Neve Campbell is set to reprise her iconic role as Sidney Prescott in the upcoming installment of the "Scream" franchise.
On March 12, Neve Campbell, who is 50 years old, took to her Instagram page to announce her return to the franchise. She revealed that she would be reprising her role after a salary dispute prevented her from appearing in the sixth film.
The casting announcement comes months after Spyglass Media Group confirmed it dropped Melissa Barrera, who starred in "Scream VI," from the franchise after she shared several Instagram posts condemning Israel as the country began its siege on Palestine after the Hamas terrorist attack on Oct. 7.
In her announcement, Campbell, who portrayed a lead role in the original "Scream" film in 1996 and has appeared in multiple sequels since, shared a picture of the script. She hinted at its current working title, "Untitled Scream 7." Additionally, the photo unveiled that Kevin Williamson, the writer of the original film, would step into the director's role for this installment.
"I’m so excited to announce this news!!! Sidney Prescott is coming back!!!!" Campbell's post reads within its caption. "It’s always been such a blast and an honor to get to play Sidney in the Scream movies. My appreciation for these films and for what they have meant to me has never waned."
Within hours of posting the news, Campbell's Instagram was flooded with comments by those who feel her casting comes at the downfall of Barrera.
"Neve, I love this but after how Spyglass handled Melissa the fans are annoyed," wrote one commenter. "I’m not sure if I can get on board."
"After what they did to you and Melissa? Nope. Sorry!" wrote another.
YEPPOST.com reached out to both Barrera and Campbell for comment.
In 2022, Neve Campbell surprised fans of the "Scream" franchise by revealing that she had turned down the opportunity to appear in the sixth installment. Prior to this, she had portrayed the character Sidney Prescott in five "Scream" movies, spanning from the original "Scream" (1996) to "Scream" (2022).
Addressing her decision, the actor explained that the offer she received didn't accurately reflect the value she had brought to the franchise.
"I did not feel that what I was being offered equated to the value that I bring to this franchise, and have brought to this franchise, for 25 years," Campbell told People at the time.
"And as a woman in this business, I think it’s really important for us to be valued and to fight to be valued."