It’s been twenty-six years since that Ghostface parody first sliced through a movie screen. Remember that? The year 2000 was a weird time for cinema. We were all obsessed with Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer, and then out comes this raunchy, absolutely relentless spoof that changed the trajectory of the scary movie 1 cast forever. Honestly, nobody expected a movie where a guy gets killed by a sneaker to become a $278 million global phenomenon.
But it did.
And while you might still see some of these faces on your TV every night, other members of the original crew kinda just... drifted into different worlds. From massive sitcom stardom to wildlife conservation, the paths they took are actually pretty wild. Let's look at where everyone ended up as we head into 2026, especially with those rumors of a reunion finally turning into reality.
The Queen of the Franchise: Anna Faris
Anna Faris was a total unknown when she landed the role of Cindy Campbell. She was fresh out of college, living in Washington, and suddenly she’s the lead of a massive studio movie. It’s hard to overstate how much her career exploded. She didn't just play Cindy; she was the heart of the first four movies.
After she hung up the Scary Movie ghost-hunting boots, she became a massive name in her own right. You probably know her from The House Bunny or her long-running CBS sitcom Mom, where she played Christy Plunkett for seven seasons. She also launched a super successful podcast called Anna Faris is Unqualified.
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Here’s the thing though—fans have been begging for her to come back to the horror parody world for years. As of early 2026, the news is finally official: Anna is set to return for Scary Movie 6. It’s a huge deal for the fans who grew up on the original trilogy. She’s mentioned in interviews that her only real condition for returning was that Regina Hall had to be there too.
Brenda Meeks Herself: Regina Hall
If Anna Faris was the heart, Regina Hall was the soul (and the funniest person on screen). Brenda Meeks is arguably the most quoted character in the entire franchise. "Cindy, the TV is leaking!" is basically etched into the DNA of early 2000s comedy.
Regina Hall’s career after the scary movie 1 cast initial run is arguably one of the most impressive transitions in Hollywood. She didn't get pigeonholed. She went from broad comedy to serious, critically acclaimed roles. She was incredible in Support the Girls and Nine Perfect Strangers. She even co-hosted the Oscars in 2022.
She’s currently in post-production for the sixth installment of the franchise, reuniting with the Wayans brothers and Faris. Seeing Brenda back on screen in 2026 is going to be a massive moment for nostalgia-driven box office numbers.
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The Architects: Marlon and Shawn Wayans
We can’t talk about the cast without the guys who actually wrote the thing. Marlon Wayans (Shorty Meeks) and Shawn Wayans (Ray Wilkins) were the driving force behind the first two films.
Marlon is a workhorse. Seriously. Since 2000, he’s done everything from White Chicks to serious drama like Requiem for a Dream. Most recently, he’s been doing big things with Netflix, like The Curse of Bridge Hollow. Shawn has been a bit quieter on the acting front in recent years, focusing more on producing, writing, and his stand-up tours.
The big news for 2026 is that the brothers are officially back. After years of the franchise being handled by others, they’ve teamed up with Miramax and Paramount to reboot the series. It’s like a homecoming for the original creative team.
The Rest of the Crew: Where are they now?
It wasn't just the leads who made the movie work. The supporting scary movie 1 cast was a "who's who" of turn-of-the-century talent.
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- Shannon Elizabeth (Buffy Gilmore): After her iconic run in American Pie and Scary Movie, Shannon took a bit of a turn away from the Hollywood spotlight. She’s now a huge advocate for animal rights. She runs the Shannon Elizabeth Foundation, which focuses on rhino conservation in South Africa. She still acts occasionally, but her heart is clearly with the animals these days.
- Jon Abrahams (Bobby Prinze): Jon played Cindy’s "totally not the killer" boyfriend. Since then, he’s become a prolific indie director and actor. You might have seen him in House of Wax or his own directorial projects like All at Once. He’s stayed consistently busy, even if he isn't a tabloid fixture.
- Lochlyn Munro (Greg Phillippe): Lochlyn is one of those actors who is in everything. If you watch Riverdale, you know him as Hal Cooper. He has over 250 credits to his name. He’s the definition of a successful working actor.
- Carmen Electra (Drew Decker): Carmen’s opening scene parody of Drew Barrymore is legendary. She became a staple of the parody genre, appearing in Date Movie, Epic Movie, and Disaster Movie. Today, she’s still a huge media personality and recently launched her own beauty line.
- Cheri Oteri (Gail Hailstorm): The SNL legend was perfect as the cutthroat reporter. She continues to do amazing voice work and guest spots on shows like The Goldbergs.
Why the Original Cast Still Matters
There is a specific chemistry in the first Scary Movie that the later sequels (3, 4, and especially 5) struggled to replicate. The original cast had this weird, manic energy that felt dangerous and fresh. They weren't just making fun of movies; they were creating characters that people actually liked.
As of January 2026, the industry is seeing a massive shift back toward "theatrical comedy." For a long time, studios thought comedies were dead at the box office. But with the announcement of the original scary movie 1 cast members returning for a new film, the hype is proving that people want to laugh in a crowded theater again.
What You Can Do Next
If you’re feeling nostalgic, here is how you can catch up with the crew before the new movie drops in June 2026:
- Watch the Original: It’s currently streaming on most major platforms like Paramount+ and Max. It holds up surprisingly well, though some of the jokes are definitely "of their time."
- Listen to "Unqualified": Check out Anna Faris’ podcast. She often has old co-stars on, and the episodes with Regina Hall are gold.
- Check out the Indie Projects: Look up Jon Abrahams' directorial work or Regina Hall’s performance in Master (2022) to see how much they’ve grown as artists.
The legacy of the scary movie 1 cast isn't just about a silly spoof. It’s about a group of young actors who took a big risk on a weird script and ended up defining a whole sub-genre of comedy for a generation. Whether they’re saving rhinos or winning awards, they’ve all carved out pretty incredible lives since that "What's Up!" phone call in 2000.