Neve Campbell is stepping back into Sidney Prescott’s shoes for Scream 7, and this time the franchise isn’t just sharpening the knives. It’s sharpening its heart.
In a conversation with Gayety, Campbell reflected on returning to the role that made her a horror icon and the emotional weight of carrying Sidney through decades of blood, trauma, and survival.
“I’m so lucky. I mean, I’m so grateful to be able to play a character who goes through, well, six of the seven films, and to have an audience sort of commit themselves to this character and be intrigued by her journey and to get to play that out and have her be such a beacon of strength for people has been amazing,” she said.
Back to the Heart
And while Ghostface may be the face of fear, Campbell says Sidney has always been the beating heart.
“I think sometimes films can get lost in the horror or the scares or the violence, or you can get so lost in the who-done-it that you forget to follow a heart,” Campbell said. “And I think Sidney very much has been the heart of the character or of the series in a lot of ways. We want to care about her and take care of her and see what her journey is. And I think we get back to that.”
Translation: yes, there will be screams. But there will also be feelings. And maybe a few tears between the terror.
Even with the nostalgia and legacy baked in, the film still promises the franchise’s signature mix of horror and humor.
“But then you still get all the horror and you still get all the funny, and you get a team of great actors, which is fantastic,” she said.
“I mean, Kevin [Williamson] has done an amazing job with this film. We saw it the other day and I was literally in tears at the end of it.”
“I was just so happy that Kevin pulled it off. I was like, I did not doubt, but also, no, I didn’t doubt. But you hope it works out. It’s a hard thing. It’s kind of miraculous when all the pieces come together. It’s rare and I think they have.”
The new chapter also slashes its way into the future with a next-gen cast. Isabel May steps in as Sidney’s daughter, with Joel McHale playing Sidney’s husband, alongside Anna Camp, McKenna Grace, Celeste O’Connor, Asa Germann, and more. It’s a classic Scream move: honor the past while lining up a fresh set of suspects.
And don’t worry, the franchise isn’t ghosting its favorites. Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding return, with Courteney Cox also stepping back into the chaos, keeping the legacy alive and well… and possibly still in danger.
Adressing the Controversy
Scream 7 faced major controversy behind the scenes after lead actor Melissa Barrera was fired by Spyglass Media Group over her pro-Palestinian social media posts, which the studio labeled antisemitic. The fallout led to fan backlash, boycott calls, and the exits of Jenna Ortega and director Christopher Landon, reshaping the project before cameras even rolled. Talk about a plot twist no one saw coming.
As for the franchise’s deeper villain, Campbell says the answer goes far beyond any single Ghostface mask.
“Evil, I mean, insanity. We lose ourselves. These things happen when we don’t have a grounding. We don’t have a family, we don’t have community, we don’t have connection. We don’t have joy when we have a great fear,” she said. “So all of those things, there’s your answer.”
Nearly 30 years after the first film, Sidney Prescott remains the final girl, the emotional anchor, and the soul of Scream. And if this chapter proves anything, it’s that while Ghostface may change, Sidney never loses her edge.. And if Campbell’s reaction is any indication, Scream 7 is poised to honor that legacy while reminding audiences why they cared in the first place.
