Neve Campbell stands resolute in her actions, unwavering in her decision to step away from the sixth installment of the "Scream" franchise in 2023 due to a salary disagreement. Despite the disappointment of missing out, Campbell does not regret her choice. In an interview on CBS Mornings on February 24th, she shared, "When I made that decision, I couldn't imagine myself walking on set. I didn't feel right." She added, "I knew that my value to this franchise was greater than what had been offered. For me, it was a necessary choice."
Although Campbell knew that her decision might prevent her from playing Sidney Prescott again, she was prepared to accept that possibility. "When I said goodbye to it, I thought that was it. I knew there was a good chance that would be it," she said. "I was sad. When I heard they were having their first day of shooting and I wasn't there, I thought, 'That sucks.' But at the same time, I knew my decision was right."
Campbell rose to fame playing Sidney in the 1996 horror film and continued to star in every sequel of the franchise, except for "Scream VI." In June 2022, when she announced that she wouldn't be reprising her role, she cited a salary dispute as the reason for her departure. "As a woman, I have had to work extremely hard in my career to establish my value, especially when it comes to 'Scream'," she said at the time. "I felt the offer that was presented to me did not equate to the value I have brought to the franchise."
When addressing her decision to step away and the overwhelming support she received as a result, Campbell said she was taken aback by how many people rallied around her. "When I spoke out about it, it wasn't really to rile everybody," the "Lincoln Lawyer" actress explained on CBS Mornings. "It was just my truth at the time, and the fact that people got behind me was really nice."
However, it wasn't long before "Scream" fans had something to scream about. In March 2024, Campbell confirmed on Instagram that she would be returning for the seventh film, writing, "It's always been such a blast and an honor to get to play Sidney in the 'Scream' movies. My appreciation for these films and for what they have meant to me has never waned."
"I'm very happy and proud to say I've been asked, in the most respectful way, to bring Sidney back to the screen," she added. "And I couldn't be more thrilled!" Her excitement has not waned since that moment. With just three days until "Scream 7" hits theaters on February 27th, Campbell said it was incredibly rewarding to step back into her character's shoes.
"I love Sidney, I love getting back into the character and being able to play a character over a span of 30 years," she raved on CBS Mornings. "To have the opportunity to see a character grow and live with them in that way is a great opportunity."
In addition to Campbell, Courteney Cox, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, David Arquette, and Matthew Lillard are all set to return for the new film. The cast also includes Isabel May, Anna Camp, Michelle Randolph, Jimmy Tatro, Mckenna Grace, Asa Germann, Celeste O'Connor, Mark Consuelos, and Joel McHale.
