If you’ve spent any time at all watching slashers over the last thirty years, you know the face. That mix of "I’m exhausted by this" and "I will absolutely hit you with a television." It belongs to Sidney Prescott, the ultimate survivor of the Scream franchise. But while the character is a fictional legend, the woman behind the role is very real.
Who plays Sidney in Scream? That would be Neve Campbell.
Honestly, it’s hard to imagine anyone else in those high-waisted 90s jeans. Campbell has inhabited the role since Wes Craven’s original masterpiece debuted in 1996. Since then, she’s been the emotional anchor of a series that constantly tries to deconstruct itself. She isn't just an actress playing a part; she basically is the DNA of the franchise.
The Canadian Queen of Horror
Before she was dodging Ghostface, Neve Campbell was actually a dancer. She trained at the National Ballet School of Canada, which probably explains why she’s so good at the physical demands of a final girl. Most people at the time knew her from the TV drama Party of Five, where she played Julia Salinger.
When Scream came along, the producers were actually looking at some massive names. Drew Barrymore was originally the one who was supposed to play Sidney. Think about how different the movie would have been! Barrymore eventually decided she wanted to play Casey Becker instead—the girl in the opening scene—because she thought it would be more shocking for a huge star to die in the first ten minutes.
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That opened the door for Campbell. She brought a specific kind of grounded, relatable "girl next door" energy that made the horror feel way more personal. You weren't just watching a victim; you were watching a friend fight for her life.
Why Neve Campbell Wasn't in Scream VI
For a while there, things got pretty messy behind the scenes. If you watched 2023’s Scream VI and felt like something was missing, you weren't wrong. Sidney Prescott was nowhere to be found.
Campbell famously walked away from the sixth movie because of a massive pay dispute. She was very vocal about it, too. She basically said that the offer she received didn't reflect the value she had brought to the franchise for over 25 years.
"I honestly don't believe that if I were a man and had done five installments of a huge blockbuster franchise over 25 years, that the number that I was offered would be the number that would be offered to a man," Campbell told People.
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It was a huge moment for pay equity in Hollywood. Fans were pretty split—some were bummed she wasn't there, while others totally respected her for standing her ground. The movie explained her absence by saying Sidney had finally taken her family and gone into hiding to stay safe. It worked for the plot, but the "legacy" feel just wasn't the same.
The Big Return: Scream 7 in 2026
The good news? The studio finally stepped up. As of right now, Neve Campbell is officially back for Scream 7. It sounds like the producers realized that a Scream movie without Sidney Prescott is like a Halloween movie without Michael Myers—it just feels a bit off.
The seventh film, which is slated for a February 2026 release, is actually being directed by Kevin Williamson. If that name sounds familiar, it's because he wrote the original Scream. It feels like a massive "back to basics" move for the series.
What we know about Sidney’s return:
- The Paycheck: Campbell confirmed the studio approached her in a "respectful way" this time.
- The Story: Early reports suggest the movie will focus heavily on Sidney’s life as a mother. Isabel May is set to play her daughter.
- The Vibe: With Williamson directing, expect a lot of that classic 90s suspense mixed with modern meta-commentary.
More Than Just a Scream Queen
It’s easy to pigeonhole Neve Campbell as just "the girl from Scream," but she’s had a pretty wild career outside of Woodsboro.
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- The Craft (1996): She played Bonnie, one of the four teenage witches. If you haven't seen this, go watch it immediately. It’s peak 90s aesthetic.
- Wild Things (1998): This was a huge departure for her. It’s a twisty, neo-noir thriller that definitely shed her "innocent" image.
- The Lincoln Lawyer: More recently, she’s been killing it on Netflix as Maggie McPherson.
- House of Cards: She had a great run as political consultant Leann Harvey.
Even with all those roles, Sidney remains her most iconic. She’s played the character across four different decades. That’s almost unheard of in the horror genre. Most final girls get one or two movies before they're replaced or killed off. Sidney just keeps surviving.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re looking to catch up before the 2026 release of Scream 7, here is your "survival" homework.
Don't just watch the movies in order—try to look for the evolution of Sidney's character. In the first movie, she's a victim. By the third, she’s a recluse. By the fifth, she’s essentially a legendary warrior who doesn't have time for Ghostface’s nonsense.
Watch List for Sidney Fans:
- Scream (1996): The origin story. Essential.
- Scream 3 (2000): Often criticized, but it has some of the best "Sidney vs. the Past" moments.
- Scream (2022): Watch her pass the torch to the new generation (and see her interact with Gale Weathers again).
- The Lincoln Lawyer (Netflix): To see what Neve is doing when she's not being chased by a guy in a mask.
Keep an eye out for more casting news as we get closer to 2026. Rumors are already swirling about other legacy characters returning, and with Neve back at the helm, the hype is actually real this time.