Why Isn’t Neve Campbell in ‘Scream 6’?

Editor’s Notice: The next incorporates Scream VI spoilers.

There aren’t many “remaining women” in horror movie historical past which might be extra beloved than Neve Campbell’s efficiency as Sidney Prescott within the Scream saga. An adolescent who takes down her supposed killer with the notorious line “that is my film,” Sidney immediately turned a brand new idol of the style all through her appearances within the subsequent sequels. Campbell returned to point out Sidney’s grief, therapeutic, and evolution within the three direct sequels that had been additionally helmed by the franchise’s authentic creator, Wes Craven. Whereas she appeared in a supporting function for 2022’s Scream, Campbell introduced that she wouldn’t return to the saga for this 12 months’s Scream VI.

Scream VI picks up with the half-sisters Sam (Melissa Barrera) and Tara (Jenna Ortega) within the 12 months following their traumatic expertise in Woodsboro that concerned the return of Ghostface. Though Tara is now well-adjusted and has a detailed pal circle at school in New York Metropolis, Sam struggles to regulate to the identical way of life as she processes the crimes of her father, Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich). Nonetheless, the sisters’ relationship is thrown into turmoil when a brand new Ghostface begins stalking the campus; what’s worse is {that a} fast web conspiracy principle has linked Sam to the supposed crimes, claiming that she framed Richie Kirsch (Jack Quaid) for the earlier murders in Woodsboro.

Scream VI options the return of Courtney Cox because the journalist Gale Weathers and Hayden Paniettere’s Kirby Reed, a personality from Scream 4 that survived the Ghostface killings and has now devoted her life to fixing crimes and placing killers behind bars. Whereas it was clear that David Arquette could be absent from the story following the tragic dying of Dewey Cox in 2022’s Scream, Campbell’s exit from the collection incited divisive responses from outraged followers of the saga. Nonetheless, there’s a behind-the-scenes controversy that Sidney will not be in Scream VI.

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Neve Campbell’s Pay Dispute

Whereas a comply with as much as 2022’s Scream was introduced shortly after the primary movie’s monetary success, Campbell introduced that she wouldn’t return for the sixth installment within the collection as supposed as a result of low sum provided to her to reprise the function. Campbell stated that she “felt the supply that was introduced to me didn’t equate to the worth I’ve dropped at the franchise,” however she did thank Scream followers for the whole lot that “this franchise has given me over the previous 25 years.”

Campbell’s refusal to take a decrease sum to return for Scream VI is a justified one; Scream is arguably one of the common (and positively most financially profitable) horror franchises of all-time. There aren’t many sagas which have retained their main stars for over 25 years and continued to be each critically and commercially profitable. Campbell’s involvement was pivotal to the collection’ evolution, however she acknowledged that “as a lady, I’ve needed to work extraordinarily exhausting in my profession to determine my worth, particularly in terms of Scream.”

It’s been seen time and time once more that female-fronted horror franchises have been one of many few strong performers throughout a fragmented interval of latest releases. Jamie Lee Curtis resurrected the Halloween franchise on the prime of the field workplace, and final 12 months Mia Goth launched a profitable new icon with X and Pearl. It’s unhappy that ladies within the trade are constantly underpaid and never given equal compensation after confirmed success.

The Evolution of ‘Scream VI’

The script for Scream VI was subsequently rewritten to focus extra on the brand new characters and take away Sidney from the story. Because the sequel was introduced when the 2022 movie was nonetheless in theaters, the filmmakers had time to regulate the narrative and take the chance to give attention to the youthful solid established within the earlier movie. Despite the fact that Campbell’s absence introduced narrative points that wanted to be addressed to be able to retain a constant continuity. Sidney is talked about throughout the story by Gale, revealing her actions through the occasions of the movie. Regardless of departing the collection, Campbell hasn’t been reluctant to reprise the function; she not too long ago appeared in a Scream-inspired Pink Cross commercial asking viewers to donate blood.

Administrators Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, collectively generally known as Radio Silence, acknowledged that they’re “huge followers of Neve Campbell and what Sidney Prescott is within the Scream universe,” however needed to play “the hand that we had been dealt.” Nonetheless, they left the door open for Campbell to return to the collection sooner or later. Jenna Ortega added that the movie nonetheless supposed to homage Campbell’s legendary function, and that “it is good as a result of there’s nonetheless a protectiveness within the script and that is one thing that the actors had naturally over her as a result of clearly we respect her.”

Sidney’s Function In ‘Scream VI’

Regardless of Campbell’s hesitance to return, Sidney’s presence remains to be felt in Scream VI. Sidney isn’t killed off, as she remains to be married with three kids following her transfer from Woodsboro on the finish of Scream 4. Though the occasions of 2022’s Scream allowed Sidney to reunite with each Gale and Dewey, she doesn’t keep in Woodsboro for for much longer. Whereas Sidney had supplied steering to each Sam and Tara as they processed their trauma, she has clearly moved on.

Regardless of rumors that Campbell’s dispute over pay was a stunt supposed to cover the truth that Sidney was both the killer or would die within the opening scene, this isn’t the case. It’s talked about in Scream VI that Sidney has returned to her quiet life, and isn’t current in New York Metropolis the place the occasions of the movie happen. Gale mentions Sidney is content material together with her present trajectory, reflecting the writers’ respect for Campbell by giving the character a contented ending. Nonetheless, since Sidney remains to be canonically alive throughout the Scream universe, there may be greater than sufficient room for her to return in a later installment.

Scream VI ends with an apparent hook that implies future path that the story may head. Early constructive critiques point out that the movie can be profitable throughout the crowded March field workplace season that features franchise automobiles corresponding to Creed III, 65, Shazam!: Fury of the Gods, John Wick: Chapter 4, and Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Amongst Thieves.