Neve Campbell has starred as heroine Sidney Prescott in all five “Scream” movies, but after 25 years of dedication to the franchise, she has revealed the shocking reason she will not return for “Scream 6.”
Campbell has played an integral role in the franchise since its inception, and her adoring fans will certainly notice her absence. Nevertheless, she has officially stepped away, citing that her salary made her feel “undervalued,” according to Insider. “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,” Campbell said.
Neve Campbell Says ‘It Was Sad’ to Leave Scream 6 but She ‘Couldn’t Bear’ Feeling ‘Undervalued’ https://t.co/MaXjhliprv
— People (@people) August 8, 2022
Paramount/Spyglass Media sought Campbell’s return for “Scream 6,” but Campbell was put off by their monetary offer.
“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,” Campbell said, according to Insider. “And in my soul, I just couldn’t do that. I couldn’t walk on set feeling that — feeling undervalued and feeling the unfairness, or lack of fairness, around that.”
The actress said that her decisions were based on ethics. She suggested that her acceptance of what she deemed to be a low wage would impact other women in the industry, according to Insider. “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 added. (RELATED: Watch The Terrifying Trailer For The Upcoming Horror Movie ‘X’)
Neve Campbell on Scream 6:
She says she’d return to the franchise if paid fairly. “I’m not done with this chapter.”#Scream #Scream6 pic.twitter.com/mY2OTt3B0p
— TV Tweets (@TVTweets2022) August 9, 2022
“It’s been a very difficult decision to move on,” Campbell told Deadline in June. “To all my ‘Scream’ fans, I love you. You’ve always been so incredibly supportive to me. I’m forever grateful to you and to what this franchise has given me over the past 25 years.”
“Scream 6” will premiere March 31, 2023, and will see the return of Hayden Panettiere, as well as Jenna Ortega, Melissa Barrera, Jasmin Savoy Brown, and Mason Gooding, according to Insider. Courteney Cox, who has also starred in all five “Scream” movies, will reprise her role as journalist Gale Weathers-Riley.