Welp.

[rogueslayer452]

Neve Campbell has accepted to return for Scream 7, with Kevin Williamson returning to direct.

Can't say I'm surprised by this development, just sorely disappointed. :/

I had hoped that she would continue to refuse any possibility of returns to the franchise in solidarity with Melissa and Jenna no matter how good of a deal was being offered, but unfortunately this just proves that money talks. Did I want Neve back and to be properly paid what she is rightfully owed? Of course. But not like this. Not at the expense of the unfair treatment of another actress. I know the entertainment industry is a business and actors need to work for a living, but with the current circumstances with the controversy surrounding Scream 7 this is not a good look all around. I love the Scream franchise and Sidney Prescott is among my favorite horror movie final girl protagonists, but this feels incredibly hollow and opportunistic, reeking of desperation. Honestly, this whole mess has soured me to any future installments of the franchise underneath Spyglass, and unless there is a sincere apology coming from them to Melissa Barrera and reinstating both her and Jenna as their main leads once again (along with the rest of the Core Four) I will maintain that Scream 6 is the final movie for me. It's sad that we'll never get what was originally planned for Sam and Tara for the conclusion of their trilogy, but the sixth movie did end nicely. Still, it's a damn shame.

Meanwhile, Melissa Barrera has a few projects set to premiere soon, the most anticipated seems to be Abigail which is to premiere April 19th. It is yet another horror movie, so if nothing else she'll be well established in the horror genre.

Comments

[elizalavelle]

Same. I'm glad she's back but also wish she'd held out until the studio made amends with Melissa.

For Neve, I'm happy they had to go back to her and presumably pay her what she's worth. I just think that doing it after firing Melissa for nothing other than speaking her truth and calling attention to a genocide is not a great look for anyone.

[wearing_tearing]

Honestly, this whole mess has soured me to any future installments of the franchise
SAME! I started laughing when I saw the news about Neve and Kevin because OF COURSE they would ask the people who are some of the biggest draws re the franchise to come back. And OF COURSE they would accept because it's a paycheck. Not like we can expect better from people, right? UGH. :(

[rogueslayer452]

I expected Spyglass to be backed into a corner once they lost their two leads and would get desperate enough to try and do damage control like this, but I feared that those they reached out to would jump at the opportunity to say yes despite everything that occurred. Sadly, that fear came true. Perhaps it was a bit optimistic of me to hope that Neve and anyone else from the previous movies would band together in solidarity so Spyglass would have no choice but to either retract their previous statements and rehire Melissa or cancel the movie outright.

I just have that bitter feeling that Neve is most likely taking money that would've belonged to Melissa and Jenna combined. Never mind that Melissa has gone on record publicly supporting Neve when she turned down the opportunity to return for Scream 6 for not getting fairly paid, this must be a huge slap in the face.

[rogueslayer452]

I also can't help but think they're only paying her the money that would've gone to Melissa and Jenna, since it seems like they wouldn't have asked her back anyway even if they hadn't lost their two leads.

I don't know, it's giving me conflicted feelings because we don't truly know what's been going on behind closed doors. We just know based on the circumstances that have publicly gone down and what has been announced. The rest is speculation. Just the way things have happened though, it doesn't look good and it feels desperate from all angles. It's such a mess.

[elizalavelle]

It's definitely a mess. I wish they'd hire back Melissa and Jenna. Jenna chose to leave (in solidarity I think guised under scheduling issues) but I'd want to see at least a public offer to Melissa to make things right before I feel better about this. If not... piracy it is.

[kissapentu]

I agree. What you commented here - "I don't know, it's giving me conflicted feelings because we don't truly know what's been going on behind closed doors. We just know based on the circumstances that have publicly gone down and what has been announced. The rest is speculation. Just the way things have happened though, it doesn't look good and it feels desperate from all angles. It's such a mess." Is totally how I feel.

I'm happy Neve is back but Melissa deserved more. Neve never should've taken their offer, no matter how high it is/was. IMO - Scream 7 will be different in general. For me, it ended with 6 as well.

I'm really excited for Abigail!

[rogueslayer452]

Along with an apology as well, because they really did her wrong with creating a smear campaign against her, they would have to grovel for forgiveness as they make an offer to her. Unfortunately, I don't think they want to make this right with Melissa, because that would mean they would admit that they were in the wrong and fucked up massively. Instead they want to sweep it all under the rug and hope that having Neve and Kevin back will distract people from what they did. :/

[rogueslayer452]

Yeah. It's just a mess. Scream 7 may happen, but it'll be separate from Scream 5 and Scream 6. It'll be in a completely different universe.

[elizalavelle]

Absolutely an apology. There should be a public apology regardless with Spygate saying they did the wrong thing. Hiring Neve and Kevin Williamson back is definitely an acknowledgement that they screwed up but it's meaningless without the words.

[wearing_tearing]

Perhaps it was a bit optimistic of me to hope that Neve and anyone else from the previous movies would band together in solidarity
I mean, that would have been the proper thing to do, considering why she was fired from the movie. Sure, this is a job that pays but it's not like Neve and Kevin are hurting for money. They could have declined the offer.

I just have that bitter feeling that Neve is most likely taking money that would've belonged to Melissa and Jenna combined. Never mind that Melissa has gone on record publicly supporting Neve when she turned down the opportunity to return for Scream 6 for not getting fairly paid, this must be a huge slap in the face.
Everything about this! I do think they were only able to offer Neve more money because they didn't have to pay Melissa or Jenna. Neve staying quiet and accepting an offer to come back shows she doesn't care much about fairness or supporting others :/