Hayden Panettiere will be returning for Scream 6 to reprise her role as Kirby Reed. Panettiere first appeared in the iconic horror franchise in Scream 4, and although it seemed Kirby met a grisly end at the hands of Ghostface, it was later revealed that she survived. However, fans of the series will know better than to get too attached to Kirby. The Scream franchise is known for killing off key characters, and there is a better-than-likely chance that Panettiere’s character won’t live to see Scream 7.
Panettiere joins a long list of names returning for Scream 6. Since characters in the slasher series tend not to live that long, the cast now naturally features mostly names from Scream 5. This includes Melissa Barrera, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Jenna Ortega, and long-time franchise staple Courteney Cox. Neve Campbell has neither confirmed nor denied that she will be back for the next film. However, the actress said back in February that she would “read the script and see how I feel.” Both Cox and Campbell have starred in each of the previous Scream entries.
The first Scream movie released in December 1996, and despite heavy competition from the holiday season, as well as the Tom Cruise-led Jerry Maguire, the film was a box office success, grossing over $103 million worldwide. Although none of the subsequent Scream titles have been as successful as the original, the films have been generally well-received by fans and critics alike, and the series is beloved for its clever, meta-commentary on the horror genre.
Scream 6 will begin filming this summer. It is scheduled for release on March 31, 2023.
