Yesterday, Neve Campbell shocked Scream fans by announcing that she would not be returning to the series for its sixth film due to contract negotiation issues. Now, David Arquette spoke up about the news, weighing in on his castmate’s disputes.
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“I’d love for her to be a part of it,” said Arquette to ComicBook. “A Scream movie without Sidney is kind of unfortunate, but I understand her decision. It’s all a business in a way, they have to balance all these elements to fit a budget and produce a film. I get it, she’s still alive! She [can] absolutely be in future ones, but I think it’s up to fans to call for that in the future. […] That is sudden, it’s a business, though. I respect her decision, for sure.”
Arquette also posted on Instagram saying, “Let me be clear. I support Neve Campbell and think it’s a huge mistake not to have her in the new Scream.”
Campbell’s departure from the series is a shocking one, as she’s been a mainstay in every Scream film. However, Campbell revealed that she was forced to turn down the opportunity to come back because she felt the offer that was presented to her “did not equate to the value” that she feels she’s brought to the franchise. Currently, it’s unknown whether or not a deal will be reached for her to return before filming is set to begin.
Production on Scream 6 is set to begin this summer and it will be directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, who returns after directing this year’s Scream. Currently, plot details on the sixth entry are being kept under wraps, with a tentative release date for the film set for March 31, 2023.
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2022’s Scream starred returning vets Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, and Marley Shelton. They were joined by franchise newcomers Jack Quaid (The Boys), Melissa Barrera (Vida), Jenna Ortega (The Babysitter: Killer Queen), Mason Gooding (Booksmart), Dylan Minnette (13 Reasons Why), Kyle Gallner (Ghosts of War), Jasmin Savoy Brown (The Leftovers) and Mikey Madison (Better Things).
The first film, released in 1996, was a surprise smash upon its debut, helping to revive the horror genre for the decade and becoming the highest-grossing slasher movie of all time until it was dethroned by last year’s Halloween reboot. The first’s success spawned a franchise that includes three sequels, the first of which remained equally as successful as the first while the previous two saw middling box office returns and mixed reviews.
