Neve Campbell is ready to face Ghostface once again. While both Shout out (2022) and Scream VI Primarily focused on a new generation of teenagers being stalked by the masked killer, Campbell revealed to ET’s Rachel Smith that the seventh film will take the franchise back to its roots and focus on Sidney Prescott, the central character of the first four films.
“We’re going to follow Sidney,” Campbell confirmed, adding that the idea is along the same lines as Jamie Lee Curtis’ highly publicized return to the role of Laurie Strode in Halloween franchise, 40 years after the original.
“They pitched me the concept, and that’s why I said yes,” Campbell added, after admitting he has not yet received the final script but expects to receive it this week.
“I love these movies, they’re 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 last so many decades,” Campbell happily admitted.
The first Shout out was released in theaters almost 30 years ago, in 1996.
“The fandom is crazy, they’re amazing and so passionate about these movies,” she added. “I’m excited to give them a new one!”
The seventh Shout out The film is set to begin production in December and is being directed by Kevin Williamson, who wrote the screenplays for Shout out, Scream 2 It is Panic 4. He was on board as a producer of Scream 3, Shout out (2022) and Scream VI.
Aside from Campbell, no other cast members have been confirmed for the sequel, and she played coy when asked about the return of other old characters with a cheeky “maybe.”
These cast members include Courteney Cox – who starred as ruthless reporter Gale Weathers in all six previous films, and Patrick Dempsey – which has not appeared since then Scream 3 in 2000, but his character, Mark Kincaid, has been referenced several times in the recent sequels, revealing that he is Sidney’s husband and the father of her children. Both Cox and Dempsey are in talks to reprise their roles alongside Campbell.
While Campbell returned for the Legacy reboot Shout out (2022), she was noticeably absent from Scream VI following a salary dispute. The actress spoke publicly in 2022 that she would unfortunately not return because she “felt the offer presented to me did not match the value that I 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 suitable offer for this upcoming sequel.
O Party of Five The actress admitted that it was “very gratifying” to be heard by the studio. “I’m super grateful that they were on board with that. (Scream VI) it just didn’t feel right. I couldn’t, after so many decades of carrying a franchise, feel undervalued and underpaid and know that it wouldn’t have happened to a man like that. It just wouldn’t have made sense for me to walk onto that set. So I’m glad I stood up for myself,” Campbell said before adding that she hopes it inspires others in the industry as well.
And at the impressive age of 50, Campbell has a full schedule and is busier than ever. In addition to returning full-time for the third season of the Netflix series Lawyer Lincolnr, and the next one Shout out sequence, she is promoting her new documentary, Swan songfollowing the National Ballet of Canada’s production of Swan Lakeas dancers grapple with issues of racism and sexism. Campbell serves as an executive producer on the project.
“I saw the Nutcracker ballet when I was six, my dad got me one for Christmas, and I was like, ‘I have to do this,'” Campbell shared. The actress was a dancer for most of her childhood before turning to acting, though she combined the two passions in Robert Altman’s film, The companyin 2003, which offered a glimpse into 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 being able to honor the dancers and really shed more light on what incredible athletes and artists these people are,” Campbell shared.
Swan song is now in theaters and available on demand.
RELATED CONTENT: