Neve Campbell has shared that she’s “grateful” her previous concerns about “pay discrepancy” were listened to during negotiations for Scream 7.
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The actor confirmed this week that, after expressing doubts that a man in her role would be offered the same deal, Spyglass Media Group came to her with a “strong” offer for the latest instalment in the classic slasher franchise.
Campbell had previously stepped down from the franchise around the time of Scream VI following a pay dispute, with many of her co-stars supporting her decision.
However, it was reported in November that Spyglass had been trying to bring her back for Scream 7 as part of a “creative overhaul”, and the scream queen has since announced that she will reprise her role as Sidney Prescott.
In 2022, the actor told People: “I honestly don’t believe that if I were a man and had done five instalments 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.”
However, she’s since expressed her gratitude that the approach to negotiations was totally different this time around.
“I’m really grateful that the studio heard me when I talked about pay discrepancy and when I talked about [Scream VI negotiations] not feeling respectful,” she told People in a new interview.
“When they first approached me [for Scream 7], I thought, ‘I don’t know what respectful looks like to them. We might be in very different places.’ But they started out in a strong place, so that was lovely.”
She added that the studio’s starting offer changed her perspective on the opportunity to return to her iconic character.
“It feels nice to have put that out into the world and to have been listened to and to have made a difference in that way,” she said. “I hope other people get that opportunity too.”
The actor will be reprising her role as Sidney Prescott in the new film, and it comes after director Christopher Landon dropped out. Jenna Ortega also announced she would not be returning due to other scheduling commitments.
Her departure made headlines because co-star Melissa Barrera had recently been dropped from Scream VII after posting on Instagram in support of Palestine. The actor has since opened up about feeling “lonely and scared” after the dismissal, but previously said she is “at peace” with how things conspired.
Campbell first announced her return to the franchise in an Instagram post earlier this year, writing: “My appreciation for these films and for what they have meant to me, has never waned.”