Neve Campbell Says She Would Return to the SCREAM Franchise for the Right Price
Neve Campbell got her start in Hollywood in the early ‘90s, landing a starring role in the show Party of Five, then becoming one of the iconic teen characters in first the cult classic The Craft, and then massive hit horror franchise Scream. She was the star of the storyline for the first five films, and while she was expected to return for the sixth movie, it turned out that she passed on the role after she was given a “disrespectful” offer from the studio. When asked a few months ago if fan service was enough to bring her back to the franchise, she responded:
“It’s a hard question because it’s a matter of principle, as well. As much as I love the characters that I’ve played and ones that I’ve had a history with, it’s also very important to me the concept of equal pay. I think we’re still not there yet. I really do believe that had I been a male, that the offer would have been different. I can’t prove that, but it’s the feeling I have, and the way that I was treated was not great, and it feels disrespectful. So at what point does self-respect come into play? It needs to always be there, right?”
And she has spoken out about the possibility of her return yet again, telling IndieWire at this weekend’s BAFTA Tea event in Los Angeles that she feels bad for the franchise, as it’s seen a lot of upheaval at the loss of two of its stars recently:
“It’s sad to me that they’re struggling at the moment. I would imagine that the people at the top are spinning a little bit, trying to make the right decision. I think I would imagine people want to do the right thing. I would hope. I love this franchise. I love it for Wes [Craven]. I love it for all the people who’ve been involved and even the newer cast. I would hope it doesn’t fall apart.”
When asked if she would rejoin the franchise, Campbell said:
“Given the right circumstances? Yes. I made a statement several years ago, and it was the reason that I didn’t do the film at the time, and I just really felt the need to stand up and say that I don’t believe I would’ve been treated that way had I been a man carrying a franchise for 25 years, and that still stands. So if they were to choose to come back to me, that would continue to be my takeaway. We’ll see.”
Give her the money! Fans would return to the theater to see the character Sydney back on the screen. It would be the studio’s best bet on their next film, and keeping the Scream fans happy and coming back for more. She deserves to be paid for her work, and I hope the studio is smart enough to make it happen.