Neve Campbell returns to the Scream Horror franchise

After being absent from Scream 6 due to a salary dispute, series star Neve Campbell has announced her return in the upcoming seventh film.

“Sidney Prescott is back!!!!” Campbell posted on Instagram on Tuesday. “It has always been a blast and such an honor to play Sydney in the 'Scream' movies. My appreciation for these movies, and what they mean to me, has never waned. I'm very happy and proud to say that I was asked, in the most respectful way, to bring Sydney back to the screen and I couldn't I feel more thrilled than that.

In addition to Campbell's return, “Scream” creator and writer Kevin Williamson will serve as director of “Scream 7.” He wrote the first, second, and fourth “Scream” films, as well as executive producing the 2022 “Scream” reboot and its sequel, “Scream 6.”

“It's been almost 30 years since my first screenplay, Scream, was directed by legendary director Wes Craven,” Williamson wrote on Instagram. “I never would have expected what it would turn out to be. Or that I would be directing the seventh installment in the series. I'm overwhelmed with gratitude and excitement, and I can't wait to take this journey with Neve and the entire Scream family as we bring back Sidney Prescott for the next chapter of the Scream franchise. Thank you To all the fans of “Scream”. You are the gift that keeps on giving.”

Jay Busiek, who wrote the fifth and sixth “Scream” films with James Vanderbilt, is taking over the screenwriting reins. Vanderbilt will continue to produce alongside his Project X Entertainment partners William Sherak and Paul Neinstein. The Radio Silence collective, which directed and produced the previous two “Scream” films, will serve as executive producers.

After returning in the 2022 Scream reboot, Campbell announced ahead of Scream 6 that the salary she was offered was “not equivalent to the value she brought to the franchise.” Creator Williamson was vocal about the “Scream” cast needing to offer Campbell more money, saying, “I love everyone involved in 'Scream,' and all I can say is pay her money. Yes, you heard that, everyone. That's what I'm going to do.” “I'll give her the money.”

Campbell's return comes after Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega, who starred in two previous Scream films, did not return in the seventh part. Barrera was fired from “Scream 7” last year over controversial social media posts about Israel. Shortly after, news emerged that Ortega had also exited “Scream 7” due to the filming schedule for the second season of the Netflix series “Wednesday.”