The Scream franchise has spawned five hit films, with a sixth releasing on March 10th, as well as a Netflix series and Countless Sleepless Nights.
Residents of the small town of Woodsboro have been terrified of the mysterious masked ghost face that terrorizes its victims on the phone before picking them up one by one.
Various characters have donned the Ghostface mask throughout the film series, and their identities are eventually revealed.
The original, which poked fun at the horror genre, became an instant hit upon its release in 1996, with the franchise grossing over £700m worldwide.
Before the latest episode scares a whole new generation, Web takes a look at where the original cast is now….
horror! The Scream franchise has spawned five hit films, with a sixth releasing March 10, a Netflix series, and Countless Sleepless Nights (Drew Barrymore pictured in the 1996 original).
Danger! The residents of the small town of Woodsboro are afraid of the mysterious masked ghost face that picks off his victims one by one (pictured Courtney Cox).
Do not answer! Before the latest episode scares a whole new generation, Web takes a look at where the original cast is now… (Neve Campbell pictured)
Neve Campbell, Sydney Prescott
Neve, now 49, was 23 when she landed the role of high school student and protagonist Sidney in the hit slasher.
She was reportedly asked to audition after director Wes Craven saw her work on drama Party Of Five and sci-fi drama The Craft – believing she might be “innocent” in the central role .
Her performance as a persecuted schoolgirl whose late mother is key to the current killing spree has received critical acclaim. The film grossed £170m worldwide, making it the highest-grossing slasher film until 2018’s Halloween remake.
Neve starred in the sequel but only appeared briefly in the third film due to other commitments and she was only available for 20 days. As a result, the script was changed, reducing her screen time and focusing the story on other characters.
Then, after 11 years, Neve returned to the role in 2011 for the fourth part of the film and again in 2022 for its reboot.
Later that year, however, she shocked fans by announcing that she was leaving the franchise after 26 years, stating that the salary she was offered for a sixth film didn’t match the “worth” she was in brought in the hugely successful horror series.
Elsewhere, the actress has starred in Mad Men, House of Cards and is next set to star in upcoming sci-fi comedy Twisted Metal alongside Marvel’s Anthony Mackie.
Starring: Neve, now 49, was 23 when she landed the role of high school student and protagonist Sidney in the slasher hit (pictured left, 2022)
Murderer! Neve’s (left) performance as the haunted schoolgirl whose death is the key to the current hit series has received critical acclaim. The film grossed £170m worldwide, making it the highest-grossing slasher film up until the 2018 Halloween remake (originally 1996 starring Rose McGowan, pictured right).
Sequel: Neve later starred in the sequel, but due to other commitments, she only appeared briefly in the third film and she was only available for 20 days. As a result, the script was changed, reducing her screen time and focusing the story on other characters (pictured in 1997’s Scream 2).
Back again: After 11 years, Neve returned to the role in 2011 for the fourth part of the film and again in 2022 for the reboot (pictured in 2011’s Scream 4).
Shock! She later shocked fans by announcing she was leaving the franchise after 26 years, stating that the salary she was being offered for a sixth film did not match the “value” she was putting into the hugely successful horror series (pictured with actor husband JJ Field)
In 2011 she married British actor JJ Field, 45, with whom she shares sons Caspian, 11, and Raynor, 8.
Courteney Cox (Stormweather)
Courteney Cox, 58, was already a sitcom star on Friends when she was cast as ambitious and ruthless journalist Gale Weathers.
Originally sent to cover the murders, she soon becomes drawn into the drama as she is forced to fight for her life.
Courteney is the only star of the first Scream film to remain in the franchise until the new film.
Her ex-husband David Arquette, with whom she first became an item during the making of the original, featured in the first five pictures before he was killed and co-star Neve refused to return.
Star reckoning: Courteney Cox, 58, was already a sitcom star on Friends when she was cast as ambitious and ruthless journalist Gale Weathers
Last Woman Standing: Courteney is the only star of the first Scream film to remain in the franchise until the new film after the character was killed off by ex-husband David Arquette (pictured in the 1997 sequel).
Split: The couple met in the first film, were in a relationship in the second, and married with a child in the third (pictured in 2010)
Family: The couple now share 18-year-old daughter Coco
Cast: After her record nine-year stint as Monica Geller on the hit sitcom Friends, she starred in the shows Dirt, Cougar Town and Modern Family (pictured with Friends cast in 2002).
The couple met in the first film, were in a relationship in the second, and married and had a child in the third.
However, the duo – who share 18-year-old daughter Coco – split in 2011 after 11 years together.
After the split, David claimed the decision wasn’t his to make after Courtney grew tired of his “crazy” ways, he told Us Weekly at the time.
After they worked together on the fifth film after their divorce, Courtney described it as “really funny.”
During an appearance in 2022 on Channel 10’s The Project, she said: “If we’ve done it before. I mean by Scream, of course, this is our fifth time now, but we’ve also played before. It’s really fun.’
But it was David’s response that led to a rather awkward on-air moment, as he responded, “Yeah, it’s great…”
Host Hamish McDonald was visibly uncomfortable with the reply, leading to a second of silence.
After a record nine-year stint as Monica Geller on the hit sitcom Friends, she starred in the shows Dirt, Cougar Town and Modern Family.
She has been in a relationship with Snow Patrol frontman Johnny McDaid, 46, since 2013.
David Arquette (Deputy Dewey Riley)
David, 51, melted hearts as a hapless detective trying his best to unravel the identity of the insane killer.
Before starring in the original film, he appeared in 1992’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as well as numerous sitcom appearances.
Unfortunately, his character was killed off in the 2022 reboot after years of evading the killer’s wrath.
Unlucky: David, 51, has melted hearts as a hapless detective trying his best to uncover the identity of the insane killer
Hapless: Before starring in the original film, he appeared in the 1992 film Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as well as numerous sitcom appearances (pictured with co-star Neve Campbell).
Heartbreak: Sadly, his character was killed off in the 2022 reboot after years of evading the wrath of the killer (pictured with Courteney Cox)
What?! Ever since Scream David married Christine McLarty, with whom he has two sons, and turned to wrestling, he has admitted that every time he stepped into the ring he was happy to put his life on the line
He recently admitted his sadness at not being able to reprise his famous role.
He told Comic Book Movie, “I know it was really sweet to see the reaction from the fans. It was hard. It was a project I really enjoyed being part of. They went off to do number six and I was like, ‘Oh, okay… It’s hard. It’s something very close to my heart, but I love how they handled it.
Ever since Scream David married Christine McLarty, with whom he has two sons, and turned to wrestling, he has admitted that every time he stepped into the ring he was happy to put his life on the line.
And in an exclusive 2019 interview with DailyMailTV, Arquette said he will not give up wrestling despite being close to death after sustaining a cut throat during a fight the previous year.
He also revealed that he’s been hospitalized more as a bar wrestler than in his entire life.
Drew Barrymore Casey Becker
First victim: Drew Barrymore, 49, became the first victim in the iconic opening scene of the 1996 original
Surprise! She revealed that despite being offered the lead role, she actually struggled to get a minor role in the film to defy audience expectations
Beginnings: After finding fame on ET at the age of eight, she suffered from addiction before making it big again in Hollywood
Angel! The beauty started her own production company and has starred in a slew of hits including Charlie’s Angels and The Wedding Singer (pictured in Charlie’s Angels with Lucy Liu (left) and Cameron Diaz (centre)
TV Queen: Since 2020 she has hosted her own extremely successful chat show on American television
Drew Barrymore, 49, became the first victim in the iconic opening scene of the 1996 original.
She revealed that despite being offered the lead role, she actually struggled to get a minor role in the film to defy audience expectations.
In an interview with First We Feast’s Hot Ones, she said, “In the horror film genre, my biggest annoyance was that I always knew the main character would always end up sauntering through, but would always end up crunching by and finishing it,'”.
“I wanted to remove that comfort zone. I asked if I could be Casey Becker so we could see that the rule doesn’t apply in this film.
After finding fame on ET at the age of six, she suffered from addiction before making it big again in Hollywood.
The beauty started her own production company, Flower Films, and has starred in a slew of hits, including Charlie’s Angels and The Wedding Singer.
Since 2020 she has hosted her own extremely successful talk show on American television.
Rose McGowan (Tatum Riley)
Slasher: Actress Rose, 49, played Sidney’s best friend Tatum, who died in a very horrific way and only appeared in the original
Making a name for herself: Following Rose’s (left) career turn in film, she starred in numerous ’90s films including Jawbreaker before being cast in 2001 fantasy drama Charmed
Speaking of which, in 2017 she accused now-disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein of sparking an avalanche of allegations across the entertainment industry and beyond
Actress Rose, 49, played Sidney’s best friend Tatum, who died a horrific death that only appeared in the original.
Following her career in film, she starred in numerous ’90s films, including Jawbreaker, before being cast in 2001 fantasy drama Charmed.
In 2017, she accused disgraced film mogul Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault, sparking an avalanche of allegations across the entertainment industry and beyond.
As the face of the #MeToo movement, she has written books and fought for sexual abusers to be held accountable for their actions.
Matthew LillardStu Macher
Killer actor: Mathew, 53, played Stu Macher in the first strip and even made a cameo in Scream 4 (despite his character’s violent death)
Family-friendly: Driving at full speed following the film’s success, he opted for more family-friendly fare, starring as Shaggy in 2002’s Scooby-Doo and its sequels
Working hard: The talented actor has more recently starred in Netflix’s ‘She’s All That Reboot’ as well as HBO’s Twin Peaks
Mathew, 53, played Stu Macher in the first strip and even made a cameo in Scream 4 (despite his character’s violent death).
After the film’s success, he went into overdrive and opted for a more family-friendly fare, starring as Shaggy in 2002’s Scooby-Doo and its sequels.
The talented actor has more recently starred in Netflix’s She’s All That Reboot and HBO’s Twin Peaks.
He shares daughters Addison and Macey and son Liam with his wife Heather Helm, whom he married in 2000.
Skeet UlrichBilly Loomis
Stu’s accomplice – and also Sidney’s boyfriend – came in the form of Billy, played by Skeet Ulrich, 53.
Villain: Stu’s accomplice – and also Sidney’s friend – came in the form of Billy, played by Skeet Ulrich, 53
Danger! Skeet made his mark on television, directing the cast of the apocalypse series Jericho from 2006-2008
Reunited: (LR) Skeet Ulrich, Matthew Lillard, Jamie Kennedy and Neve Campbell (pictured together in 2022)
Skeet made his mark on television, directing the cast of the apocalypse series Jericho from 2006-2008.
He next starred in Netflix’s smash hit series Riverdale as Jughead’s father, FP Jones, for four years through 2021.
He appeared via flashback in the Scream 2022 reboot, and it’s unclear if he’ll be doing the upcoming film.
Liev Schreiber (Cotton Tired)
Talented actor Liev, 55, has won an Emmy and a Tony Award after playing Cotton Weary in three Scream films.
Bigger and better things: Talented actor Liev, 55, has won an Emmy and a Tony Award after playing Cotton Weary in three Scream movies (pictured left in 2022)
Big Guns: In addition to starring as Ray Donovan (pictured) in the self-titled series, he has also appeared in Don’t Look Up, The French Dispatch and Spotlight
Love: He is now in a relationship with former pageant princess Taylor Neisen, 30 (pictured), after a long-term relationship with Oscar-nominated actress Naomi Watts, 54 – with whom he shares two sons
The character met her end in the third film when Liev starred in a slew of critically acclaimed films.
In addition to playing Ray Donovan in the self-titled series, he has also appeared in Don’t Look Up, The French Dispatch, and Spotlight.
He is now in a relationship with former pageant princess Taylor Neisen, 30, after Oscar-nominated actress Naomi Watts, 54 – with whom he has two sons.
Jamie Kennedy Randy Meeks
Sketch comedian Jamie, 52, brought a lighter side to the franchise in the form of horror film enthusiast Randy.
Comedian: Sketch comedian Jamie, 52, brought a lighter side to the franchise in the form of horror film enthusiast Randy (left, pictured in 2023).
Exit: The character was instrumental in satirizing the genre before sadly being killed off in the sequel
Red carpet: He hasn’t garnered much attention in his film work in recent years, but continues to tour and hosts his own podcast (pictured in 2019)
The character was instrumental in satirizing the genre before sadly being killed off in the sequel.
He starred in numerous comedy films and worked as a sand-up before being cast in Ghost Whisperer and dating star Jennifer Love-Hewitt for a year in 2018.
He hasn’t garnered much attention with his film work in recent years, but continues to tour and host his own podcast.
Scream IV hits theaters on March 10th