The Pyrrhic Victory of 'Scream 7'
I’m somewhere between Mo’Nique saying, “I would like to see it” and the Tyra Banks “Get the [Ghostface] off the TV; I’m not watching that!” meme. But why?
“Hello, Sidney.” It’s the second most famous on-screen hello after Carrie Bradshaw declared, “Hello, lover” to a pair of pink-petaled Christian Louboutins. It became an unfamiliar greeting, though, after actress Neve Campbell was unceremoniously let go from appearing in Scream 6 after contract negotiations broke down — AKA they couldn’t pony up the money her star power had earned. A fair and just world we do not live in, and the film was a box office hit without her, paving the way for the continuation of a Sidney-less franchise. A series of events transpired beginning in November (we’ll get into it below) with Campbell’s ostensible replacement, Melissa Barrera, being fired and then director Christopher Landon “exiting” the film a month later. The film’s fate seemed uncertain until Tuesday.
“Sidney Prescott is coming back,” Campbell posted on Instagram along with four exclamation points. “It’s always been such a blast and an honor to get to play Sidney in the Scream movies. My appreciation for these films and for what they have meant to me has never waned. I’m very happy and proud to say I’ve been asked, in the most respectful way, to bring Sidney back to the screen and I couldn’t be more thrilled!!!”
She continued: “Well actually I could. While I’ve been so incredibly lucky to make these films with both the master of horror Wes Craven and the wonderfully talented Matt and Tyler team, I’ve dreamt for many years of how amazing it would be to make one of these movies with Kevin Williamson at the helm. And now it’s happening, Kevin Williamson is going to direct Scream 7! To the amazing Scream fans, I hope you are as excited as I am.”
I’m somewhere between Mo’Nique saying, “I would like to see it” and the Tyra Banks “Get the [Ghostface] off the TV; I’m not watching that!” meme. But why?