This article contains spoilers for Scream.Wes Craven's 1996 hit Scream changed the face of horror and revolutionized the slasher genre. The franchise follows Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), a teenager who becomes the target of a series of murders inspired by horror movies. The Scream saga was originally a trilogy, but due to the success of the films, a fourth installment was released in 2011. Scream 4 featured a whole new set of characters, along with the return of the three main characters from the original trilogy: Sidney, Dewey Riley (David Arquette), and Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox).

Nearly a decade later, the fifth installment (simply titled Scream) debuted in 2022 and was a box-office hit, with over $140 million on a $24 million budget, and actually dethroned Spider-Man: No Way Home at the box office after its epic reign. Though some controversial changes were made to the franchise (killing off major character Dewey, for example), fans flocked to see the return of Sidney and Ghostface. With Scream 6 set to release on March 31, 2023, let's take a look at the cast of the latest film and explore who you can expect to see in the new installment.

Courteney Cox as Gale Weathers

As the only returning legacy cast member, Gale Weathers will once again be front and center in Scream 6. Gale is a cutthroat reporter who's always on the hunt for a good story, even if it means putting herself in danger. In previous films, she was instrumental in helping Sidney defeat Ghostface, and it's safe to say that she'll be just as important in the upcoming installment.

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Though she'll be working with a new set of characters, Cox is no stranger to the Scream franchise. Fans have watched Gale grow from a "Total Entertainment" reporter to hosting her own morning show while also navigating her often complicated relationship with Dewey. As the only character among the iconic three to reprise their role in Scream 6, many are eager to see how she'll fare in the latest installment.

Jenna Ortega as Tara Carpenter

One of the most popular scream queens of the moment, Jenna Ortega is set to return as Tara Carpenter in Scream 6. Ortega plays a high school student in the fifth installment who takes the Drew Barrymore horror role in the opening scene. However, she's one of the few characters to ever survive an encounter with Ghostface, so she becomes a key figure in the investigation to unmask the killer.

With her own best friend, Amber, revealing herself as one of the killers, there are numerous questions surrounding her character going into Scream 6. The film is set to take place in New York City, with most of the returning characters attending a college, "Blackmore University." Will Tara's family ties to the Ghostface legacy again make her a target, or will the killer set their sights on someone else?

Melissa Barrera as Sam Carpenter

Another anticipated return is that of Melissa Barrera as Sam Carpenter. Barrera plays Tara's sister and shockingly reveals that she is the daughter of the original killer, Billy Loomis. If that wasn't enough, she suffers from hallucinations of her dead father, leaving many questioning her motives and whether she can be trusted.

Many view Barrera as symbolically taking the torch from Campbell as the new "final girl." Barrera's character is set to return in Scream 6, and it will be interesting to see how her storyline develops. With a father like Billy, it wouldn't be surprising if she inherited his love for violence and killing.

Mason Gooding as Chad Meeks-Martin

Another character with filial ties to the original films, Chad is the nephew of the late horror movie expert Randy Meeks. In Scream 5, Chad is a Woodsboro High student and twin brother to Mindy. He struggles throughout the film to protect his girlfriend Liv and ultimately fails when Ghostface kills her during the big reveal scene. Chad is thought to be dead by the film's end, but a last-minute clip shows that he's alive and well.

Related: Scream 6 Set Images Reveal the Return of Courteney Cox as Gale Weathers

With Liv out of the picture, it'll be interesting to see how Chad's character develops. Is he a student at Blackmore University with the Carpenter sisters, or will Chad be drawn from the small town to Woodsboro in order to avenge Liv's death?

Jasmin Savoy Brown as Mindy Meeks-Martin

The other Meeks twin, Mindy, is a smart and horror-savvy student at Woodsboro High. Much like her uncle, Randy, Mindy is a big fan of horror films and knows all there is to know about the genre. This comes in handy when she's thrust into the middle of a real-life horror movie.

However, this knowledge and confidence are exactly what gets Randy killed in Scream 2. Will Mindy make the same mistake as her uncle and get too confident, or will she be able to use her knowledge to help solve the murders?

Hayden Panettiere as Kirby Reed

While Kirby was not present in Scream 5, this film revealed that the fan-favorite character lived through the events of Scream 4. Originally thought to be dead, Kirby survived being stabbed by Ghostface and is reprising her role in Scream 6. Craven hinted at the character still being alive back in a 2012 tweet, and fans are finally getting to see Kirby back in action.

There are countless questions about Kirby's return. What has she been up to since the events of Scream 4? What draws her into this new case? Fans will have to wait and see when Scream 6 hits theaters.

Goodbye, Sidney: First Scream Without Neve Campbell

After nearly 25 years, Campbell is stepping away from her role as Sidney and will not return for Scream 6. Campbell has been the heart of the franchise since Scream debuted in 1996, and her absence will be felt by fans and cast members alike. Campbell's decision to skip out on this film came down to feeling undervalued by the studio. In a recent interview with People, she states:

I did not feel that what I was being offered equated to the value that I bring to this franchise, and have brought to this franchise, for 25 years. And as a woman in this business, I think it's really important for us to be valued and to fight to be valued. I honestly don't believe that if I were a man and had done five installments of a huge blockbuster franchise over 25 years, that the number that I was offered would be the number that would be offered to a man.

Numerous cast members have shown their support for Campbell, with Arquette, Matthew Lillard, and Jamie Kennedy all releasing public statements. It's unclear how Sidney's absence will be explained in the film, but her legacy will undoubtedly loom large.

With Campbell out and Panettiere back, it'll be interesting to see if Kirby Reed steps into the "final girl" role for Scream 6 or if the Carpenter sisters take on that mantle. The film is set to be released in March 2023, and fans are eagerly awaiting to see how this chapter plays out.