Movies News Talk
Following the dramatic revamping of the Horror sequel, Neve Campbell has announced Sidney Prescott would be the central focus of "Scream 7." Originally meant to see Melissa Barrera's and Jenna Ortega's Carpenter sisters returning, plans for the most recent "Scream" franchise entry were thrown off when Spyglass Media sacked Barrera in November 2023 following social media posts she had made on the Israeli-Hamas war. Both Ortega and director Christopher Landon would also leave the film, which would force producers to concentrate more on attracting franchise veteran Neve Campbell back instead.
Speaking with Entertainment Tonight, Campbell reassured me that the sequel will center Sidney's character and allayed concerns that her comeback in "Scream 7" would merely serve as a cameo appearance. Though she hasn't yet seen the finished script, Campbell compared her comeback for "Scream 7" to Jamie Lee Curtis's cameos in the most recent "Halloween" films. "We are going to follow Sidney," Campbell stated. "I started on board since they did pitch the idea to me. I am really happy for these films; they are so much joy to watch. I could never have envisioned being a part of a movie that would have survived for this many decades."
Although Campbell's future "Scream 7" cast comeback is welcome news for many who missed her role in 2023's "Scream VI," the sequel will probably have to work hard to overcome any hesitancy resulting from heavily reported behind-the-scenes dramas. Audiences had mostly expected the "Scream" franchise to run for many more years with Sam and Tara Carpenter firmly established as a new generation of starring characters until Barrera was kicked off the project.
Given Curtis's Laurie Strode's definitive finish in 2022's "Halloween Ends," Campbell's analogy would even suggest that Sidney's tenure in the "Scream" series might also be drawing to an end. The "Scream" franchise suddenly finds itself needing to revert to its original final girl even after accomplished the all too unusual task of effectively substituting younger faces for the movie's heroes. The issue now will be how much longer the Movies can run with Sidney Prescott at its core, even if Campbell's comeback suggests great sentimental appeal for "Scream 7." Eventually Campbell will either have to bring the "Scream" franchise to a clear finish or hand the baton over once more.
Given Curtis' Laurie Strode's definitive ending in 2022's "Halloween Ends," Campbell's analogy would suggest that Sidney's tenure on the "Scream" series could also be drawing to an end. Whether that means she meets her own death, like David Arquette's Dewey, or somehow pauses the ceaseless parade of Ghostface murders remains to be seen, "Scream 7" may be considerably more than Campbell's franchise comeback. It might also be a means for viewers to bid one last farewell to one of the most famous last ladies of Horror.