In a recent interview on the Happy Horror Time podcast, Scream franchise creator Kevin Williamson expressed his desire to see Neve Campbell, who portrayed the iconic character Sidney Prescott, return to the series. Campbell had departed from the franchise the previous year due to salary disputes, leaving fans wondering about the future of the beloved character.
Williamson began by acknowledging Campbell’s decision to leave, saying, “I totally respect her opinion.” He emphasized his admiration for Campbell, having known her well, and his love and adoration for everyone involved in the Scream franchise. Williamson’s message was clear: “Pay her the money. That’s what I would do, I would give her the money.”
He continued to express optimism that a resolution could be reached, stating, “I’m sure there’s a number they can agree on that will make them both happy, so hopefully one day they will figure that all out.”
Campbell’s departure from the Scream franchise was a significant moment for fans and the industry. In June 2022, she announced her decision not to return for the then-upcoming sixth installment of the series due to salary negotiations. She acknowledged the difficulty of her decision and explained, “As a woman, I have had to work extremely hard in my career to establish my value, especially when it comes to Scream. I felt the offer that was presented to me did not equate to the value I have brought to the franchise.”
In a subsequent interview with People magazine, Campbell emphasized the importance of recognizing her value as a woman in the entertainment industry. She pointed out, “I did not feel that what I was being offered equated to the value that I bring to this franchise, and have brought to this franchise, for 25 years. And as a woman in this business, I think it’s really important for us to be valued and to fight to be valued.”
Campbell’s stance resonated with many who saw her departure as emblematic of broader issues related to gender pay disparities in Hollywood. She highlighted the disparity by stating, “I honestly don’t believe that if I were a man and had done five installments of a huge blockbuster franchise over 25 years, that the number that I was offered would be the number that would be offered to a man.”
While Neve Campbell’s absence from the franchise left a void for fans, Kevin Williamson still had a vision for the character Sidney Prescott. Williamson, who had written the screenplay for the first four Scream films, handed over the writing duties to James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick for the fifth installment in 2022. However, Williamson’s creative influence continued as he served as an executive producer for the franchise.
During the podcast interview, Williamson shared his plans for Sidney Prescott had he continued to pen the scripts. He revealed, “Scream IV, V, and VI would have been about the love story of Sidney Prescott, and it would’ve been this whole thing of she’s falling in love, she’s going to get married, it’s all based around her marriage when these murders start happening again.” He teased the suspenseful element by questioning whether Sidney would be entangled in another deadly love interest, similar to the events of the first film. Williamson pondered, “Is this man that she’s in love with the killer again? Is she Billy Loomis-ing herself all over again? Is she still making the wrong decisions? Is she still choosing the bad guy?”
For fans of the Scream series, Williamson’s insights into his vision for Sidney’s character were intriguing and opened up a realm of possibilities for future installments.
Scream VI, which was released in March, is currently available for streaming on Paramount Plus. The franchise’s legacy continues to evolve, with Scream 7 already in development, helmed by director Christopher Landon.
As the Scream franchise marches forward, fans remain hopeful that Neve Campbell and the creative team can reach an agreement that would allow Sidney Prescott to return and receive the satisfying conclusion she deserves. Kevin Williamson’s determination to give Sidney a happy ending only adds to the anticipation surrounding the future of this beloved horror series.
