Scream is monumental in the slasher sub-genre of horror. What makes Scream so iconic is its titular final girl, Sidney Prescott. Sidney introduced audiences to a final girl like no other before her, defying every final girl expectation and cliché. Always on top of her game, astute, and a humble soul willing to help anyone in need, Sidney Prescott has permanently secured a place in the hearts of countless horror fans. Yet, Neve Campbell decided she would not participate in Scream VI after a winding pay dispute with producers, prompting considerable controversy. As Scream VI’s opening date is right around the corner, rumors have sparked that a possible cameo from Campbell may occur in the film. Here is why Neve Campbell making a surprise appearance at this point would be a bad thing.
Neve Campbell Would Lose Credibility
When Neve Campbell said she wouldn’t be returning for Scream VI, fans quickly took to social media platforms to show her support, demanding she get paid what she deserves for her service to the franchise. Campbell further explained her reasoning during a press release, stating she felt she wasn’t being paid what equated her worth to the Scream franchise. After some delegating by studios and Campbell, production for Scream 6 moved forward without her. If Campbell were to make a reappearance, her public image would certainly take a hit - after all, it is admirable to see an actor stand her ground against a billion dollar studio.
Would Lessen Gale’s Moment in the Spotlight
Dimension Films
Gale Weathers is inarguably as important to the Scream franchise as Sidney Prescott. While Gale started off as Sidney’s foil, she eventually became one of her closest allies and a fan-favorite. Gale herself has grown tremendously throughout the franchise, going from a self-serving reporter with little regard for anyone’s well-being to a woman capable of caring for others. Gale delivers one of the most tear-jerking instances in Scream history after being informed of Dewey’s murder, showing audiences that Gale is much more than a tough exterior solely motivated by career advancements. With Campbell stepping away from the franchise, Courtney Cox is the only remaining cast member from the original Scream to continue on in the franchise, opening countless possibilities as to what will happen to her character.
Will Gale take the mantle from Sidney as the franchise’s new titular character, or will she continue to serve as a secondary final girl to characters such as Sam Carpenter? Or, in a controversial plot twist, will she follow in the steps of her ex-husband’s fate and also fall at the hands of Ghostface? There are countless possibilities circulating among fans as Scream VI fast approaches. If Sidney Prescott were to make an unexpected appearance in Scream VI, it would likely drive attention away from Gale’s role in the film, resulting in a disservice to the significant growth Gale has undergone.
Would Lessen the Importance Of Other Scream Characters
Paramount Pictures
One of the most interesting aspects of the Scream franchise is its ability to introduce compelling new characters with each sequel. Scream (2022) not only brought back all its legacy heroes, but introduced audiences to a new generation of characters. Tara Carpenter quickly gained fans approval by delivering the most suspenseful opening in the franchise next to the original. Mindy Meeks-Martin, the niece to fan-favorite, Randy Meeks, proved to be just as entertaining as her uncle, with the needed touch of Gen-Z humor to win over audiences all across the board. The series new titular character, Sam Carpenter, is the illegitimate daughter of none other than Ghostface killer, Billy Loomis. Sam’s backstory was only briefly explored in Scream (2022), with Sam tapping into her repressed psychotic tendencies in order to defeat Richie and save the day. Nevertheless, Sam is still a relatively new character, while Sidney has been the face of Scream for more than 26 years; in order to properly develop, Sam needs to fully embrace her role as Scream’s new final girl without any overshadowing by Sidney Prescott.
A Setback For Performers Demanding Higher Pay
What made Campbell’s exit from the Scream franchise so applaudable is its representation for others actors in similar situations; every actor deserves to be paid their worth, specifically women working in Hollywood. For such a fundamental player of a million-dollar franchise to step aside for the sake of having her worth respected paved the way for any actor feeling undervalued by major Hollywood studios. Campbell would not only tarnish her reputation by returning to Scream; she would lessen the impact her stance has perpetuated for every actor in the industry.
Sidney Has Served Her Purpose in Scream
Sidney Prescott is undoubtedly one of the best final girls in the horror genre, undergoing a steady character arc throughout Scream’s twenty-six-year run. From being a teenager maintaining a positive attitude amidst a killing spree, dealing with the aftermath and unwanted attention each Ghostface confrontation deals her, to lastly, becoming a mother always ready to fight for the safety of those around her, Sidney is an excellent character with little room for further growth; Sidney has served her purpose in the Scream franchise. It’s time for Sidney to finally live in peace and let other capable characters deal with the chaos a new Ghostface will surely cause in New York City.
