The cast for Scream 6 the next installment of the recently revived Scream film franchise is coming together nicely. Paramount recently confirmed that the new surviving cast members from 2022’s hit sequel, Scream, are returning for the new film. Now, as first noted by The Hollywood Reporter, Heroes star Hayden Panettiere is confirmed to reprise her role from 2011’s Scream 4 as Kirby Reed in the planned Scream 6.
It was previously announced that Scream stars Melissa Barrera (Sam), Jenna Ortega (Tara), Jasmin Savoy Brown (Mindy), and Mason Gooding (Chad) would be returning for the upcoming Scream 6. Now Hayden Panettiere is the latest confirmed cast member. Principal production on the sequel is slated to start early this summer.
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Following Scream 4’s lackluster box office performance, the franchise went to television for a while before it was given another chance with this year’s film, which saw Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, and David Arquette all reprise their longstanding roles for the horror-slasher franchise. The gamble proved to be a success, with the film garnering largely positive reviews, and it grossed $81 million at the domestic box office, with a total of $140 million in worldwide receipts.
HAYDEN PANETTIERE RETURNING TO SCREAM 6 AS KIRBY REED
Interestingly enough, for years, fans were left wondering about Kirby’s fate in the fourth movie. She was attacked and left for dead by one of the Ghostface killers, but her death was never confirmed. However, it was confirmed in the latest sequel that she was a surviving victim of the latest spate of Ghostface killings. In short, Kirby Reed lives.
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Plot details are currently being kept quiet. However, a recent Paramount press release stated that the new installment will see the aforementioned “four survivors of the Ghostface killings as they leave Woodsboro behind and start a new fresh chapter.”
Scream (2022) and Ready or Not filmmakers Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett are back on board for the sequel, along with writers James Vanderbilt and Guy Busic, who co-wrote the last movie. Vanderbilt, Paul Neinstein, and William Sherak are producing the film for Project X Entertainment. Original Scream writer and creator Kevin Williamson and Radio Silence’s Chad Villela are executive producing the project, along with Spyglass Media’s Gary Barger, Peter Oillataguerre, Ron Lynch, Cathy Konrad, and Marianne Maddalena.
Panettiere recently finished her run on the hit series Nashville as Juliette Barnes, which ran for six seasons. She is likely best known to fans for her role as Claire Bennet in Heroes. She has also done work in the video game space, appearing in the cinematic, horror game, Until Dawn, released in 2015. She’s also voiced the characters of Kairi and Xion in the Kingdom Hearts series.
Fans of the horror series were likely very happy that they were finally given some closure on Kirby’s fate in the fourth movie. However, now that the franchise alum is back in play for the sequel, Kirby’s life could very well be put in jeopardy again. As the last movie showed, not even OG characters were completely safe in a new movie setting.
Scream 6 is due out in theaters on March 31, 2023. Fans can also check out the latest film on Digital 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and streaming for Paramount+.
What do you think of the casting news? Are you happy to see Hayden Panettiere as Kirby return to the franchise with Scream 6 Let us know what you think on our social media.
SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter
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