Neve Campbell steps out for first time after quitting Scream 6 over salary

Neve Campbell has been pictured out for the first time after dramatically revealing that she will be bowing over of Scream 6 following a dispute regarding her salary.

The 48-year-old actress was pictured in Los Angeles on Monday, just as she had revealed a statement confirming that she has quit the slasher movie franchise after 26 years. 

Appearing to come to her defense over the decision was co-star David Arquette – who plays Dwight ‘Dewey’ Riley in the series – as he called the situation ‘unfortunate.’ 

Slashed: Neve Campbell steps out for first time after quitting Scream 6 over salary… as co-star David Arquette says the movie ‘without Sidney is unfortunate’

‘I’d love for her to be a part of it,’ David told ComicBook.com. ‘A Scream movie without Sidney is kind of unfortunate, but I understand her decision.’

‘It’s all a business in a way, they have to balance all these elements to fit a budget and produce a film. I get it, she’s still alive! She [can] absolutely be in future ones, but I think it’s up to fans to call for that in the future.

He concluded: ‘That is sudden, it’s a business, though. I respect her decision, for sure.’

Yesterday, Campbell effectively bowed out of the sixth installment, saying: ‘Sadly I won’t be making the next Scream film.’

Stepping out: The 48-year-old actress was pictured in Los Angeles on Monday, just as she had revealed a statement confirming that she has quit the slasher movie franchise after 26 years

Support: David Arquette – who plays Dwight ‘Dewey’ Riley – called the situation ‘unfortunate’ (Pictured above with Neve and Courteney Cox at the Scream 4 premiere in 2011) 

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‘As a woman I have had to work extremely hard in my career to establish my value, especially when it comes to Scream,’ she explained.

Hinting at issues surrounding her salary she added: ‘I felt the offer that was presented to me did not equate to the value I have brought to the franchise.’

‘It’s been a very difficult decision to move on. To all my Scream fans, I love you. You’ve always been so incredibly supportive to me. I’m forever grateful to you and to what this franchise has given me over the past 25 years,’ she concluded. 

Campbell, 48, has played protagonist Sidney Prescott in all five of the Scream movies since 1996, having most recently reprised the role in the reboot that was released this year. 

The most recent revival of the movie brought back original stars Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette – and made $140million at the box office against a $24million budget. 

Production for the sixth slasher film is expected to begin this summer and Cox is still attached to reprise her role as Gale Weathers. 

Cox, 57,  will be joined by newcomers from the latest reboot, Melissa Barrera (Sam), Jasmin Savoy Brown (Mindy), Mason Gooding (Chad) and Jenna Ortega (Tara). 

Main attraction: Campbell, 48, has played Sidney Prescott in all five of the Scream movies (pictured above with Rose McGowan in the original 1996 movie) 

Campbell previously told Entertainment Tonight that she was unsure about returning for the sixth film saying: ‘I don’t know if I am,’ adding that she ‘can’t get into it.’ 

In stark contrast, Cox told ET that the script for the film is ‘really good.’

‘I don’t know about contracts and where things are, but I’ll tell you in the script — it’s a really good one,’ the Friends star said. 

The 1996 original directed by Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson was credited with reviving the slasher genre as a huge box office draw. 

It grossed $173million in the US against a $15million budget. 

Reprised: Neve is pictured in the most recent reboot of Scream – the fifth installment which was released this year 

A better deal? Meanwhile Courteney Cox is expected to reprise her role as Gale Weathers

It has been reported that Campbell was paid $1,500,000 for the first movie, $3,500,000 for the second, and $4,000,000 for the third. 

It is not clear how much she made from the fourth and fifth installment of the franchise, though it is commonplace in Hollywood to strike ‘back end deals’ when it comes to salaries. 

A back-end deal usually sees the main star lower their salary fee in exchange for a percentage of the box office receipts, which for something like Scream would prove very lucrative. 

Campbell previously expressed doubt over returning to franchise following the death of Wes Craven who passed away in 2015. 

Following news of Campbell’s departure, film critic Chris Evangelista tweeted: ‘SCREAM belongs to Neve Campbell. They should be paying her pretty much whatever she wants at this point.’ 

Classic: The 1996 original directed by Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson was credited with reviving the slasher genre as a huge box office draw (Scream 2 pictured above)

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Filmmaker Julie Cohen wrote: ‘I’m too chickensh*t to watch the Scream movies. But even I know that there is no Scream without Neve Campbell.’

Elizabeth Wagmeister said ‘good for her’ and pointed out that horror films are ‘generally low budget & make a killing. Curious if Neve’s statement will generate enough outrage to force the studio’s hand.’

Meanwhile, an insider claimed to The Blast that filmmakers were not expecting Campbell to drop out and will now need to make significant changes to the script. 

Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett are now said to be revising the script and hoping that it will not be delayed, according to the unnamed insider.