Campbell’s 2024 return to the Scream The franchise comes after she first announced in 2022 that she wouldn’t be returning to Woodsboro for 2023’s. Scream VI over a pay dispute.

It was a significant change for the veteran cast members, who had been working alongside Campbell for almost 30 years.

And amid Scream VI‘s cinematic release in March, actress Melissa Barrera publicly stood up for Campbell and applauded her decision.

speaking with PeopleBarrera did admit it was “weird” not having the 49-year-old star back for the sixth franchise installment, but said her stance was “very brave” and “important”.

“As a woman I have had to work extremely hard in my career to establish my value, especially when it comes to Scream, I felt the offer that was presented to me did not equate to the value I have brought to the franchise,” Campbell, who had starred as the franchise’s main character Sidney Prescott since 1996, said in 2022.

“This job requires so much of us, not only physically (but) mentally and emotionally. You need to feel like it’s worth it,” Barrera told. People in March 2023.

“A part of it is: Are you getting compensated fairly for what you think you’re putting into the work? If you don’t, you’re going to be miserable, so you shouldn’t do it. I always applaud her. .”

Barrera said she and Campbell have “become really close friends” and that Campbell sent her a “really sweet text” ahead of Scream VI starting filming.

Campbell, meanwhile, hasn’t completely ruled out her involvement with the franchise all together.

“I don’t know that I’m done for good,” Campbell told People in 2022.

“It would really depend on what they came to me with next. It would have to be different. It would have to be a different attitude, and I’m not sure that’s going to happen,” she said.

“If they came to me with a number that felt right, that felt respectful, that felt in keeping with my value that I brought to the franchise, I’d be willing to consider.”