval (Willa Fitzgerald) finds herself taunted by the killer due […]
“Sadly, I won’t be making the next Scream film. As a woman I have had to work extremely hard in my career to establish my value, especially when it comes to Scream. I felt the offer that was presented to me did not equate to the value I have brought to the franchise,” Campbell told Us in a statement in June 2022. “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.”
Campbell returned ahead of the seventh Scream installment. The surprising news came three months after Melissa Barrera was fired following her comments about the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. Spyglass Media Group, the production company behind the newest batch of Scream films, subsequently denied that Barrera’s exit was related to her pro-Palestine comments.
Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox in 2022’s Scream Brownie Harris / © Paramount Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection
Jenna Ortega also didn’t return for the seventh movie. Director Christopher Landon, who was set to succeed Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, later pulled out as well. Scream creator Kevin Williamson returned to direct his first film in the iconic horror franchise.
During a May interview with Variety, Barrera, 36, was asked whether she thought her former Scream costars were “crossing the picket line” by returning to the franchise that dropped her.
“Oh, 100 percent,” she replied. “I think they all are. And they have to live with that.”
She continued: “The only way they were able to make that movie after what happened was to nostalgia-bait as much as possible.”
Barrera previously reacted to Campbell’s decision to return, telling Decider in October 2024 that she “fully respects” the Scream legend.
“We haven’t really spoken,” Barrera said. “I think everyone makes their choices and what they think is best for them.”
Barrera made it clear she wasn’t at odds with Campbell, adding, “I fully respect what people think that they need to do, to keep going in this life.”
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