With the release of Scream 7, we thought it was finally time to figure out what happened to the prior New York–set sequel. We’ll get into why Neve Campbell didn’t return, why Tim Robinson has a voice cameo, and which horror icons almost didn’t make an appearance due to legal reasons. There’s a lot to break down, so let’s take a look at what happened to Scream VI.
Greenlighting Scream VI
After the success of Scream 5, another entry seemed like a no-brainer. The cast all expressed interest in making another film, and it was officially greenlit on February 3rd, 2022. Radio Silence returned with Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett in the director’s chairs, and James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick writing the script. Matt and Tyler signed onto the project knowing only that the film would take place in New York City. They had such a fun time making Scream 5 that they wanted to continue the journey, trusting the writers’ vision.
Courteney Cox was the first cast member to sign on, eagerly returning to the role of Gail Weathers. Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Jasmin Savoy Brown, and Mason Gooding reprised their roles. Supporting cast additions included Liana Liberato, Devyn Nekoda, Jack Champion, Dermot Mulroney, and Josh Segarra. Their audition process involved reading a killer monologue; here’s hoping that footage sees the light of day eventually.
Busick and Vanderbilt actually had Samara Weaving in mind for the opening victim while writing the script. Given Radio Silence’s past history with her, having starred in Ready or Not, it seemed like an obvious choice. They called her up during a meeting in Montreal, and she jumped at the opportunity.
Hilariously, the photo of Reggie, her would-be date, is actually Samara’s husband, Jimmy Warden, and their dog, Muzzy. Oddly enough, it’s the first American film where Samara uses her natural accent, and she claims the character is closest to her real-life self. The restaurant in the opening, Hasta El Fuego, is named after Radio Silence’s group chat, where they discussed movies during the pandemic. It’s actually a line from Bad Boys for Life.
No Sidney
Unfortunately, Neve Campbell did not return after a pay dispute with the studio. She released a statement: “As a woman, I have had to work extremely hard in my career to establish my value, especially when it comes to Scream. I felt the offer that was presented to me did not equate to the value I have brought to the franchise. It’s been a very difficult decision to move on. To all my Scream fans, I love you. You’ve always been so incredibly supportive. I’m forever grateful to you and to what this franchise has given me over the past 25 years.”
A Sidney Prescott–less sequel started on a strange note but at least gave Sidney a break after over two decades of being stalked by Ghostface. The film explains this with the line:
“I talked to Sydney. She’s not coming here, is she?”
“No, she sends her love, but she’s taking Mark and the kids someplace safe.”
So, at least they didn’t unfairly kill her off. The script went through a rewrite, focusing more on the young survivors from the prior film. This worked out well; the core four, Tara, Sam, Chad, and Mindy, have a great dynamic and feel like legitimate friends. Surviving a set of serial killers tends to do that.
Hayden Panettiere returned as Kirby, a fan favorite from Scream 4. Her survival had been teased, and now she’s an FBI agent trying to solve the new murders. A late addition to the cast was Tony Revolori as the opening Ghostface. He was friends with Mason Gooding, who convinced him to take the role. Although Revolori had never seen a Scream film or been into horror, he stood out in the opening.
Faking NYC
Scream VI follows the survivors of the prior film, now living in New York City and attending college. A new Ghostface targets them, leaving masks from past killers at the crime scenes. Who could be behind it? Will another legacy cast member be lost? While Scream 5 explored the dissection of legacy sequels, Scream VI takes a deeper look at horror franchises. As Mindy puts it: “Rule one: everything is bigger than last time. Rule two: whatever happened last time, expect the opposite. Rule three: no one is safe.”
Despite taking place in New York City, Scream VI was filmed in Montreal, Canada. Most of New York appears via inserts shot two days before Halloween, with recreations of iconic locations like corner bodegas and subway stations. The filmmakers avoided stereotypes, showing everyday city life. The subway was recreated practically, with no green screen, since using an actual car would have damaged the stage floor.
The film includes cameos of killers like Michael Myers, Pinhead, Freddy Krueger, and even the Babadook. Legal concerns initially blocked their appearances, but they were allowed as long as the characters didn’t act in ways they’re known for—standing still was enough, and it made for a fun moment. The bodega scene drew controversy for featuring Ghostface with a shotgun. Matthew Lillard, original Scream star, commented, “Scream VI to me is too violent. I don’t really understand Ghostface running around with a shotgun. Personally, that’s not clever.”
For the filmmakers, the scene subverted expectations, emphasizing a real threat. Jason and Greg’s apartment uses the same set as the core’s apartment, with some walls and doors moved. Movie magic.
The film features Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (which was primarily filmed in Vancouver) playing on a TV during a key scene, and the murder board showcasing killers from past films required permission from every actor. Props and wardrobe from the franchise were recreated entirely, including the fax machine explosion from Scream 3 and robes for every Ghostface. It’s a true smorgasbord of Scream history.
Ghostface Reveal
The old-school movie theater in the film replaced a warehouse idea, distinguishing it from Scream 2’s ending. The Ghostface reveal involves Richie Kirsch’s family seeking revenge on Sam for killing their son. Dermot Mulroney’s third-act role was key to getting him on board, and Jack Quaid returns as the former Ghostface, Richie Kirsch, showing his obsession with the Stab series. Fun detail: the font in Richie’s fan film matches Twin Peaks.
Jack Champion also appeared in the Ghostface costume prior to the reveal, a moment he begged to film as a horror fan. Tim Robinson appears as Quinn’s boyfriend in a quirky voice cameo.
Brian Tyler returned to compose the score, joined by Sven Faulconer. Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park contributed “In My Head” for the opening, and he also worked with Demi Lovato on the end song “Still Alive.”
Scream VI released in the United States on March 10th, 2023, bringing in $44.4 million on opening weekend, the largest in the franchise’s history. Its worldwide total reached nearly $170 million. It was a bona fide hit, loved by audiences and critics alike, earning a 77% critic score and 90% audience rating.
Unfortunately, this film marked the end of the Samantha and Tara Carpenter storyline before Scream 7 began production. Melissa Barrera was fired due to political statements, while Ortega demanded a high salary and sought to move on. Rumor has it Ortega left before Barrera was even off the project. Hopefully, we’ll learn more when exploring what happened to Scream 7 with Kevin Williamson returning.
For the first time in the director’s chair, we’ll see if Scream 7 lives up to the prior films or ends a franchise spanning 30 years. For now, Scream VI serves as a great sendoff for Sam and Tara. Oh, what could have been.
But that is what happened to Scream VI.
A couple of previous episodes of this show can be seen below. For more, check out the JoBlo Horror Originals YouTube channel—and don’t forget to subscribe!
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