Scream’s Matthew Lillard and Jamie Kennedy back Neve Campbell’s decision not to return for 6th movie
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Neve Campbell gets love from the ghosts of Scream past movies.
Matthew Lillard, who starred alongside Campbell, 48, in Wes Craven’s 1996 original teen slasher, voiced his support for the actress on Tuesday during a Twitter spaces chat with Midnite Movie Club. This was after the star this week announced her decision not to sign up for another film due to “the offer”.
“Did Tom Cruise take less money for [Top Gun: Maverick]? F— no, man. So why is a woman supposed to take less? Why don’t you pay her more as the show goes on?” he said. Cry 5 a success or not a success? It was a resounding success. Did they make a ton of money? Yes.
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“Should Neve Campbell be paid for the work she did in five films of a franchise? Yes, because she is the female lead in one of the most successful horror franchises” , added Lillard, 52.
Jamie Kennedy also came out on Campbell’s Corner the same day on her YouTube channel, having starred with her in the first two films. “Hollywood is a clear example of how the system is twisted,” he said.
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“Sidney Prescott is the center of Scream. Neve Campbell is the face of Scream. Ghostface pursues her throughout the franchise…Neve is the last girl,” Kennedy, 52, said, adding, “It’s crazy that the people behind the scenes aren’t paying the money for literally the face of the franchise. . These are people who were not involved from the start. That’s all that’s wrong with the company.”
David Arquette, who made his final appearance as Dewey Riley in this year’s fifth film, previously showed his support for Campbell during an interview with ComicBook.com. “I wish she was a part of it,” he said.
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“A Scream movie without Sidney is kind of unfortunate, but I understand his decision. It’s sort of a deal, they have to balance all of those elements to stay on a budget and produce a movie,” Arquette, 50, added. “I get it, she’s still alive! She [can] absolutely be in the future, but I think it’s up to the fans to ask that in the future. […] It’s sudden it’s a business, though. I respect his decision, of course.”
PARAMOUNT PICTURES Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox in Scream (2022)
Campbell explained her “very difficult decision” not to return for the next episode on Monday after starring in the first five films.
“As a woman, I’ve had to work extremely hard in my career to establish my worth, especially when it comes to Scream“, she said in a statement. “I felt the offer presented to me did not match the value I brought to the franchise.”
The actress returned for the final time for the fifth episode, which premiered earlier this year. Of Ready or Not directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, it was the first film in the franchise to not have Craven attached, following his death from a brain tumor at age 76 in August 2015.
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Legacy star Courteney Cox has since confirmed her return to the franchise, giving an update to the Just for variety podcast in December after getting the script.
“I received the script yesterday,” she said at the time. “I haven’t read it yet, I just got it…I can’t wait to read it, and I know they’re going to start filming…I think, in June, in Canada.”
“I don’t know if I’m supposed to say anything. Let me tell you the killer! Cox, 57, joked.
Franchise newcomers Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding will also return after making their debuts in Scream (2022).