The queen of Scream sass is coming back as Hayden Panettiere is joining the cast of Scream 6, as revealed by The Hollywood Reporter.
This news comes only shortly after Melissa Barrera, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, and Jenna Ortega were announced as returning for the follow-up to this year’s revival. The young new stars stole the show in the latest installment and look to do it again with the returning Panettiere.
Fans of the franchise have willed this comeback into existence. In a director’s commentary, the late Wes Craven teased that Kirby wasn’t dead as we never saw her take her final breath on camera. Since then, the fandom has clamored for her return. Eagle-eyed fans noticed she was featured in an Easter egg on Dewey’s computer in an early scene. Panettiere’s Kirby was one of the most beloved characters, and her return feels like the perfect amount of fan service.
Kirby’s survivor story will fit perfectly with the stories of Barrera’s Sam, Jasmin Savoy Brown’s Mindy, Mason Gooding’s Chad, and Jenna Ortega’s Tara, who are the remaining friend group of the last Ghostface attack, while Panettiere’s Kirby is the only Scream 4 survivor remaining.
The studios behind Scream remain secretive but teased that this film “continues with the four survivors of the Ghostface killings as they leave Woodsboro behind and start afresh chapter.” Principal photography is slated to start this summer. James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick will co-write the screenplay, while Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett return as directors.
2022’s Scream is currently streaming on Paramount+.
