Scream 4’s Emma Roberts reacts to Neve Cambell’s departure from Scream 6. Campbell previously played the leading role of Sidney Prescott in the first five Scream films. Courteney Cox, who has been in all of the Scream films to date, will reprise her role of Gale Weathers in Scream 6. Scream 6 will be co-directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, who directed 2022’s Scream. Franchise veterans Jenna Ortega, Michelle Barrera, and Hayden Panettiere will also return to their roles.
Earlier this month, it was announced that Campbell would not be returning to Scream 6. Campbell stated that she felt that the pay offered to her by the sixth film was underwhelmingly low, leading to her departure from Scream 6. This casting change was an extremely disappointing development for longtime viewers of the Scream franchise, many of whom have rallied behind Sidney Prescott as she suffered through the Ghostface horrors. Scream stars David Arquette and Matthew Lillard have reacted to Campbell's exit, defending their co-star in the process. Now, another Scream veteran weighs in.
In an interview with Jake's Takes, Roberts was questioned about her reaction to the news of Campbell’s departure from Scream. Roberts then revealed that she initially felt that “this can’t be real news.” Check out Roberts’ full reaction:
“Someone just sent me that [the news of Campbell’s departure] last night and I was like, this can’t be real news. Like, this has to be fake! I mean, she’s queen, that’s all I have to say.”
While Roberts did not shed much light onto the specific situation, her short statement aligns with a lot of what audiences are thinking. Campbell has been an iconic part to the Scream series since its inception back in 1996. Not only has she been central to Scream, but the Scream franchise has been Campbell’s most prominent role within her own career. While the actress has made other appearances, such as in the movies Wild Things and The Craft and the TV show House of Cards, Sidney Prescott has been her most popular character to date. Thus, Roberts' disbelief at the situation is logical, since for many it's impossible to imagine Scream without Sidney.
With Campbell gone from Scream, Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett must create a new plan for Scream 6. Given Sidney Prescott’s centrality to the previous films, the directing pair along with writers Guy Busick and James Vanderbilt likely had plans for the character’s role in Scream 6 before contract disputes precluded Campbell’s involvement. Campbell’s departure is indeed a reality that Scream 6 will have to face, adapting its premise to suit cast updates. Perhaps this could give Scream 6 the chance to delve into the psyche’s of some newer characters, including Ortega’s Tara Carpenter and Barrera’s Sam Carpenter. Either way, the Scream franchise faces a new era as Sidney Prescott leaves Woodsboro behind.
Source: Jake’s Takes