Warning: Spoilers ahead for Scream 6!Neve Campbell's Scream 6 absence was a huge disappointment, but luckily the film offered an explanation for what her character Sidney Prescott was up to. The sixth installment in the Scream franchise followed Samantha Carpenter (Melissa Barrera) and her sister Tara Carpenter (Jenna Ortega) from Woodsboro to New York City. The city is by far the largest setting for any Scream film and allowed it to go places it had never been before. Courtney Cox returned as legacy character Gale Weathers, and in Campbell's place, Hayden Panettiere returned as her Scream 4 character, Kirby Reed.
Campbell announced ahead of filming for Scream 6 that she would be stepping away from the franchise because of pay disputes with Paramount. Campbell has carried the Scream franchise since its 1996 premiere, and she felt she deserved to be fairly compensated for her work. A few of her former costars spoke out in her defense, including Matthew Lillard, who pointed out Tom Cruise wouldn't accept less money for Top Gun: Maverick, so Campbell shouldn't have to accept less money for her role in the successful slasher franchise. Thankfully, Scream 6 didn't leave audiences hanging, and gave a logical reason for Sidney's absence.
Sidney Took Her Family Into Hiding During Scream 6
Gale Weathers is quick to appear in New York City to cover the story of the new Ghostface. Unfortunately, she tells Sam and Tara that Sidney hasn't joined her. Gale informs the sisters that Sidney has gone into hiding with her family. The news reporter also says that Sidney deserves a break this time after everything she's been through since the first time Ghostface went after her. While Sidney returned in Scream 5 to help fight off Ghostface, this time, she allowed someone else to fight the battle.
Ghostface is no longer after Sidney. Sam, being the illegitimate daughter of the original Ghostface, Billy Loomis, is the new target. Sidney shouldn't have to come back and wear herself out again fighting to save someone else when Sam can defend herself and has help from others like Gale and Kirby. While Scream will never be quite the same without Sidney, it's calming to hear her absence is due to her protecting her safety and taking a break from fighting Ghostface.
Will Sidney Return In Scream 7?
The best part of Sidney's Scream 6 story is that it leaves room for her to return to the franchise. Campbell seemingly has great respect for everyone in the cast and crew and has a deep love for the Scream franchise. After all, it changed her life. If Paramount could come to an agreement and pay Campbell what she deserves, she'd likely come back to the film. The only thing the film would have to deal with is a realistic reason why Sidney took her family out of hiding and decided to fight back this time.
Maybe Sidney could have a similar story to Kirby, where she joins the FBI or decides that she has a passion for helping people who are in the same situation she was in. It shouldn't be too hard to create a new storyline for Sydney, and after her Scream 6 absence, her return would be epic.