After sitting out this year's fifth installment, Hayden Panettiere is returning as fan favorite character Kirby in 2023's Scream 6. Wes Craven's beloved slasher franchise made a major comeback earlier this year with the arrival of Scream, a new film centered around the next generation of Ghostface victims. After grossing an impressive $138.8 million worldwide, Paramount and Spyglass Media greenlit Scream 6 to continue the series. The directors behind the fifth movie, Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, will return for Scream 6, which is set for release in March 2023.
Panettiere boarded the franchise with 2011's Scream 4, playing cool girl Kirby Reed. Though she gets horrifically attacked by one of the movie's Ghostface killers, it was later revealed that Kirby actually survived. This led to numerous theories that she would return in the 2022 Scream, a concept that was bolstered by overwhelming fan support. Alas, she did not return alongside franchise vets Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette.
That looks to change now with Scream 6. Paramount and Spyglass have announced that Panettiere has closed a deal to play Kirby in the forthcoming sequel. Details about her return are slim at this moment, but with production set to begin this summer, that could change soon. Panettiere joins a cast primarily comprised of those returning from Scream 5, such as Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Mason Gooding, and Jasmine Savoy Brown. Plot details are being kept under wraps, but it is said that Scream 6 revolves around the four survivors of the latest Woodsboro killings as they leave town and start a new chapter.
Scream 6 marks Panettiere's first onscreen role since her ABC drama Nashville came to an end in 2018. Best known for her roles in Heroes, Ice Princess, and, yes, Scream 6, Panettiere has proven herself to be a dynamic performer across numerous genres. As Kirby, she brought some levity to the gristly franchise and won audiences over with her fierce nature. It will be interesting to see what Kirby has been up to since she survived her Ghostface attack. Scream 6 could see her take on a mentor role for the returning survivors, almost similar to Arquette's Dewey Riley in the latest film. Or, since 2022's Scream had a wide variety of returning players acting as Ghostface experts already, perhaps Kirby's role will keep her on the same level as the franchise's newest additions.
As sad as it is to consider, there could also be a chance that Kirby will be Scream 6's first victim. This is a franchise that loves offing major stars in its openings, and having a beloved character like Panettiere's die right away would be a shocking way to kick off the new film. However, considering how many people were praying for Kirby's return in Scream, it might not be a smart idea on the creative team's part to lose one of their best assets so soon. With Scream 6 really charging forward now, hopefully more updates will emerge soon that could shed some light on what the newest Ghostface has in store.
Source: Paramount & Spyglass Media