Neve Campbell will be paid more for Scream 7: “It feels good to have been heard”
The interpreter of Sidney Prescott spoke publicly about his conflict with the studio over his salary. And it paid off!
After a series of disappointments ranging from the dismissal of Melissa Barrera from Jenna Ortega and the director Chris Landonthe saga Scream regained momentum when Neve Campbell has announced that it has accepted the role of Sidney Prescott, heroine of the first four films, and iconic supporting role in the fifth part of the horror franchise.
The American-Canadian actress then refused to return because of a salary that she did not consider in “fit with the value she brought to this saga,” she declared just before the production of Scream VI at Spyglass: “If a man had made five films of such a big franchise and for this long, the salary he would have been offered would not have been the same,” she publicly denounced.
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Today, the actress speaks about the reasons which motivated her to set foot once again in the horror world of Paramount. Interviewed exclusively by the magazine Peoplethe interpreter of Sidney reveals behind the scenes of the negotiations with the studio:
“When they first approached me (For Scream VII )I said to myself : 'I don't know what respect looks like to them. We may have very different considerations.. But they started off on a solid footing, so that was very good.”
“I am very grateful to the studio for hearing me when I spoke about the pay gaps and the lack of respect in negotiations for Scream VI.”
When she announced her withdrawal from the franchise, Neve Campbell received a wave of support from some of her comrades in Hollywood, including that of David Arquettehis partner of the first ScreamAnd the one of Kevin Williamson, one of the creators of the murderous saga. A stroke of brilliance, of which Neve Campbell is proud:
“It feels good to have put this out in the open, to have been listened to and to have made a difference in this way. I hope other people will have this chance too,” she confides.
Because we must also remember that it was not with joy of heart that the actress slammed the door of Scream VI two years ago. Today, she is more than happy to return (to be) stalked (by) Ghostface, as announced on Instagram last March. In the caption of a photo showing the scenario of this new opus, she wrote: “Sidney Prescot is coming back!!!! (…) I am very happy and proud to announce that I have been asked, in the most respectful way, to bring Sidney back to the screen and I couldn't be more thrilled!!!”.
An enthusiasm that she confirms in the columns of People :
“I lived with Sidney for 30 years and I am really, really grateful to be able to return to this role.”
It will be Kevin Williamson who will direct Neve Campbell, twenty-eight years after writing the screenplay for the first film. It remains to be seen whether Courteney Cox will also reprise his role as Gale Weathers in this seventh opus, to recreate this iconic tandem.
Courteney Cox could reunite with Neve Campbell in Scream 7