Scream fans were overjoyed when it was revealed that Hayden Panettiere would reprise her role as Kirby Reed in the next sequel, despite appearing to die in the fourth film.
In the fourth instalment, her role became a fan favourite, co-starring with Emma Roberts, Rory Culkin, and adored originals Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette.
Despite appearing to die at the hands of Ghostface in 2011, a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Easter Egg in 2022’s Scream 5 indicated Kirby’s survival, with management announcing her return to the fold last year.
In a new interview following the teaser revelation, the 33-year-old couldn’t stop gushing about her role.
‘She’s come a long way,’ she said. ‘What happened to her has obviously impacted her life, and it sends her in a certain direction, but she’s still the same old Kirby at the heart of it. She’s just a little older, a little wiser, but just as spitfire-y, and snarky, and all that good stuff.’
Despite her return as a “veteran,” Hayden admitted that she felt “left out” within the new Woodsboro gang, having previously only worked with Courteney.

‘Yeah, I felt a little left out,’ the former Nashville star continued to Entertainment Weekly. ‘It’s true. I did feel a little like I had to find my way back into the new group because that crew had done the prior film. But they were all so welcoming.
‘It was interesting, they made me part of their family that I had already been a part of. [Laughs] So it was like an estranged aunt came back into the fold!’
Courteney is set to return alongside Jenna Ortega, Melissa Barrera, Jasmin Savoy Brown, and Mason Gooding in Scream VI, which is set to be released on March 10.
There are also some new figures to assist – or hinder – the gang in New York as they attempt to escape Ghostface’s grasp.
Some of the names eager to cause havoc include Samara Weaving, Dermot Mulroney, Tony Revolori, and Jack Champion.
Melissa recently previewed the sixth instalment of the slasher movie, stating that filmmakers Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett increased the blood and terror.
‘There was a saying on set because Matt and Tyler were always asking for more blood and more sweat,’ she told Collider. ‘They always just wanted more. “More blood spritz” was the saying because they would just always want more.’
‘With the last Scream, they were tip-toeing and trying to be very respectful of what the franchise had been up until that point and keeping their inner gory dreams at bay.
‘But with this one, they were like, “We’re going all out.”’
We’re already terrified.
Scream 6 will be released in cinemas on March 10.