Neve Campbell is back in the Scream franchise

By Violaine Schütz.

Published on 11 February 2026. Updated on 24 February 2026.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJrghaPJ0RY

She is one of the most beloved scream queens in horror film history. Yet, Neve Campbell (The Lincoln Lawyer) was absent from the sixth installment of the cult Scream saga. Released in 2023, that chapter starred the excellent Jenna Ortega – officially unavailable for the sequel due to an overbooked schedule – and Melissa Barrera, who was removed from Scream 7 after she spoke out about Israel and the situation in Gaza.

At the time, she felt that the salary she had been offered was not high enough considering her contribution to the Scream universe, and that a man would have been paid more for the same contract. Now, she finally steps back in to her original role in Scream 7. This new chapter is directed by Kevin Williamson, the original screenwriter and creator of the franchise.

Neve Campbell returns to the Scream franchise

The Canadian-American actress, 52, known for her roles in Wild Things, The Craft and 54, is stepping back into the spotlight in this new installment, set for release on February 27th, 2026. Just when she thought she had found peace in a small town far from Woodsboro, a new masked killer starts to threaten her teenage daughter. “When a new Ghostface killer emerges in the quiet town where Sidney Prescott has built a new life, her darkest fears are realizing as her daughter becomes the next target. Sidney has no choice but to fight back. Determined to protect her loved ones, she is forced to face her past to put an end to the killings once and for all.”

Scream 7 boasts a prestigious cast. Neve Campbell reunites with Courteney Cox (Friends), David Arquette, whose character Dewey died in the saga’s fifth film, Matthew Lillard (The Life of Chuck) and Scott Foley (The Goodwin Games). New additions to the cast include Isabel May (1883), Mckenna Grace (Regretting You) and Joel McHale (Community).

A legendary scream queen

Neve Campbell attended the screening of the very first Scream, released 30 years ago, at Pathé Beaugrenelle in Paris on February 10th, 2026. The actress reflected on the franchise’s success and the strength of the final girl she portrayed. That type of character refers to the only survivor at the end of a slasher movie, a subgenre of horror cinema centered on the murders committed by a psychopathic killer. “It’s incredible to see that 30 years later, people still have an appetite for these movies. I think that’s wonderful. (…) As soon as I read the script for the first Scream, which was a real page-turner, I felt it could have a major impact. During filming, something special was happening between the actors, the director, and the screenwriter.”

“Sidney chooses not to be a victim. She decides to defend herself and becomes a survivor.” – Neve Campbell

Much of the film’s power lies in the space it gives to women and in the character of Sidney Prescott. Although her mother was brutally murdered a year before the events presented in the saga, the young woman proves to be combative, intelligent, and resourceful from the very first installment. “Sidney isn’t a typical slasher victim,” the actress explains. “Very often in horror movies, and we talk about it in Scream, women run away and end up dying. But Sidney chooses not to be a victim. She decides to defend herself and becomes a survivor.”

Neve Campbell also addressed the reasons behind the strong support from the LGBT community for her iconic character since the first film directed by Wes Craven and released in 1996. “I think people who overcome hardship, or who feel misunderstood and face hatred and incomprehension, are drawn to Sidney Prescott’s story. I’m very grateful that people come up to me and tell me she gave them the courage to keep going with their lives and to take on new challenges.”

Scream 7 by Kevin Williamson, coming out in theaters on February 25th, 2026.