Courteney Cox Says ‘Scream 6′ Was the First Time She Fought Ghostface and Didn’t Know Who Was Under the Mask

When Scream was released in December 1996, nobody could have anticipated that it would become one of the most popular and long-standing slasher franchises of all time. Despite a lackluster opening weekend, the horror film, which introduced a mysterious killer in a Ghostface Halloween costume, went on to become a hit making household names of its talented cast of actors, including Courteney Cox and Drew Barrymore.This week, the sixth installment of this iconic horror franchise hits theaters, 26 years after the release of the first movie.To mark the release, here’s a look at the original Scream cast who started it all and where they are now.

“Scream VI” is currently in theaters, after opening to the biggest first weekend in the franchise’s history.Set in New York City and following the survivors of 2022’s “Scream” (including Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega) as they encounter yet another crazed madman (or madmen) in a Ghostface mask. But what is this killer’s connection to earlier murders and what do previous survivors Gale Weathers (Courtney Cox) and Kirby Reed (Hayden Panettiere) have to do with this mystery?TheWrap talked with directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett about your burning questions, including going in depth on the opening sequence, the absence of Neve Campbell (over a salary dispute) and how heavily “Scream 2” loomed over this movie.Major spoilers for “Scream 6” follow; if you haven’t watched the movie yet, turn back now.Let’s start at the beginning with the cold open. Can you take me through the process of developing that sequence?Tyler Gillett: What is surprising and entertaining in the viewing of it, that was the experience we had reading it.

A scary movie icon! While the original Scream premiered in 1996, many stars have taken on the role of Ghostface in the franchise’s many sequels.

Scream franchise.After the quasi-reboot of Scream (2022), the sixth entry switches location from Woodsboro to New York with a new set of meta horror movie rules to abide by.Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, Scream VI set a new record for the franchise at the domestic box office, taking $44.5million (£36.6million) in its opening weekend.It’s the first instalment to not feature Neve Campbell aka Sidney Prescott, who turned down a role in the sequel over a pay dispute.A sequel to Scream VI is yet to be officially confirmed, but its success at the box office suggests another entry will likely be on the cards.The directors have also expressed their “hope” in seeing the Scream franchise continue. “We want to be watching Scream movies whether we’re involved or not for the rest of our lives,” Bettinelli-Olpin told Deadline.As Scream 7 hasn’t been confirmed yet, there isn’t a release date.Any potential seventh instalment however could be turned around pretty quickly, considering Scream VI released 14 months after its predecessor.

Scream VI has been released – check it out below.Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, the slasher sequel takes place one year after the events of previous instalment Scream (2022) and transports masked villain Ghostface from Woodsboro to New York.Melissa Barrera, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Jenna Ortega, Hayden Panettiere and Courteney Cox all reprise their roles, who join newcomers Jack Champion, Henry Czemy, Liana Liberato, Josh Segarra and Samara Weaving.It marks the first Scream movie not to feature Neve Campbell aka Sidney Prescott, who turned down a role in the sequel over a pay dispute.The Scream VI score is composed by Brian Tyler (Iron Man 3) and Sven Faulconer. You can stream the entire 38-song album below.The film’s soundtrack features songs by other artists – which includes a new track by Demi Lovato titled ‘Still Alive’, co-written and produced by Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda.You can check out the full list of songs featured in Scream VI below.In a four-star review, NME wrote: “Scream VI isn’t perfect: the constant meta references felt inventive in last year’s reboot, but here grow tiresome….

The franchise first launched in 1996 from screenwriter Kevin Williamson and the late director Wes Craven. Five sequels and nearly 30 years later, Ghostface is more popular now than ever -- thanks in part to the new creative team, Radio Silence, who took over ahead of last year’s successful reboot.Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillet, most known for their witty 2019 slasher, were at the helm again for an Easter egg-filled sixth entry, and this time they held nothing back as they moved the action from Woodsboro to New York City.In, Ghostface targets the core four survivors — Samantha Carpenter (Melissa Barrera), her sister, Tara (Jenna Ortega), and twins Mindy and Chad Meeks-Martin (Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding, respectively) — who were first introduced in (2022). This time, they're joined by a new group of friends played by Devyn Nekoda, Jack Champion, Josh Segarra and Liana Liberato.For the first time in the 27-year franchise, Sidney Prescott does not appear in the film due to a salary dispute with actress Neve Campbell.

Scream 6 is the latest in the franchise, and fans rolled out to the theaters to find out who lives, who dies, and who is behind the Ghostface mask. This time around the franchise left Woodsboro, much like in Scream 2 and 3. The New York City setting was the perfect backdrop for the film as the busy streets, close-knit apartments, and subways add to the spooky setting.

interview with Inverse, “Scream” franchise newcomer Seggaro pitched an idea for “Scream 7”: “If they could find the way in for a Scream musical, make the audience laugh and also be a little scared? Let’s go!” Segarra suggested. “Who knows? Maybe Ghostface has some operatic talents that we don’t know about.”The movie stars Courtney Cox, Jenna Ortega, Melissa Barrera, Hayden Panettiere, Samara Weaving, Jack Champion, Mason Gooding and Liana Liberato.

With‘s Friday release via Paramount, Project X Entertainment principals James Vanderbilt, William Sherak and Paul Neinstein kick off a pivotal month for their indie production and financing company launched in 2019.

Jordan Moreau The sixth time may be the charm: “Scream VI” is heading toward what could be a franchise-high opening at the box office this weekend. The Paramount and Spyglass Media slasher movie made $5.7 million at the domestic box office in Thursday previews. It’s expanding from 3,125 domestic theaters to 3,675 on Friday. Nearly 27 years after the first “Scream” movie terrified moviegoers, the franchise is still going strong, thanks to last year’s reboot, or “requel,” also titled “Scream.” The 2022 “Scream” pulled in $3.5 million in Thursday previews in January 2022 before scaring up a solid $30 million opening weekend. “Scream 3,” released in 2000, years before some of the younger stars of the newest movie were born, holds the record for the franchise’s highest opening weekend with $34 million.

exited “Scream 6” over a salary dispute. The antagonist in all the films is a mask-wearing murderer named Ghostface.

Mason Gooding is opening up about the Scream franchise.

What is left of the old Woodsboro gang is back together, but this time leaving their horrific memories of battling the masked evil of Ghostface in return for college and a new life in New York City. They should have known better.

Courteney Cox brought her daughter, Coco Arquette, along to the New York premiere of "Scream VI" on Monday night. Coco, 18, donned a corset-style red dress paired with black platform heels, and Cox looked chic in a black blazer and sheer tights. The mother-daughter duo held hands on the red carpet and posed for photos.

The big news about “Scream VI,” if you’re maybe paying half attention to the franchise, is that Neve Campbell is no longer part of the series, at least not this sixth iteration, and she apparently misses it. “We were together over the weekend at a convention,” Skeet Ulrich, another former “Scream” alumni, told People this week.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Half a dozen movies in, and the bloodletting hasn’t eased up — or gotten less popular. “Scream VI,” the latest installment in the long-running horror series, looks to slash its way to new opening weekend heights at the box office. Paramount is releasing the film in 3,670 North American theaters on Friday. Based on early estimates, “Scream VI” is projected to debut to at least $35 million and as much as $40 million over the weekend. As of now, 2000’s “Scream 3” remains the franchise’s top opener with $34 million. Records aside, the newest entry is expected to improve upon the start of last year’s hit “Scream” (not to be confused with 1996’s “Scream”), which scored a solid $30 million debut in January. By bringing back franchise stars Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette — and adding in newcomers Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega and Dylan Minnette — to the quiet town of Woodsboro, 2022’s “Scream” earned positive reviews and ended its box office run with $81 million domestically and $137 million. Not too shabby, considering it cost $25 million and was released amid the omicron COVID surge.

Dressed to kill … literally! The cast of Scream 6 attended the film’s red carpet premiere in style. 

Courteney Cox brought a very special guest to the “Scream VI” New York City premiere on Monday night.

marks another chapter in the long-running meta slasher franchise created by Kevin Williamson, it's the first sequel not to feature two of the films' original stars, Neve Campbell and David Arquette. As Sidney Prescott and Dewey Riley, the two have faced off with several versions of Ghostface in the first five installments. However, proved to be Arquette's final film, with his character finally falling victim to the masked killer while Campbell opted not to return after a contract dispute.

Jenna Ortega reacts to Neve Campbell not returning to “Scream” for the first time for the upcoming sixth instalment in a new interview with Elle’s April 2023 issue.