Wes Craven's Scream is one of the best horror movies of all time, and started a long-running horror franchise that's still active today. The series, which is streaming with a Paramount+ subscription, has featured actress Hayden Panettiere in two movies as Kirby Reed. And she recently explained the lesson that Craven taught her while filming the fourth movie that really stuck with her.

Wes Craven's death in 2015 left behind a legacy of horror classics, including the Scream movies. Plenty of the late filmmaker's collaborators continue to praise him, including Panettiere. She spoke to EW about working on him in Scream 4, and the way he directed her in the slasher. In the actress' words:

This shows just how methodically Craven worked on his horror movies, particularly the Scream franchise. He needed actors to do their scenes at a very specific pace in order to build the tension throughout Scream 4. And that piece of advice was a memorable part of Hayden Panettiere's collaboration with the iconic director.

Despite having an understanding of what Craven needed, the Heroes alum admitted that she still felt like she was moving too slowly in her debut performance as Kirby. In the same interview, she spoke about how she didn't fully understand this choice until she was able to see the fourth Scream movie's edit. As she told it:

I rank Scream 4 high on the franchise as a whole, and it stands out as Wes Craven's final directorial venture before his death. And while Panettiere was originally uncomfortable the pacing of scenes when shooting, she saw how it all made sense once the movie was edited together and given suspenseful music.

Longtime fans of the franchise were hyped when Hayden Panettiere returned as Kirby in Scream VI, even managing to survive another encounter with Ghostface. While she's not expected to appear in the seventh movie, the door is still open for another return. During that interview the former child actor spoke more about what she learned from Craven, offering:

It sounds like Craven's way of working really stuck with Panettiere, and will influence how she offers direction in the future. And I hope that she ends up getting behind the camera sooner rather than later.

What we know about Scream 7 is limited, but fans are hyped for Neve Campbell's return as Sidney Prescott. While there are a bunch of legacy characters included, unfortunately it doesn't seem like Kirby Reed is included. Fingers crossed we see her sometime in the future.

Scream 4 is streaming on Paramount+ and Scream 7 will hit theaters on February 27th as part of the 2026 movie release list. The franchise is alive and well, and we have Wes Craven to thank for that.

The horror genre continues to be wildly popular, just look at Weapons' wild success. Some of the best horror movies come from long-standing franchises, such as Wes Craven's Scream. That series' seventh movie is one of the most hotly anticipated upcoming horror movies, especially since Neve Campbell is back as Sidney Prescott. But why do fans think that Hayden Panettiere will be back as Kirby Reed?

What we know about Scream 7 is limited, but fans are hyped for a number of legacy characters to appear. That includes David Arquette, who will appear despite Dewey's death in the fifth movie. Fans got hyped when a report by EW claimed Panettiere would once again be back as Kirby, but the outlet has since backtracked that claim. The correct reads:

What a bummer. While fans were hyped when Panettiere's Kirby returned in Scream VI, she seemingly won't appearing in Kevin Williamson's forthcoming slasher. Still, I bet some fans are going to keep their fingers crossed that the Heroes alum gets to have a third face off with Ghostface on the big screen. After all, the ending of Scream VI (which is streaming with a Paramount+ subscription) saw Kirby survive.

Given how passionate the Scream fanbase is, the discourse about Panettiere's role in the seventh movie is likely going to continue for the time being. After all, the above correction says that her role hasn't been confirmed... not that it's been all-out denied by the actor or the studio. So there's still a (small) chance that we'll see Kirby after all. Hey, a guy can dream!

Information about Scream 7 is slowly trickling out, resulting in a ton of hype around the slasher. OG Scream writer Kevin Williamson is directing his first installment in the franchise, and he'll once again be focusing the story on iconic scream queen Sidney Prescott. While Neve Campbell was noticeably missing from the sixth movie, she's expected to be back in full force.

While it remains to be seen if Kirby will appear, the movie is seemingly going to be jam-packed with legacy characters. Specifically ones who were killed off like Dewey, as well as Matthew Lillard's Stu Macher and Scott Foley's Roman Bridger. There's also two members of the Core Four returning: Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding's Mindy and Chad Meeks-Martin.

Hayden Panettiere's Kirby Reed was a fan favorite character in Scream 4, which left her fate ambiguous. Directors of the 2022 movie revealed Kirby was alive in an easter egg, before she finally returned in Scream VI.

All will be revealed when Scream 7 hits theaters on February 27th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Since we're getting closer, hopefully we'll get footage and/or information soon.

The horror genre has been experiencing a renaissance for years, to the delight of fans. Some of the best horror movies returned to theaters with new sequels, including Wes Craven's Scream. A seventh movie is in development, with Neve Campbell returning as franchise hero Sidney Prescott. A rumor about the upcoming horror movie claims that a Scream legacy character has a very big role, and as a hardcore fan I hope it's true.

What we know about Scream 7 is still rather limited, as casting and development for the slasher sequel is still underway. Fans are eager to see Sidney back after she was noticeably missing from Scream VI (which is streaming with a Paramount+ subscription), but they're also curious about what other legacy characters might pop up. A rumor indicates that Hayden Panettiere is in talks to return, and that her character Kirby Reed will have a bigger presence than in the previous movie. Kirby ie one of my favorite characters of all time, so I'm really hoping that this report is true.

Fans campaigned for Kirby to return in Scream VI, to the delight of Hayden Panettiere. Whether or not she died in Scream 4 was debated for years, and her survival was confirmed in an easter egg for 2022's Scream. Since she made it out alive in the last movie, it seems logical for her to be back in the next installment. And after her having a supporting role and being a red herring for the killer in the sixth film, it'll be great to see her possibly become an even bigger presence in the next one.

While Kirby and Gale got a few interactions in the most recent installment, Neve Campbell's absence from Scream VI means that she and Sidney never got to meet again. So if this rumor is to be believed, they'll finally share the screen again in the seventh film. And if Kirby has a bigger role this time around, their reunions feels all the more logical.

Another rumor swirling around online claims that Kirby might even be getting a spinoff after Scream 7 hits theaters. We should probably take this with a grain of salt for the time being, but it shows how much of a fan favorite Hayden Panettiere's Woodsboro native with fans like me.

Since Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega won't be back for Scream 7, the door (and budget) is presumably open for more legacy characters to return and face off against Ghostface. In addition to Kirby, I'm also hoping to see the long-awaited return of Patrick Dempsey as Mark Kincaid aka Sidney's husband and the father of her children. He's also been rumored to be in talks to reprise that Scream 3 role, although there's been no official word from Paramount.

At the time of writing this story, Scream 7 doesn't currently have a release date. For now, check the 2025 movie release dates to see what titles you want to see in theaters.

The Law & Order franchise goes back all the way to 1990 when the very first show premiered on NBC, and has gone on to span six series with well over a thousand episodes between them. As such, a surprising number of actors who would become franchise icons and/or go on to become major stars actually appeared in the shows as more than one character. Read on for the biggest and most notable who weren't held back by just playing one person!

Kelli Giddish

Kelli Giddish is best known for playing Law & Order: SVU's Detective Amanda Rollins as a series regular from 2011 - 2023, and she even took the character over to Law & Order and Law & Order: Organized Crime for crossovers. Her first role in the franchise was as Kara Bawson in a Season 8 episode of SVU in early 2007, however, followed by playing Dana Stipe in a Season 7 episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent in late 2007.

Peter Scanavino

While Peter Scanavino has been playing Detective-turned-ADA Carisi on Law & Order: SVU since Season 16 in 2014, he got his start in the franchise as Robert Hassel in the first season of Trial by Jury in 2005, followed by playing Johnny Feist later that year on Criminal Intent. In 2013, he made his pre-Carisi SVU debut as Johnny Dubcek.

Camryn Manheim

Camryn Manheim's series regular gig in the franchise started with the Law & Order revival in 2022, and she spent three seasons as Lieutenant Kate Dixon. The lieutenant was Manheim's fourth character in Law & Order, however, as she appeared as Leila in Season 1 in 1991, Martha Rollins in Season 3 in 1993, and Beatrice Hines in Season 4 in 1994.

Diane Neal

Diane Neal joined SVU as a series regular in Season 5 in 2003 to play ADA Casey Novak. She would go on to become one of the Law & Order cast members who appeared in the most episodes by the time of her last installment in 2012. Her first episode was in Season 3 in 2001, though, when she played Amelia Chase.

Raúl Esparza

Franchise fans undoubtedly know Raúl Esparza best as ADA Rafael Barba, who he played on SVU for more than 100 episodes from 2012-2022 and would reprise for an SVU/Organized Crime two-parter. Years before debuting as Barba, he played Kevin Mulrooney in a 2009 episode of Criminal Intent and Dennis Di Palma in a 2010 episode of Law & Order.

Mehcad Brooks

Mehcad Brooks has been playing Detective Jalen Shaw on Law & Order since late 2022, when he joined the show to replace Anthony Anderson's Kevin Bernard. His franchise origin goes back to 2011, however, when he played Prince Miller in a Season 13 episode of SVU.

Jeremy Sisto

Jeremy Sisto may be best known in the nine-show Dick Wolf TV universe nowadays for playing Jubal Valentine across CBS' three FBI shows, but he was a series regular as Detective Cyrus Lupo for Law & Order's final three seasons before its initial cancellation in 2010. His first appearance in the show happened in Season 17 in 2007, when he played Clint Glover.

S. Epatha Merkerson

S. Epatha Merkerson may be most often found in NBC's One Chicago over the last decade thanks to her role on Chicago Med, but she's credited with nearly 400 episodes of Law & Order as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren, from 1991-2010. Her first character in the show was in the very first season, when she played Mrs. Denise Winters.

Jerry Orbach

Jerry Orbach's Lennie Brisco is arguably one of the franchise's most iconic detectives after nearly 300 episodes of Law & Order and another handful on SVU and Criminal Intent between 1991-2004, but you can first find him on the original Law & Order in the second episode of Season 2, where he played Defense Attorney Frank Lehrman.

Kevin Kane

Kevin Kane was promoted to series regular status on SVU for Season 26 for his role as Detective Terry Bruno, which he originated in Season 24. That wasn't his first SVU role, as he played Scott Ryland in Season 9 in 2008, Officer Greg Wilcox in Season 13 in 2012, Major Bowman in Season 17 in 2016, and Gary Kent in Season 20 in 2018. As if those aren't enough, he appeared in two episodes of Law & Order, first as Matt Preminger in 2002's Season 12 and then as a uniformed cop in Season 16 in 2005.

Jeffrey Donovan

Jeffrey Donovan helped launch Law & Order's 2022 revival as Detective Frank Cosgrove, who he played for Seasons 21 and 22 as a series regular. Fans can also find him much earlier in the series in other roles, first as Eddie Nicodos in Season 6 in 1995 and then as Jacob Reese in Season 17 in 2007.

Anthony Anderson

Anthony Anderson portrayed Detective Kevin Bernard for the last three seasons of the original run of Law & Order between 2008-2010, then reprised the role in the 2022 revival for one season. Before that, he played Detective Lucius Blaine in a memorable 2006 episode of Law & Order: SVU Season 7.

Tony Goldwyn

Law & Order introduced Tony Goldwyn as the new DA Nicholas Baxter in the second half of Season 23 in 2024 as the replacement for Sam Waterston's DA Jack McCoy. That wasn't his introduction into the larger franchise, however, as he played Frank Gorden across four episodes of Criminal Intent's sixth and seventh seasons, from 2007-2008.

Rick Gonzalez

Before Rick Gonzalez spent some time in the Arrowverse, he played Alfonso Cardenas way back in the very first season of Law & Order: SVU in 2000. More than twenty years later, he returned to the franchise to play Detective Bobby Reyes on Law & Order: Organized Crime, starting in 2022.

Dean Norris

Dean Norris kicked off a key role as Randall Stabler in Law & Order: Organized Crime's fourth season as the first of Elliot Stabler's siblings to appear on screen. His first franchise appearance happened more than a decade earlier, in the finale of the short-lived Law & Order: LA as Bob Kentner.

Betty Buckley

Betty Buckley is a Broadway legend, but she made the time to play two different characters over the years of Law & Order: SVU. Between Seasons 7-10, Buckley appeared in multiple episodes as Attorney Walsh. Starting in Season 23, she began playing Trial Division Chief Lorraine Maxwell, which she continued into Season 24.

Michael Trotter

Michael Trotter arrived on Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 4 to play the youngest Stabler brother. Before he debuted on OC in 2024, Trotter played Teddy Muncy in an episode of Law & Order: SVU Season 24 the previous year. In a fun bit of trivia, he's also married to former SVU series regular Jamie Gray Hyder.

Pedro Pascal

Pedro Pascal may be a big name in TV nowadays thanks to his lead roles in The Mandalorian and The Last of Us, but he made his rounds on the Law & Order circuit earlier in his career. He played Tito Cabassa in a Season 18 episode of Law & Order in 2008, visited Law & Order: Criminal Intent to play Reggie Luckman in Season 6 and Kip Green in Season 8, and dropped by Law & Order: SVU to play Agent Greer in Season 12.

Bradley Whitford

Following the end of The West Wing, Bradley Whitford arrived in the one and only season of Law & Order: LA to play Attorney Miklin in 2011. His two roles on SVU are more memorable, as he played a criminal named Frank Maddox in Season 15 back in 2014 before returning in Season 24 in 2023 to play the ailing husband of a victim in an episode directed by Mariska Hargitay.

Sarah Hyland

Sarah Hyland appeared in three different franchise shows as four characters, all before landing her part in Modern Family. Her first role was as Lily Ramsey in the Season 3 premiere of SVU in 2001, followed by playing Kristine McLean in Law & Order Season 15 in 2004. That was followed by Brianne Colby in Trial By Jury Season 1 in 2005, and then by Jennifer Banks in Season 10 of SVU again in 2009.

Cynthia Nixon

Cynthia Nixon won the Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama for playing Janis Donovan in the Season 9 premiere of SVU in 2007. That was only one of her three characters in the franchise, as she played Laura Di Biasi in Law & Order's first season in 1990 and Amanda Rollins (who is not the same as the SVU character) on Criminal Intent in Season 10 in 2011.

Ellen Pompeo

Before she landed her longtime role as Meredith Grey on Grey's Anatomy, Ellen Pompeo appeared as two characters on Law & Order. She played Jenna Weber in a Season 6 episode in 1996, followed by Laura Kendrick in Season 10 in 2000.

David Harbour

Prior to joining Stranger Things, David Harbour appeared as five different characters in Dick Wolf's TV franchise. First was Mike in a 1999 episode of Law & Order, followed by Terry Jessup in a 2002 episode of SVU''s fourth season, which he then followed by playing Wesley John Kenderson in Criminal Intent Season 4 in 2008, Jay Carlin in Law & Order Season 18 in 2008, and then finally Paul Devildis in Criminal Intent Season 8 in 2009.

Paget Brewster

Criminal Minds' Paget Brewster found time for another network TV crime procedural with two characters across three installments of Law & Order: SVU. First, she played Sheila Tierney in a Season 8 episode that aired on NBC in 2007, followed by two episodes of Season 14 in 2012 as Bureau Chief Paula Foster.

Allison Janney

Before she became an Emmy winner for the first time with The West Wing in 2000, Allison Janney was a repeat actor on Law & Order in the '90s. Her first episode was as Nora in the second season in 1992, followed by Ann Madsen in the fourth season in 1994.

Jeremy Allen White

Prior to joining Shameless and more than a decade before The Bear, Jeremy Allen White appeared in two consecutive seasons of Law & Order as two separate characters, starting with playing Jeremy in 2007 and then Andy Steel in 2008. In 2010, he moved over to SVU to play Michael Parisi in Season 11.

Paul Wesley

Ahead of his debut as a Salvatore brother in The Vampire Diaries, Paul Wesley landed a role as Danny Burrell in the Season 2 premiere of SVU in 2000, followed by playing Luke Miller in Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 2 in 2002. Then he headed back to SVU in 2005 to play Luke Breslin in an early Season 7 episode.

Hayden Panettiere

Hayden Panettiere's name may be more synonymous with Heroes and Nashville than anything else, but she can be found in two episodes of SVU earlier in her career. First, she was Ashley Austin Black in a Season 2 episode in 2001, followed by a return to play Angela Agnelli in Season 6 in 2005.

Pablo Schreiber

While it's safe to say that Pablo Schreiber's most memorable Law & Order role was as William Lewis on SVU from Season 14-15, that certainly wasn't his only part. He previously played Dan Kozlowski in an SVU Season 8 episode in 2007, as well as Sean Hauser and Kevin Boatman in Seasons 16 and 19 (respectively) of Law & Order, and TJ Hawkins and Ed Lang in Seasons 4 and 7 of Criminal Intent.

Ann Dowd

Better known now for The Handmaid's Tale, Ann Dowd may hold the record for the most characters in the Dick Wolf franchise. On Law & Order, she played Teresa Franz in Season 1, Dorothy Baxter in Season 4, Patricia Smith in Season 6, and Dr. Beth Allison in Season 14. On Criminal Intent, she played Laurie Manotti in Season 4. For Trial by Jury, she played Karen Ames in Season 1. On SVU, she played Louise Durning in Season 2, Sally Wilkens in Season 4, and Lillian Siefeld in Season 10.

Chandra Wilson

Future Grey's Anatomy star Chandra Wilson arrived in the Law & Order franchise in 1992 to play Serena Price in the original show's second season. A decade later, she came to SVU as Nurse Jenkins in Season 4 and then returned in Season 7 in 2005 as Rachel Sorannis.

Elizabeth Mitchell

Lost's Elizabeth Mitchell appeared in two memorable episodes of Law & Order: SVU. She first portrayed Andrea Brown in a Season 4 episode that aired in 2003. She returned nearly ten years later in 2011 to play June Frye in a Season 12 episode.

The brand new, revamped and rebooted DC Universe (DCU) has opened up endless possibilities. A new Superman has already been cast and is ready to take flight in the first movie in the new universe, which is replacing the old DC Extended Universe (DCEU). 

Producer James Gunn has shown he has a clear vision to wipe away most of the past and move forward with new actors and new stories, so for the purposes of this daydreaming, we're going to leave out the great actors who have appeared in DC-related films in the past, including the most recent movies starring the likes of Jason Momoa, Gal Gadot, and Ben Affleck, though we're not against them returning, too. 

Ryan Gosling

Ryan Gosling is one of the biggest stars in the world, and also one of the most versatile actors in Hollywood. He's the kind of actor you could cast in almost any role and you just know he'd hit it out of the park. He could play a hero or a villain and audiences would be transfixed no matter what. We probably want him as one of the most famous heroes though, someone befitting his star status. 

Daisy Ridley

We know she can carry a franchise, and we know she's a tough woman, so Daisy Ridley just has to find her way into the DCU. Of course, she'd have to be a hero, but who knows, maybe a change of pace from the Star Wars movies could be cool and she could play a villain. Either way, she has to have powers greater than The Force. 

Tom Cruise

It's time. It's hard to believe Tom Cruise has never been in a superhero movie. One of, in not the, biggest action stars of the last few decades still has that "hole" on his resume and it's time it got filled. Of course, we'd all love to see Cruise as a hero, but it would be awesome for him to be in any role, even a cameo like his turn in Tropic Thunder. Just get him in there, James Gunn! 

Jennifer Lawrence

Sure, Jennifer Lawrence appeared in the X-Men franchise, but that was years ago, and the comic book movie scene is a whole lot different today. Lawrence is a perfect fit for any number of roles, and even though she's great as Mystique, what about a hero as big as Wonder Woman or Black Canary? Surely she'd be fantastic. 

John Krasinski

John Krasinski delighted fans with his cameo as Dr. Reed Richards in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. MCU fans have been dying to see him as Mister Fantastic in the Fantastic 4 in the future, but so far, there's only been cold water thrown on the idea. That opens up the DCU for the former The Office star and he needs to step in. 

Zendaya

There isn't a bigger star on the scene right now than Zendaya. Sure, she's played MJ in the MCU and Spider-Man movies, but let's give her some real superpowers and let her run wild in the DCU. 

Jacob Elordi

Sure, Jacob Elordi says he's not interested in playing a superhero, having turned down an opportunity to read for Superman in the new DCU, but that doesn't mean we can't dream, right? There are so many heroes in the universe he could play. Elordi has been a hit in recent years with his role on HBO's Euphoria and movies like Saltburn and Pricilla, so he doesn't really need to be in the DCU, but we need him to be. 

Timothée Chalamet

Timothée Chalamet has a knack for picking great roles for himself. At this point, he can pick and choose anything he wants, given how often his movies are hits. Chalamet could probably just tell James Gunn what role he wanted and they'd find a way for it to happen. So let's do it! 

Meryl Streep

Let's be real, there is nothing Meryl Streep can't do. The greatest actor of her generation, bar none, and yet, she's never appeared in a superhero movie. She's flirted with the idea, according to some reports, and she even did the Wakanda salute at the 2024 Golden Globes, but alas, we still haven't seen her in one. The new DCU must have a spot for her, right?

Patina Miller

Patina Miller has won a Tony and she's starred in two hit shows (Madam Secretary and Power Book III: Raising Kanan), but she hasn't broken big on the big screen, aside from an important but too-brief role in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, and it's time that changed. She looks like a superhero and can act her socks off, so let's make it happen, let's make her a star in the DCU. 

Adam Driver

As Kylo Ren in the Star Wars sequels, Adam Driver showed he could play a first-rate villain. Now it's time to see him play a hero. Any hero, pick one, it doesn't matter, he'd kill it. Batman? For sure. Superman? Well, that role is taken, but yes. Aquaman? Oh yes. Martian Manhunter? Check. Wonder Woman? Sure, why not, he's got the hair for it. Let's go! 

Mark Wahlberg

Mark Wahlberg may be aging gracefully and while he says he's ready to play grandpa roles, we think he'll never be too old for a spot in the DCU. Somehow he's never been in either the MCU or any of the DC-related properties, so the time is right. 

Cailee Spaeny

She may not jump off the page as a possible superhero, but don't forget that Cailee Spaeny starred in Pacific Rim Uprising and clearly has the chops to be in a big action flick. She's an up-and-coming superstar and jumping into the DCU now would be perfect timing. 

Alan Ritchson

Reacher's Alan Ritchson is over six feet tall and built like a monster truck, is there anyone in Hollywood more perfect to play an intimidating villain in a comic book movie? Sure, he could play a superhero, too, but being a villain would be an awesome departure from his character on Reacher and it would be a ton a fun. And again, just look at the guy! 

Sterling K. Brown

Sterling K. Brown had an all-too-brief role as T'Chala's traitorous brother N'Jobu in Black Panther and it's high time he gets a chance to sink his teeth into a bigger superhero role. How about John Stewart/Green Lantern in the DCU? Brown has even campaigned for the role, so really, it's a perfect opportunity to get him into the DC Universe, it needs to happen, so we're putting it out there into the universe again. 

Peter Dinklage

Peter Dinklage has dabbled in superhero movies in the past, playing the villain, Bolivar Trask, in X-Men: Days of Future Past, as Eitri in Avengers: Infinity War, and as the Toxic Avenger, but it leaves us all wanting more. Let's be honest here, anything Dinklage does is awesome, so getting him into the DCU somehow would be amazing. He's also pretty good at carrying a wildly popular franchise, as he proved with Game of Thrones.

Taraji P. Henson

Taraji P. Henson has done it all, except star in a comic book movie. Henson is one of the best actors of her generation and yet, she's got this hole in her resume that, let's be honest, we all want to see filled. The DCU would be a perfect place for her to land, in just about any role, superhero, villain, regular human... anything, just get her in there! 

Charlize Theron

Audiences were teased with a Charlize Theron character in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and the actress stars in the Old Guard franchise, but she's not appeared in any DC-related projects yet and she sure deserves to. We'd love to see her in any number of roles, as she can play just about anything. 

Jason Statham

He's one of the biggest action stars in the world, and yet Jason Statham hasn't appeared in the MCU or anything DC-related. This is something that must be remedied! How about Cliff Steele/Robotman, whose origin story comes out of a race car crash, which would dovetail perfectly with Statham's past work as star of The Transporter movies and in the Fast franchise?

Jodie Comer

Jodie Comer has been taking the world by storm over the last few years and that means it's time to find her way into the DCU. Comer could be great in the MCU, but the possibilities in the DCU are endless and for someone like her, on the rise in Hollywood, the sky's the limit. 

Don Cheadle

Don Cheadle is pretty entrenched in the MCU, where he's played James "Rhodey" Rhodes/War Machine 10 times in various movies and TV shows. Still, Cheadle is awesome, and there has to be a way to get him into the DCU, too. He'd need to play a completely different kind of character, like a villain, but we're for it. 

Jenna Ortega

Wednesday star Jenna Ortega is clearly ready for the big time. She'd be great as Aquagirl, or, even better, the villain Lourdes Lucero/Encantadora. There are a lot of options, let's hope she fits into one, because it would be great. 

Zoe Saldaña

Zoe Saldaña is another star that most fans immediately associate with The Guardians of the Galaxy and the MCU, but with the Guardians franchise possibly winding down, and the franchise's director, James Gunn, now in charge over at DC, this could be a good time to switch it up for Saldaña, as there are a lot of different heroes she would be great for. 

Josh Gad

Hear us out. Josh Gad may not be the first person you think of when you think of an action movie or a comic book movie, but some of the best casting decisions are sometimes the ones you least expect. Think Michael Keaton as Batman or even Robert Downey, Jr. as Iron Man. Gad, with his blend of humor and "everyman" qualities, can be pretty chameleon-like and that could make him perfect for the DCU. 

Gwendoline Christie

How has this happened? How have we gotten dozens of superhero movies in the last couple of decades and Gwendoline Christie hasn't been in any of them? Sure, she's got the physique to play any hero out there, but it's her wit and comedic timing combined with that that makes the Game of Thrones star a no-brainer. This seems too easy.

Naomie Harris

Naomie Harris jumped into the comic book world by playing Shriek in Venom: Let There Be Carnage. She was predictably great, so why not have her cast as a character with a multi-film arc? She should be. With the James Bond Universe in flux with the departure of Daniel Craig, this would be a great time for Harris to find a new franchise to get attached to. 

Daniel Kaluuya

Black Panther star Daniel Kaluuya (who also starred as a real-life Black Panther in Judas and the Black Messiah) is an actor who could fit into the DCU in just about any role. He could be a charming hero, or an evil villain, or even a government bureaucrat. Kaluuya's acting toolbox has a lot of options, the DCU will do well to take advantage of that somehow. 

Natalie Dormer

Natalie Dormer is a veteran of a lot of big-time franchises. Game of Thrones, Hunger Games, and even the MCU. Unfortunately, she was in fewer Game of Thrones episodes than you would think, and her appearances in the other two were also fairly brief. The DCU has a great opportunity to feature her in a much larger role. 

Donald Glover

This is another absolute no-brainer. Donald Glover is one of the most talented and charming actors in the business, there are an endless amount of roles he could fill in the DCU, so someone out there needs to find a spot for him. 

Diego Luna

With Andor (and his other projects) Diego Luna showed the world how great he can be in a franchise. His performance was gripping, and bringing that same energy to the DCU would be fantastic. 

Jack Quaid

Let's take a sec to lament that despite starring in one of the wildest superhero franchises of all time, The Boys, Jack Quaid hasn't really had an opportunity to be a proper superhero (V-24 notwithstanding). So let's give him a proper chance here! Put him in the DCU! 

Hayden Panettiere

Save the cheerleader, save the world. It was a mantra for Heroes and it's time to see Hayden Panettiere play another superhero. She was so great in Heroes, there's no way she wouldn't be great in the DCU

The DC Universe is James Gunn's oyster, these are some of the pearls out there just waiting to be plopped onto his beach. 

The horror genre's renaissance has been going on for a number of years, to the joy of moviegoers. Some of the best horror movies have returned thanks to reboots or sequels, including Wes Craven's slasher series Scream. The last two movies were wild successes, with Scream VI breaking records for the franchise. But the next movie hit a number of setbacks, starting with Melissa Barrera's firing as Sam Carpenter. And now Scream icon Hayden Panettiere has broken her silence on Barrera's departure.

The internet exploded when Barrera was fired by Paramount, over comments she made about the Hamas-Israel conflict. Some members of the Scream VI cast have recently commented about this shakeup, with Kirby actress Hayden Panettiere telling The Messenger the situation was "very unfair and upsetting." She went on saying:

Without naming names, Hayden Panettiere referenced various Hollywood figures who ended up speaking out about the ongoing conflict overseas, and calls for a ceasefire. While the Heroes alum didn't give her own opinion on that war, she seems to take umbrage with Barrera's treatment.

These comments come as Melissa Barrera has been reflecting on the Scream 7 fallout. The In the Heights actress was the protagonist of the last two movies, and was made all the more important to the franchise after Neve Campbell dropped out as Sidney. 

Barrera's firing would end up having a domino affect on the development of Scream 7. Jenna Ortega dropped out shortly after, and new director Christopher Landon followed suit. Later in that same interview, Panettiere spoke about the way that her co-star handled her firing, saying:

While she's out as Sam Carpenter, Melissa Barrera will continue her run as a horror icon, as she was featured in the trailer for Abigail, which was directed by the filmmakers who helmed the last two Scream movies. As for the future of that franchis, there are countless questions about what comes next.

Since Scream 7 lost its director and two of its stars, it's unclear what Paramount is planning for the slasher. There are a number of theories about how the franchise can continue, including bringing back Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott. Legacy characters feel all the more important without the Carpenter sisters, including Hayden Panettiere's fan favorite Kirby. 

The Scream franchise is available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription. Give the 2024 movie release dates a gander to plan your next movie experience.

Soap Operas are not usually the first thing we think of when we think of “Prestige Television” but they have been popular since the dawn of TV and without them, some of our favorite stars might not have ever gotten their big break. In honor of that, we’ve compiled quite a list of famous actors who started out in soap operas. 

Brad Pitt (Another World)

There aren’t many bigger stars in the world than Brad Pitt. While he famously made his first mark in pop culture in Thelma & Louise, his first professional, credited acting role came on the soap Another World. The Ocean’s Eleven star played a character named Chris on two episodes in 1987. Little did anyone know just how famous he would soon be. 

Leonardo DiCaprio (Santa Barbara)

Pitt’s co-star in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, Leonardo DiCaprio, is also one of the biggest stars in the world. Like Pitt, DiCaprio also can point to a turn on a soap opera early in his career as a launching pad. DiCaprio had a smattering of bit parts before starring in Santa Barbara, but it was five episodes on the soap that really got his career moving. 

Demi Moore (General Hospital)

In the ‘80s and ‘90s, Demi Moore was box office gold with films like St. Elmo’s Fire, A Few Good Men, and Ghost. Moore earned a then-unprecedented $12.5 million with her role in Striptease, but she got her start much more modestly as reporter Jackie Templeton in 85 episodes of General Hospital from 1982 until 1984. 

Marisa Tomei (As The World Turns)

Marisa Tomei’s career went into the stratosphere with her Academy Award-winning turn in My Cousin Vinny in 1992. She’s since been nominated for two more Oscars in her lauded career that all started with the role of Marcy Thompson, as a series regular on As The World Turns for three seasons. 

Alec Baldwin (The Doctors)

The Doctors debuted on NBC in April of 1963, on the very same day as General Hospital premiered on ABC. Unlike GH, which is still on the air, The Doctors lasted only a mere 20 years, but like GH, it helped launch a lot of careers. Alec Baldwin was one of those actors who appeared on the soap, as the character Billy Aldrich for a few years in the early 1980s, years before his big breaks would come in Beetlejuice and The Hunt For Red October. 

Kathy Bates (The Doctors)

Another actor who got her start on the oft-forgotten The Doctors is the great Kathy Bates. Bates worked hard while scratching out a living as an actor in New York City. After scoring just one bit part in the movie Taking Off in 1971, it was another 6 years before she would land a big role, this time on The Doctors.

Laurence Fishburne (One Life To Live)

Laurence Fishburne famously made waves as a teenager starring (as Larry Fishburne) in Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpiece Apocalypse Now. While the role made him famous, his career started years earlier as Josh Hall in One Life To Live. Fishburne was only 11 years old when he debuted on the show.

Jordana Brewster (As The World Turns)

Jordana Brewster is a star in one of the biggest film franchises in history as Mia Toretto in the Fast & Furious movies. She got her start in one of the biggest soap operas in history as well. After a quick one-off on All My Children in 1995, Brewster landed a regular role on As The World Turns later that same year. She remained on the show for 118 episodes over the next six years. 

Shemar Moore (The Young and the Restless)

For over a decade, Shemar Moore starred as Derek Morgan on the beloved Criminal Minds and then on S.W.A.T for six years. Neither was his first long-time role on television, however, as Moore got his start on eight seasons of The Young and the Restless as Malcolm Winters, a role he’s returned to a number of times, most recently in 2023. 

Tom Selleck (The Young And The Restless)

Another actor who got his start on The Young and the Restless is the legendary TV star Tom Selleck. After bouncing around in bit parts for most of the ‘70s. The Blue Bloods star found a semi-regular role on the soap in 1974. He would later own TV in the ‘80s as Thomas Magnum on one of the greatest TV shows of all time, Magnum PI.

Meg Ryan (As The World Turns)

Meg Ryan was America’s sweetheart in the 1980s and '90s. Before she starred in numerous rom-coms, from When Harry Met Sally To You’ve Got Mail, she was Steve Andropoulos’ sweetheart Betsy on As The World Turns. She would play the role for three years, before snagging a role in a little movie called Top Gun, and off she went to stardom. 

Lauryn Hill (As The World Turns)

It’s not just actors who got their start on soap operas. Singer and rapper Ms. Lauryn Hill is famous for her amazing neo-soul album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill in 1998, but seven years before that, and before The Fugees, she starred as Kira Johnson on As The World Turns.

Taye Diggs (Guiding Light)

This one is a bit of a stretch because Taye Diggs had already put together a great career on Broadway, starring in the original cast of Rent and other shows. He did, however, get his regular screen time on Guiding Light in 1997, after a couple of smaller parts on TV. 

Julianne Moore (As The World Turns)

Julianne Moore has won a slew of awards in her career. The Boogie Nights star can boast five Oscar nominations and one win, she has an Emmy, multiple Golden Globe and SAG awards, and even one Daytime Emmy, which she won for Best Actress on the soap As The World Turns in 1988.

David Hasselhoff (The Young And The Restless)

Baywatch might have been a soap opera on the beach, but it wasn’t the first time David Hasselhoff starred in one. The Hoff played Snapper Foster (yes, that’s the name of the character) for seven years in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s on The Young and the Restless, before scoring his gig on Knight Rider. While starring on Knight Rider, The Hoff also appeared on one episode of Santa Barbara.

Mark Hamill (General Hospital)

Stars Wars has often been described as a “space opera” so it only makes sense that Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill, got his start on a soap opera. The future superstar started smaller, with a role as Kent Murray on General Hospital for a couple of years right before Star Wars became the biggest thing, well, ever. 

Josh Duhamel (All My Children)

Transformers star Josh Duhamel has starred in 39 movies and had roles on 18 TV shows, including Las Vegas and Jupiter Rising, and it all started with a breakout role on ABC’s All My Children in 1999. He starred on the soap opera for a few years, before moving on, but did return briefly in 2011 to reprise his role as Leo du Pres. He even won a Daytime Emmy in 2002 for his performance. 

Kelly Ripa (All My Children)

Kelly Ripa has been everyone’s favorite morning talk show host for years now and over 30 years ago, she was a dancer on Dance Party USA. Her first serious acting gig came in 1990 as Hayley Vaughan on All My Children, a role she would play for more than a decade. Not only did it jumpstart her career, but the soap played an even more important role in her life, as that’s how she met her husband, Mark Consuelos.

Mark Consuelos (All My Children)

That’s right, Mark Consuelos also began his career on All My Children, playing Mateo Santos on the show for six years. The Riverdale star was a huge hit on the show, and like Ripa, returned in 2010 to help celebrate the show’s 40th anniversary. Consuelos and Ripa married in 1996 while starring on the show together and now almost 30 years later are still working together as co-hosts on Live.

Ryan Phillippe (One Life To Live)

From I Know What You Last Summer to Cruel Intentions, Ryan Phillippe played some iconic parts in the 1990s. It was One Life To Live where he landed his first one, though, in 1992. In the ‘00s, he got more serious, with major roles in Gosford Park and Crash, but none of it might have happened with the soap opera casting him as a teenager. 

Amber Tamblyn (General Hospital)

Amber Tamblyn wasn’t even a teen when she landed her first on-screen role on General Hospital in 1995. The 127 Hours star played Emily Quatermaine for six seasons on the soap.

John Stamos (General Hospital)

Before playing Uncle Jesse on Full House, and before playing bongos for The Beach Boys, John Stamos was breaking hearts as Blackie Parrish on General Hospital for three seasons in the early ‘80s. Stamos even earned a nomination for a Daytime Emmy for the role in 1983.

Mario Van Peebles (One Life To Live)

Mario Van Peebles made his permanent mark on film with his direction of the 1991 classic New Jack City. The cult classic was huge at the time, and Van Peebles has been acting and directing in TV and film ever since, but his career really got going a decade prior to New Jack City when he appeared as Doc Gilmore in One Life To Live in 1982 and 1983. 

Hayden Panettiere (One Life To Live)

“Save the cheerleader, save the world” is a now-legendary catchphrase from the TV series Heroes and the cheerleader was, of course, the great Hayden Panettiere. Panettiere had already scored numerous credits before Heroes, including her first role as a five-year-old One Life To Live for 26 episodes in the mid-'90s. She followed that up as Lizzie Spaulding on Guiding Light for four seasons.

Justin Hartley (Passions)

Justin Harley was part of the cast that made more TV viewers cry than any other as a part of the brilliant ensemble on This Is Us. Hartley got his start probably making daytime TV fans emotional on the short-lived (by soap opera standards) Passions. After becoming a series regular on Smallville, he returned to daytime TV on The Young and the Restless before landing his award-winning gig on This Is Us. 

Robin Wright (Santa Barbara)

In 1987 Robin Wright became part of cinema history with her role as Buttercup in the much-beloved The Princess Bride. It took a few years of starring on the soap Santa Barbara before she would get that breakout role, but she’s been on top ever since, with iconic roles on the Netflix series House of Cards and in movies like Wonder Woman 1984, which is pretty fitting, as that was the year she started on Santa Barbara.

Lindsay Lohan (Guiding Light and Another World)

Lindsay Lohan’s first movie role was actually two roles in 1998’s The Parent Trap. She immediately endeared herself to audiences, and that love only grew with Freaky Friday and Mean Girls. She’s had an up-and-down career since, but like so many others, that career started as a kid on a soap. Two soaps, actually. First, a brief one-off on Guiding Light, with a reoccurring role on Another World for two seasons. 

Kevin Kline (Search For Tomorrow)

Search for Tomorrow is one of those soaps that despite running for more than 35 years, it’s completely forgotten about today. It was canceled in 1986, but it was around long enough for Kevin Kline to make his first on-screen appearance. The classically trained Kline returned to the stage after leaving the show, but in 1982 he found himself in a role in Sophie’s Choice alongside Meryl Streep, and he’s never looked back. 

Tommy Lee Jones (One Life To Live)

Harvard grad Tommy Lee Jones actually got his first role in the classic Love Story but it was a minor “blink and you’ll miss it” type of role. It was probably his 21 episodes on One Life To Live in the early 1970s that really jumpstarted his now-legendary career. 

Tom Berenger (One Life To Live)

Speaking of One Life to Live in the ‘70s, Platoon star Tom Berenger overlapped with Jones for one season on the long-running soap. Berenger played Tim Siegel for 66 episodes from 1975 until his character’s death just after getting married in the 1976 season. Classic soap opera plot!  

While budgets of soap operas might not be that of prime-time TV, there is undoubtedly plenty of talent on these shows, and has been for many years, as this amazing of list famous actors who started out in soap operas proves. 

Spoilers ahead for Scream VI.

Part of what makes the horror genre such a consistent success is long-running franchises, which get people to theaters. Some of the best horror movies have returned thanks to new sequels including Wes Craven’ Scream. The sixth movie is in theaters now, and breaking box office records for the property. And Scream VI star Jasmin Savoy Brown recently spoke to CinemaBlend about filming opposite Hayden Panettiere’s Kirby Reed after all those fan theories.

The Scream fandom is a vocal one, who had long theorized that Hayden Panettiere’s fan favorite character had survived her attack in the fourth movie. And when it was revealed that she was alive via an easter egg in the 2022 sequel, moviegoers wanted to see Kirby and Jasmin Savoy Brown’s Mindy Meeks-Martin geek out about horror. As you can see in the video above, I had the joy of speaking with the cast of Scream VI ahead of its release. I asked Brown what it was like filming that sequence after all the online chatter, and she told me:

There you have it. Sounds like everyone involved in Scream VI was really aware of what the fandoms were talking about online. And as a result we got to see Kirby and Mindy talk horror, and a number of other fan theories directly referenced throughout the movie’s runtime.

The tone of Scream VI felt a bit darker than its predecessor, largely because Ghostface was especially vicious this time around. But one of the fun light-hearted moments happened around half way through at the Ghostface shrine in NYC. Kirby and Mindy bond over their love for horror, with their opinions about properties like Candyman being identical. It’s a moment fans couldn’t wait for, and they’ve been sounding off online since the movie arrived in theaters last weekend. 

Since both Kirby and Mindy managed to survive the events of Scream VI, I have to wonder if Jasmin Savoy Brown and Hayden Panettiere will be able to share more scenes together. Kirby is an FBI agent who specifically follows Ghostface killers, so it would make sense if she popped up in a future installment. And with the Core Four seemingly remaining at the heart of the story, a reunion for these two horror nerds/survivors feels inevitable.

Scream VI is in theaters now. Be sure to check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience– there’s plenty more horror movies to come. 

When Ghostface was reawakened last year by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, it had been over a decade since the previous Scream movie was released. Fans of what is one of the best horror movie franchises don’t have to wait nearly that long for a new dose of twisty, campy gore, as Scream VI is already headed to theaters. First reactions to the latest installment were promising, and box office predictions are pretty high, so if you haven’t already been drawn in by the creepy marketing campaign, maybe the reviews will give you some clarity on whether or not this movie should be part of your weekend plans.

Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding all reprise their roles as Ghostface’s sibling survivors, along with Hayden Panettiere and Courteney Cox (but no Neve Campbell), as the story moves from Woodsboro to New York City. Let’s get straight to what the critics have to say, starting with CinemaBlend’s review of Scream VI. Our own Corey Chichizola rates the film 4.5 stars out of 5, calling it a “game changer” that exceeds all expectations. He continues: 

Amelia Emberwing of IGN rates it an “Amazing” 9 out of 10, saying that while the movie isn’t perfect, it hits all the right emotional beats by highlighting the newly dubbed Core Four and dialing the brutality up to 11. From the review: 

Meagan Navarro of Bloody Disgusting rates Scream VI a perfect 5 skulls out of 5, saying not only does the latest sequel ramp up the thrills, kills and humor, but it also brings the heart. The critic says: 

Christian Zilko of IndieWire isn’t quite as enamored with the new sequel, grading it a B+, but he calls it a massive improvement from the 2022 installment and says it’s proof that there is hope for Ghostface post-Wes Craven. In the critic’s words: 

JimmyO of JoBlo also calls the film “Amazing,” with a 9 out of 10 rating, saying New York is an excellent replacement for small-town Woodsboro, and audiences are in for a bloody good time. More from the critic: 

Despite the movie’s surprisingly long runtime, the critics seem to be in agreement about what Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett have pulled off here. Will this movie solidify Scream as the best horror franchise ever? You can add your own opinion to that argument when Scream VI hits theaters on Friday, March 10. In the meantime, refresh your memory with some of the franchise’s best kills and take a look back at the villains behind every Ghostface so far.  

The horror genre is a tried and true one in the film world, which has been experiencing a renaissance for years now. One of the most beloved franchises within the genre is definitely Wes Craven’s Scream, which revitalized slashers when the 1996 original hit theaters. We’re just a few days away from the release of Scream VI, which features Hayden Panettiere’s long-awaited return from Scream 4. And the Heroes alum has praised fans who “came to my rescue” with campaigns for her character Kirby Reed.

Hayden Panettiere’s Kirby Reed was a fan favorite character when she debuted in Scream 4, and she got some really iconic sequences throughout its runtime. In the years since its release, fans debated if she might still be alive, and campaigned for Kirby’s  return. As you can see in the video above, I had the privilege of speaking with the cast of Scream VI ahead of its release, where I asked Panettiere what it’s been like seeing fans give her so much love. She responded honestly, saying it was:

How sweet is that? While Scream fans obviously love Hayden Panettiere and her character, it sounds like the feeling is actually mutual. Because she’s seen all the support online, and it seemingly meant a great deal to the 33 year-old actress. Sometimes scary movies really can bring people together!

Hayden Panettiere’s comments about feeling rescued and buoyed by the Scream fandom might make a great deal of sense for those who have been paying attention to her personal story. She recently revealed a struggle with depression and substance issues, bravely showing her scars to the public in the process. Additionally, her brother Jansen recently passed away suddenly. I have a ton of respect for her for doing the grueling press tour for Scream VI during this trying time. 

Later in our same conversation, I asked Hayden Panettiere what her process was like finding Kirby again. After all, she’s got a specific swagger and sense of humor that fans adored in Scream 4. She further explained the strong emotions that come with her character, saying:

As one of the fans who had long-hoped for Kirby’s return to the Scream and was never convinced that she actually died in the fourth movie, it’s such a joy to see her back for Scream VI. And given Hayden Panettiere’s feelings, the moment seems all the more significant. Horror fans are just built differently.

Scream VI will hit theaters on March 10th. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

With her return to acting arriving in the upcoming horror movie Scream VI, Hayden Panettiere is bringing back her Scream 4 character Kirby Reed with a vengeance. Survival is something that the Nashville star shares with her on-screen counterpart, as she’s been regaining her confidence by making changes in her life. Part of those changes came through a breast reduction, which Panettiere has recently opened up about as she addressed her recovery after childbirth and rehab.

As she spoke with Women’s Health, Hayden Panettiere discussed the procedure that she elected to undergo last fall as a measure to feel more comfortable in her own skin. With her ongoing progress over the years against postpartum depression and substance abuse showing a positive outcome, the Scream legacy cast member reflected on her breast reduction as follows: 

Regaining confidence also helped Hayden Panetierre return for another round with Ghostface after last year’s Scream dropped easter eggs about other survivors past. Sure enough, Kirby Reed was one of those lucky combatants who lived to fight another day, leading to those photos confirming her role in Scream VI.

Personally and professionally, Panetierre is having a resurgence at the moment. Drawing parallels between Kirby’s fate and her own triumphs, returning to the Wes Craven-created horror saga was as symbolic as it was exciting. In her own words, Hayden Panetierre drew this parallel between her life and that of survivor Kirby Reed: 

Unfortunately, trauma is something that Hayden has run into in the recent weeks. With the untimely passing of her brother Jansen at age 28, the entire Panettiere family is more than still grieving their loss. While that personal tragedy is still very fresh, Hayden Panettiere's journey of growth and recovery have given her the tools she needs to overcome those feelings one step at a time. 

The events of Scream 4, and the resulting fallout that hasn’t been seen or addressed on camera, are going to shape Kirby Reed. Hayden Panetierre has teased as much before, and she’s only continued to pose a rather interesting scenario ensuing with her pseudo-resurrection. Thankfully, when it comes to her own story in real life, the actress' survival has led her in a more positive direction, even in times of sadness and mourning. 

For those of you getting ready to Scream once again, the whole bloody legacy is available for those who’ve hunted down a Paramount+ subscription. Though if you’re only looking for all of the classics, up to and including Hayden Panettiere’s introduction in Scream IV, you can simply head to Pluto TV and enjoy the legacy of Ghostface with some ad breaks mixed in. 

The Hollywood community and the public as a whole received some incredibly tragic news last week. Jansen Panettiere, the younger brother of actress Hayden Panettiere, was confirmed to have passed away at the age of 28. After the former child actor’s death became public knowledge, fans took to social media to send their condolences to the family. Jansen’s relatives didn’t provide comment when the news broke last Monday. However, Hayden and the rest of the brood have broken their silence and paid tribute to the late star. 

Hayden Panettiere and her family honored Jansen in a statement that was released this morning. The message, which was obtained by ABC News, includes fond remembrances of the former Disney Channel star. The group also lovely described the kind of person Jansen was: 

One can’t even begin to imagine what the Panettiere family must be going through right now. At the very least, however, It must be somewhat cathartic to be able to memorialize their loved one in this way. Later on in the statement, they also confirmed that the actor died from an enlarged heart:

Jansen Panettiere reportedly passed away in New York the weekend before last. Last week, it was said that authorities received a call on Sunday, February 20, around 5:30 p.m. News outlets alleged, at the time, that there was no sign of foul play.

During his career, the late actor notched a number of significant credits but began his career as a Disney kid, earning a guest spot on Even Stevens and co-starring in the acclaimed Disney Channel Original Movie Tiger Cruise a few years later alongside his sister. He’d also carve out a place for himself as a voice actor, lending his pipes to shows and movies such as Blue’s Clues, The X’s, Ice Age: The Meltdown and Robots. Among his other live-action productions are The Walking Dead, sports drama The Perfect Game, The Martial Arts Kid and How High 2.

He was also incredibly close to older sister Hayden and posted about her on his Instagram a little over a month ago. Hayden, who is set to appear in Scream 6 next month, has been open about her personal life on several occasions. The Kirby Reed actress has been candid about being a mother and dealing with addiction. She’s usually one to speak her mind and, when it comes to the statement she and her family shared on Jansen, you can’t help but shed a tear.

We here at CinemaBlend continue to extend our condolences to the entire Panettiere family during this difficult time.

Tragedy has hit the family of Nashville star Hayden Panettiere, as her brother Jansen Panettiere has reportedly died at age 28. The actor, who began his career at a young age, lent his voice to projects like Blue’s Clues and Ice Age: The Meltdown and appeared in multiple other movies and shows, including some with his older sister.

Jansen Panettiere died this weekend in New York, TMZ reports. Law enforcement was apparently called to a resident around 5:30 p.m. Sunday, February 19. Panettiere’s cause of death was reportedly unclear, but no foul play was suspected.

The younger brother of Heroes star Hayden Panettiere started acting at 8 years old, appearing on an episode of Even Stevens. He made a couple of other guest appearances on shows before appearing in the Disney Channel Original Movie Tiger Cruise, which starred his sister alongside Bill Pullman. He joined forces with Hayden again in 2005’s Racing Stripes, where Jansen joined a voice cast of all-star names that included Frankie Muniz, Mandy Moore, Michael Clarke Duncan, Jeff Foxworthy, Joshua Jackson, Steve Harvey, David Spade, Snoop Dogg, Dustin Hoffman and Whoopi Goldberg.

His career wasn’t just filled with projects that included his sister, though. Jansen Panettiere voiced Periwinkle on Season 6 of Nickelodeon’s Blue’s Clues, in addition to a number of other voice acting roles. He voiced Robby Hobbie in several different Holly Hobbie animated specials, Shovelmouth Boy in Ice Age: The Meltdown and even starred as Truman X in Nickelodeon’s animated series The X’s in 2005. 

Jansen Panettiere’s acting career continued into his teens, where he appeared in the 2009 film The Perfect Game, a film based on the real events of the 1957 Little League World Series, in which the underdogs from Monterrey, Mexico, became the first non-United States team to win the LLWS.

In 2015 he starred in The Martial Arts Kid before appearing in 2019’s How High 2 and one episode in Season 9 of The Walking Dead. His last role was in the 2022 holiday movie Love and Love Not, and he reportedly had multiple projects in the works at the time of his death.

Jansen Panettiere's sister Hayden got an early start in her acting career as well, and she was also known for her voice acting, with one of her first roles being Dot in A Bug's Life. Hayden Panettiere would get her big break in 2006, with a starring role in the NBC superhero drama Heroes. She's most recently been featured in the revived Scream franchise. As of this writing, the actress had not commented publicly on her little brother's death. 

It is tragic to lose Jansen Panettiere at such a young age. We at CinemaBlend send our condolences to the actor’s friends and family during this difficult time.

The horror genre’s renaissance is showing no signs of slowing down, with projects like M3GAN starting the year off with a bang. One of the most highly anticipated upcoming horror movies is definitly Scream VI, which is the second one helmed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. The movie will largely follow the two sets of surviving siblings from the last movie, as they move from Woodsboro to New York City. But a new Scream VI video makes everyone seem like a suspect, so could a returning character be Ghostface?

Scream VI will mark the first installment of the horror franchise to not feature Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott. But there are still a number of returning characters including Courteney Cox as Gale Weathers and Scream 4’s Hayden Panettiere as Kirby Reed. A new video hyping up the movie recently arrived on Instagram, which features the starring cast each wiping a down a knife like Ghostface. Check it out for yourself below:

Well, my mind is spinning. While we’ve never had a returning character end up being Ghostface in a Scream movie, that does seem to be what this clip is setting up for the fans. It would definitely be a shocking twist, and seemingly usher a new age in the slasher property. Luckily moviegoers won’t have to wait too long for our questions to be answered.

The above video from Scream’s official Instagram account, and comes shortly after the upcoming sequel’s full trailer was revealed to the public. But the Scream franchise is known for its secrecy, and usually include one or more red herrings. Is that what this video is, or does the clip tease a character turning bad? Even Gale Weathers is included in this brief video.

Funny enough, I actually have been wondering about the killer being a returning character prior to this Scream VI video being released. After all, the limited footage show that the new Ghostface has a shrine build around the other killers. And while we got to see the full cast investigating it, I wonder if one of the killers might have been among them. Specifically, I have some suspicions surrounding Hayden Panettiere’s fan favorite survivor Kirby Reed.

Kirby’s return has been a long time coming, as fans like myself have debated whether or not she survived Scream 4 for years now. The fifth movie confirmed this in an easter egg, but she got limited screen time in the new trailer. Is this because most her screen time is at the third act during the final battle? Is she harboring resentment after Jill (Emma Roberts) was originally named the only survivor of their Woodsboro massacre? Only time will tell, but you can check out the trailer below:

Aside from Kirby, maybe one of the Meeks-Martin twins could also end up being a killer in Scream VI. Mindy and Chad are Randy’s niece and nephew respectfully, and the trauma surrounding Ghostface has now affected multiple generations of their family. Could that be enough to make them snap? Some fans out there are also holding out hope that Stu Macher might be alive after all these years. And it’ll be fascinating to see how Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barrera) is coping with seeing visions of her father Billy Loomis.

Scream VI is currently expected to arrive in theaters on March 10th. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

The horror genre has been thriving for a number of years now, as fans celebrate the ongoing renaissance. Some of the best horror movies returned to theaters as a result, including Wes Craven's Scream franchise. The fifth movie was such a success that Paramount quickly ordered another, which will be released in March. And Scream VI’s Hayden Panettiere offered an update on her character Kirby Reed following the events of Scream 4. 

Moviegoers were disappointed when it was revealed that Neve Campbell wouldn’t be back as Sidney Prescott in Scream VI, due to a pay dispute. But luckily directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett brought back another fan favorite character to the franchise: Kirby Reed played by Hayden Panettiere. The Heroes alum recently spoke to EW about how her character has changed since the events of Scream 4. She offered:

Sign me up. Kirby was one of the biggest fan favorite characters from Scream 4, which was also the last installment of the franchise to be released before Wes Craven’s death. Fans have long debated whether or not she was alive after being stabbed by one of the Ghostface killers, and they’ll be thrilled to see an older version of Hayden Panettiere’s survivor when she returns to the big screen all these years later.

Hayden Panettiere’s comments to EW help to paint a picture of how we’ll meet Kirby during Scream VI. The upcoming horror movie’s full trailer only featured a few brief glimpses of the returning character, so there will no doubt be plenty of theories about her role. I’m just hoping to see her flex those horror nerd muscles again, like in her truly iconic Ghostface call from Scream 4. 

Aside from the noticeable lack of Neve Campbell, Scream VI will also be breaking new ground by shifting the story from Woodsboro to New York City. All of the footage released so far has teased how this new setting will shift the movie’s action and suspense, especially in places like the Subway. You can re-watch the full trailer for Scream VI below:

As previously mentioned, fans theorized about whether or not Kirby survived Scream 4 for years after its release. While she got stabbed by Charlie (Rory Culkin) after he revealed he was one of the killers, her eyes never actually closed and we didn’t see her dead body. Her survival was confirmed in 2022’s Scream during an Easter Egg, and now the filmmakers have brought her back in all her glory. 

While fans are obviously happy to finally have Kirby return to the Scream franchise, there is one aspect of her upcoming appearance that folks are sounding off about online. Namely the wig that Hayden Panettiere is shown rocking. A number of memes have already been made comparing her to Tiffany from Chucky. Still, that hasn’t quelled moviegoers’ excitement about the next chapter in the slasher property. 

Scream VI is currently expected to arrive in theaters on March 10th. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. Hopefully another sequel is ordered, giving Neve Campbell the chance to make a new deal and return. Fingers crossed. 

The horror genre was built on long-running franchises, usually containing an iconic signature killer. Wes Craven's Scream is no exception, with Ghostface and the denizens of Woodsboro remaining beloved over the years. The property will once again return to theaters with Scream VI, directed by filmmakers Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. And a new image from the upcoming slasher has revealed the first look at Hayden Panettiere back as fan favorite character Kirby Reed.

Hayden Panettiere appeared as Kirby in Scream 4, which was the last installment released before the death of Wes Craven. Fans long debated whether or not she survived her encounter with Ghostface, with her survival being confirmed in an easter egg from the fifth movie. Now we can finally see her back in action thanks to a Scream VI sneak peek from EW. Check it out below:

Do you hear that sound? Its countless Scream fans out there cheering because Kirby Reed has finally graced our screens for the first time. While moviegoers were disappointed to learn that Neve Campbell wouldn't be appearing as Sidney Prescott in Scream VI, the return of Hayden Panettiere might help to soften the blow. Let's just hope she has a major role in the highly anticipated upcoming horror movie. 

This glimpse at Hayden Panettiere in Scream VI comes a day before the movie's full trailer is expected to finally be released. EW got the scoop of additional images featuring the likes of Courteney Cox, Melissa Barrera, and Wednesday actress Jenna Ortega. Chem them out for yourself below,

This sneak peek into Scream VI doesn't reveal much about the movie's contents, but it's thrilling to finally be treated to our first look at Ghostface as well as the survivors who will be attempting to survive his massacre through New York City. The story will focus on the two sets of surviving siblings from the fifth movie, but it looks like they'll eventually be paired with none other than Hayden Panettiere's Kirby Reed. Since she also survived her own Ghostface attack, she might be a valuable resource when facing off against another killer. 

Kirby was one of the bigger horror movie geeks in Scream 4, which is a common trope throughout the slasher property. She got a truly epic phone call sequence with Ghostface, listing of a horror titles while weeping in what is one of the most iconic moments of the entire movie. While she was stabbed by Charlie after he revealed himself as a killer, we never actually saw her body. Luckily the fan theories about her still being alive turned out to be true. 

While the contents of Scream VI are being kept under wraps, the cast and crew have all discussed how the new setting of New York City will have a huge influence on its action. Because while the Big Apple is heavily populated, it's also filled with locals who might not look up when they hear a scream. And as such, it should feel both claustrophobic and isolating. Bring on the scares!

Scream VI is expected to arrive in theaters on March 10th. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. We'll just have to wait and see if another sequel is ordered, possibly allowing Neve Campbell to return once again.

Following the success of 2022's legacyquel, the Scream franchise is moving full steam ahead into the future, and the next installment is set to arrive only a little over a year after its predecessor. Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett are back as directors for Scream 6, and though we don't know anything about the plot beyond the fact that it will be set in New York, the movie has quickly put together a stellar ensemble.

The cast of Scream 6 includes a mix of franchise veterans and newbies, and we've put together this feature to both identify all of the actors and collect the information that is available about their characters. As more names are announced we will continue to update this feature, but below you'll learn about all of the names we know so far.

Courteney Cox

With David Arquette’s Dewey Riley having been killed and Neve Campbell not returning to the Scream franchise due to a pay dispute, Courteney Cox is set up as the principal legacy star in Scream 6. She confirmed her part in the upcoming sequel in an interview with Variety in June 2022, and she will be back in action as intrepid reporter Gale Weathers. We don’t know if the new Ghostface will be coming to her this time around, or if she will be drawn to the crime spree as in previous cases.

Melissa Barrera

Playing Sam Carpenter, Melissa Barrera was introduced as the protagonist of the new era of the Scream franchise in the 2022 legacyquel, and the young actor will continue to bear that torch in the next movie. As was revealed in Scream, Sam is the illegitimate daughter of OG Ghostface Billy Loomis, and she has been known to have his voice in her head from time to time. When audiences catch up with her in the new movie, she will be living in New York, but she won’t be alone…

Jenna Ortega

Jenna Ortega will be back as “elevated” horror fan Tara Carpenter in Scream 6, as was confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter when the movie’s cast was first announced. Tara will be with her sister Sam in New York when the events of the story start to play out and a new Ghostface begins to start killing people. The sibling relationship experience a lot of turmoil in 2022’s Scream, but the end of the film suggests that the trauma will bring them closer together. In addition to Scream, Ortega has featured in other genre efforts including X, Studio 666, and the upcoming Wednesday series for Netflix.

Jasmin Savoy Brown

Jasmin Savoy Brown started 2022 on the right foot thanks to the January theatrical release of Scream and the finale of Yellowjackets Season 1, and her great year continued with the announcement of Scream 6’s cast in May 2022. The actor is set to reprise her role as Mindy Meeks-Martin, the niece of beloved franchise hero Randy Meeks, as while she was cut up pretty bad in the fourth Scream sequel, she successfully survived the carnage.

Mason Gooding

Chad Meeks-Martin’s injuries suffered at the hands of Ghostface in 2022’s Scream were arguably even worse than those incurred by his twin sister, but the end of the movie confirms his survival when he delivers a thumbs up to his sibling while being treated by paramedics in an ambulance. Again, it was clearly a setup to bring the character back in a sequel, and Mason Gooding was among the stars confirmed for Scream 6 when the project’s gears started turning in spring 2022.

Hayden Panettiere

Surprise! You may have thought that Kirby Reed was killed during the Ghostface murders of 2011, but it turns out that she survived her night of terror. Her continued existence on the mortal plane was teased via Easter egg in 2022’s Scream, but it was confirmed in May 2022 that Hayden Panettiere will be in Scream 6.

Dermot Mulroney

Police officers and detectives don’t have a terrific survival rate in the Scream movies. That being on the table, we’ll be optimistic and say that Dermot Mulroney is now set up to buck the odds by playing a cop in Scream 6. The My Best Friend’s Wedding star’s previous genre credits include Stoker and Insidious Chapter 3, and his involvement in Scream 6 was announced in June 2022.

Henry Czerny

As far as franchise movies are concerned, Henry Czerny is best known for his association with Tom Cruise’s high-flying antics in the Mission: Impossible series, but he’ll be joining the Scream family soon with a part in the upcoming Scream 6. The projects marks a reunion between Czerny and directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett as the actor previously had a key supporting role in the 2019 hit Ready Or Not. And speaking of performers from that beloved bit of horror…

Samara Weaving

Samara Weaving was the lead in the aforementioned Ready Or Not, and while scheduling conflicts ended up keeping her out of 2022’s Scream, no such thing will get in the way for Scream 6. The Australian star’s role in the upcoming horror movie was reported in July 2022, though how she will fit into the plot of the film is unknown at this time.

Tony Revolori

When Bloody Disgusting reported that Samara Weaving was in Scream 6, the news came with the bonus info that the production had also added a Spider-Man star. Tony Revolori, who plays comedic antagonist Flash Thompson in the MCU web-slinger films, is reportedly part of the ensemble in the new horror sequel – though there is no word available on his role and/or how he’s linked to the established characters in the franchise.

Jack Champion

Between Avengers: Endgame and Avatar: The Way Of Water, Jack Champion is a young actor who already has a great number of high-profile titles on his resume, and Scream 6 will soon be added to the list. Champion was one of four actors who joined the supporting cast of the new horror movie in June 2022, though we haven’t learned any details about his character in the film.

Devyn Nekoda

Devyn Nekoda has spent most of her career on the small screen with roles on shows including Degrassi: The Next Generation, Backstage, Utopia Falls, and Ginny & Georgia, but soon she will be making her big screen debut. Her only other feature credit to date is the Disney+ original Sneakerella, which dropped on the screening service about a month before her role in Scream 6 was announced.

Liana Liberato

To date, Liana Liberato is probably best known for her role on the Hulu original series Light As A Feather, but perhaps her role in Scream 6 will change her profile. It’s hard to say right now given that we don’t know what he part will be in the expansive ensemble.

Josh Segarra

Joining Tony Revolori and Jack Champion as MCU actors in the Scream 6 cast is Josh Segarra. The actor has extensive small screen experience – his filmography including Orange Is The New Black, Arrow, FBI, and The Other Two – but most recently he has earned acclaim for his turn as Augustus 'Pug' Pugliese in She-Hulk: Attorney At Law.

Scream 6 will be hitting theaters on March 31, 2023, and you can discover more films set to come out next year via our 2023 Movie Release Calendar.

The Scream franchise continues to pay homage to members of the franchise’s past while also balancing the contributions of the new crew that showed up in the surprisingly successful Scream – the 2022 one, not the 1996 classic. The fifth Scream had a slew of new faces in its cast that joined series founders Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette… as well as several stars from the 1996 film who made vocal appearances through very clever audio Easter eggs. And even though Campbell has said she will not return for Scream 6 thanks to a reported contractual dispute, we do know that Scream 4 standout Hayden Panettiere is reprising her role, and now we have our first look at her in production.

Scream co-star Jasmin Savoy Brown, who played Mindy Meeks in the 2022 repeat-quel, took over the official Scream account on the social app BeReal (via People) and posted the following image of Hayden Panettiere in the hair and makeup trailer for Scream 6. Kirby Reed is ready for her close up!

Underneath the photography, Jasmin Savoy Brown added the following caption:

And one of the reasons why we are so excited for Scream 6 is to find out how an O.G. like Hayden Panettiere will fit in alongside the new crew, especially since Neve Campbell confirmed she isn’t part of the upcoming movie. There will be a massive hole to fill, and Courteney Cox could take on a larger role, but our guess will be that the filmmakers behind Scream 6 will increase the part of Kirby Reed, a fan-favorite character from a hotly contested Scream sequel.    

Depending on when you caught up with the Scream franchise, your opinion on Scream 4 probably varies. While definitely the most meta of the series, the fact that Scream 4 tried to be a reboot AND a remake had some fans scratching their heads and others cheering the fresh direction. When it comes to the character of Kirby Reed, in particular, Scream fans often argued about whether or not she survived the movie, having seen her get stabbed and left to bleed out in this scene.

Now we know for certain that Kirby is back, and we have a shot of Hayden Panettiere on set… but not an official look at Kirby as she will appear in Scream 6. Let’s hope that happens sooner rather than later. We also are holding out hope that Neve Campbell can repair relationships and settle on a deal to return for Scream 6, as is being rumored. Scream isn’t Scream without Sidney Prescott, no matter how many new cast members they get to join the sequel. We compiled all of the facts you need to know about Scream 6, which should help keep you busy while you wait for the sequel to arrive in theaters on March 31, 2023. 

Actress Hayden Panettiere has been working since she was a young girl, growing up before our eyes in projects like Remember the Titans and Heroes. She also had a notable role in Wes Craven’s Scream 4, and she’s expected to reprise her role as Kirby Reed in an upcoming slasher sequel. But ahead of Scream 6, Panettiere is opening up about her addiction issues for the first time with the public.

While fans can’t wait to see Hayden Panettiere return to the big screen, she’s also using this new spotlight to be honest about her issues with opioid and alcohol. In a recent honest chat with People, Panettiere revealed that she secretly spent years battling her addictions. Combined with postpartum depression, the 32 year-old actress was in a bad place. As she shared,

As Hayden Panettiere revealed, eventually her body became physically dependent on alcohol; she would wake up with the shakes until sipping on something. And her substance issues began at an early age, when she would be given pills to be more alert and peppy during red carpet interviews by someone on her team. So while Panettiere seemingly had it all as a young star, she was definitely facing some demons in privacy.

This might be a surprise to even Hayden Panettiere’s most loyal fans, as the actress has continued working throughout her life. After ending her four-season run in Heroes and her fan favorite role in Scream 4, Panettiere took another major TV role in Nashville opposite Connie Britton. On top of the already grueling hours that come with filming a show, this role also required Panettiere to sing, as well as play a character who in some ways mirrored her own life. She shared how the work helped keep her in line for years, saying:

This private struggle might explain why Hayden Panettiere seemingly took a break from the spotlight following the end of her Nashville run. She hasn’t filmed any TV or film projects in years, but that’s about to change with Scream 6. The recent 2022 sequel confirmed her character Kirby Reed was alive, and she was later cast in the upcoming horror movie. And with Neve Campbell seemingly not returning as Sidney Prescott, Panettiere role as a returning character feels all the more significant.

While Hayden Panettiere has obviously faced some harrowing issues regarding her sobriety journey, she does seem hopeful. During her same interview with People, Panettiere definitely left things on a high note, saying:

Perhaps her role in Scream 6 will serve as the beginning of a Hayden Panettiere renaissance. She’s always been a talented actress, and perhaps working will be a different experience now that she’s dealing with her opioid and alcohol issues. 

Scream 6 is currently expected to hit theaters on March 31st, 2023. In the meantime, check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Following a successful sequel to Scream early this year, the horror franchise is already set to continue with Scream 6, and the cast is currently being assembled. Just a day after we heard new casting news about the upcoming horror movie, another exciting actor has already joined the lineup. Scream 4’s Hayden Panettiere will be in the crossfire of Ghostface once again. 

The Heroes actress has officially come aboard to reprise her role as Kirby Reed in the next Scream movie following her appearance in 2011’s Scream 4. So far, we know she’ll for sure join the other announced cast members: Melissa Barrera, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding and Jenna Ortega, each of which were newcomers to 2022’s Scream. 

If you were paying close attention to the latest Scream film, it was actually already revealed that Panettiere had survived the events of Scream 4. In a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment when one of the characters is on YouTube watching a video criticizing Stab 8, there’s a related video called “Interview with Woodsboro Survivor Kirby Reed.” Some fans were already theorizing Kirby might return, but now it’s official! 

The next Scream film is expected to begin filming this summer ahead of an early 2023 release date. The movie will reportedly pick up where the recent sequel left off, following Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega's Carpenter sisters, along with Mason Gooding’s Chad and Jasmin Savoy Brown’s Mindy leaving Woodsboro after the disturbing Ghostface killings to start a new chapter away from the recent horrors they experienced. 

Kirby Reed is a fan-favorite in the Scream franchise, who was the lone survivor of the Second Woodsboro Murders, which Emma Roberts’ Jill Roberts was the mastermind/Ghostface of in that story. Jill was Kirby’s best friend (before she went on her Ghostface killing spree, of course) and the cousin of Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott. While Scream 4 shows Kirby being stabbed and bleeding out, per Panettiere’s contract, she was obligated not to die on-screen, thus perhaps creating this opportunity for her to return all these years later. 

2022’s Scream brought back original Scream actors Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette, but only two of the three of the original cast members made it out alive. It’s currently unclear if more of these stars will once again come back to Scream or if the franchise is seeking to move forward without its core legacy characters, but we’d bet in the coming weeks, we’ll hear more Scream casting news. At the very least, Cox is looped in on the filming plans.

The sixth Scream film was officially announced in early February, just a few weeks after the fifth movie became a big hit at the box office. The upcoming Paramount sequel will once again see directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett taking on the horror franchise alongside writers James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick. We’ll keep you updated as details come ahead of the next Scream’s release date on March 31, 2023. 

Have you ever been watching your favorite TV show when a certain actor popped into frame and you could not help but wonder where else you might have seen them? There is a good chance that it could have been another episode of the same program, as many television series have a history of casting the same actor for entirely different roles. In fact we have a hefty amount examples below of actors who have played multiple TV characters in one series.

Giovanni Ribisi On Friends (Condom Guy, Frank Buffay Jr.)

Before he joined the Friends cast in the recurring role of Frank Buffay Jr. - the younger half-brother of Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) - Emmy nominee Giovanni Ribisi made an uncredited Season 2 appearance as a guy who asks if he can retrieve the condom he dropped in Phoebe’s guitar case moments earlier. Considering Phoebe never found out about this sibling until later that season, fans have speculated that Frank and “Condom Guy” are the same person, but this has never been confirmed.

Queen Latifah On The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air (Marissa Redman, Dee Dee)

Before she was in the Living Single cast, future Academy Award nominee Queen Latifah shared the screen with fellow rapper-turned-actor Will Smith on two episodes of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in 1991. She played a vain, domineering actress who hires Hilary (Karyn Parsons) as an assistant for her first appearance, and returned to play a woman whose friendship with Will is tested when he does not defend her from ridicule about her weight.

Jerry Orbach On Law & Order (Defense Attorney Frank Lehrman, Detective Lennie Briscoe)

The late, great Jerry Orbach of Dirty Dancing fame is even better known for his 12 seasons in the Law & Order cast as Detective Lennie Briscoe, for which he received his third Emmy nomination. However, his first appearance on creator Dick Wolf’s long-running crime procedural (which was revived in 2022) was in Season 2 (a year before he official joined the cast) as Frank Lehrman - a lawyer defending a woman who shot her estranged husband and his mistress. 

Justin Theroux On Sex And The City (Jared, Vaughn Wysel)

On the premiere season of Sex and the City, Justin Theroux appeared as Jared - Carrie Bradshaw’s (Sarah Jessica Parker) post-Mr. Big rebound - before showing up again the following season as Vaughn Wysel -  Carrie’s writer boyfriend whose stories are short, just like his bedroom stamina. The star of HBO’s The Leftovers explained on an episode of People Magazine’s Couch Surfing how he prepared for his second role on the iconic romantic-comedy series by shaving his head.

Dean-Charles Chapman On Game Of Thrones (Martyn Lannister, Tommen Baratheon)

It is not so unusual for a Game of Thrones cast member to die and come back later (i.e. Kit Harrington’s Jon Snow), but Dean-Charles Chapman is a special case. The 1917 star appeared in two episodes of the third season as a Lannister House squire named Martyn before being brought back the next year (and with a sweet promotion) as the polarizing King of the Andals, Tommen Baratheon.

Peter Capaldi On Doctor Who (Caecilius, The Doctor)

Because of Time Lords’ regenerative process, the titular hero of the phenomenal British sci-fi series, Doctor Who, has been played by 13 different actors so far - including Oscar-winner Peter Capaldi (who looked to David Bowie for inspiration for the role) from 2013 to 2017. However, die-hard Whovians may recall when the Scotsman and The Suicide Squad cast member appeared opposite the Tenth Doctor, David Tenant, in 2008 as a man The Doctor saves from Vesuvius’ eruption named Caecilius.

Karen Gillan On Doctor Who (Soothsayer, Amy Pond)

In the same 2008 episode of Doctor Who in which Peter Capaldi made his first appearance in a different role, future Marvel movie star Karen Gillan also made her debut on the cult favorite series as a soothsayer who gained psychic powers from breathing in dust from the volcano, Vesuvius. Two years later, the Scottish actress was cast as Amy Pond, who would accompany Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor on adventures until 2012.

Ted McGinley On Married… With Children (Norman Jablonsky, Jefferson D'Arcy)

On Married… with Children (which some believe is due for a revival), the Bundy Family’s next-door neighbor, Marcy (Amanda Bearse), was married twice - the second time to Jefferson D’Arcy, who was played by Ted McGinley after he joined the cast in Season 5. The previous season, he appeared in a holiday episode inspired by It’s a Wonderful Life in which Al (Ed O’Neill) is shown an alternate reality where Peg (Katey Segal) is, instead, married to a more successful, better looking man named Norman Jablonsky (McGinley).  

Terry O’Quinn On The X-Files (Lt. Brian Tillman, Shadow Man)

Emmy winner Terry O’Quinn, best known from the Lost cast, has starred in a number of series created by Chris Carter - including one of the best ’90 shows, The X-Files, as both a police lieutenant in Season 2  and a super-soldier who tries to kill Scully (Gillian Anderson) in Season 9. He was also a regular on another supernatural series by Carter called Millennium, which once crossed over with The X-Files - meaning O’Quinn has really played three characters within this same universe.

Garret Dillahunt On Deadwood (Jack McCall, Francis Wolcott)

Garett Dillahunt is one of the few names on our list who, instead of just two guest appearances, can claim to have two different, multi-episode recurring roles in the Deadwood cast. He played the crooked-nosed murderer Jack McCall in the HBO series’ first season, before returning in Season 2 as geologist Francis Wolcott. He even made an uncredited cameo in the series’ feature-length continuation from 2019 as random drunk.

S. Epatha Merkerson On Law & Order (Mrs. Denise Winters, Lieutenant Anita Van Buren)

Emmy winner S. Epatha Merkerson, who went on to be a staple of the One Chicago franchise, is best known for playing Lt. Anita Van Buren on Law & Order from 1993 to 2010. Yet, her first role on the iconic crime drama was as the mother of two young shooting victims in the the series’ premiere season.

Paget Brewster On Community (Debra Chambers, Frankie Dart)

During Paget Brewster’s temporary absence from the Criminal Minds cast, she had a starring role on Community as Frankie Dart - a consultant hired to help improve things on the Greendale campus. There is a clever joke from Season 6 of creator Dan Harmon’s cult favorite comedy when Frankie claims to have some bizarre trouble when trying to reach out to Greendale’s I.T. department head, Debra Chambers - whom Brewster also played in the previous season.

James Cromwell On Barney Miller (Sgt. Wilkinson, Neil Spencer, Jason Parrish, Dr. Edmund Danworth)

The producers of Barney Miller (one of funniest and best classic mystery shows) cast several actors in multiple guest appearances over its eight seasons, including Oscar nominee James Cromwell. He first appeared as a police sergeant in 1977, a representative of the department of energy two years later, and both a corporate representative and stress researcher in 1981.

Denise Dowse On Beverly Hills, 90210 (Professor Harriet Welkman, Mrs. Teasley)

Years before appearing on the hit HBO comedy Insecure or FX’s acclaimed crime drama Snowfall, Denise Dowse appeared on a total of 24 episodes as part of the Beverly Hills, 90210 cast from 1990 to 2000. In 23 of those episodes, she played West Beverly Hills High School vice principal Yvonne Teasley, and also played a college professor in an episode of Season 1, which was also her first.

Diane Neal On Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (Amelia Chase, A.D.A. Casey Novak)

Diane Neal has starred on the crime procedural spin-off Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (initially as a regular and later in recurring and guest appearances) as Casey Novak - an assistant district attorney who also appeared in an episode of the short-lived Law & Order: Trial By Jury. The actress has actually played two characters in this universe - the first being a stockbroker convicted of the rape and murder of a male stripper who staged the murder of her accomplice as a suicide, on SVU’s third season.

Freema Agyeman On Doctor Who (Adeloa Oshodi, Martha Jones)

Before joining the New Amsterdam cast and starring in The Matrix Revolutions, Freema Agyeman first appeared with the Doctor Who cast as Torchwood technician Adeloa Oshodi in 2006. The following year, she was cast as Martha Jones - a companion to David Tenant’s Tenth Doctor - who was later revealed to be Adeloa’s cousin to explain the resemblance between the two.

Christa Miller On Seinfeld (Ellen De Granmont, Paula)

If her starring roles on The Drew Carey Show, with the Scrubs cast, and on Cougar Town do not earn Christa Miller the right to be called sitcom royalty, how about her two disparate guest roles on one of the most celebrated sitcoms of all time, Seinfeld? Miller contributes to two memorable George Costanza moments - the first being when she cost Jason Alexander’s iconic character a bra salesman position after a disastrous attempt at hitting on her in Season 5. In Season 6, she played a woman already dating George, but her unflattering doodle of him suddenly makes him unsure if her affection is genuine.

Nelson Franklin on The Office (Graphic Design Guy, Nick)

Comedian and Being the Ricardos star Nelson Franklin is known for having notable recurring roles on a number of sitcoms, including with The Office cast as Dunder Mifflin-Sabre’s begrudgingly overlooked IT guy, Nick, in Season 6. Two seasons earlier, he appeared in the episode “Job Fair” as a graphic design expert whom Pam (Jenna Fischer) approaches with interest in the field.

Sean Gunn On Angel (Mars, Lucas)

Before his older brother, James Gunn, cast him in multiple roles in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies (namely Kraglin and Rocket Raccoon, for whom he performed the mo-cap), Sean Gunn play two different characters in the first season of the David Boreanaz-led Buffy spin-off, Angel. The future Gilmore Girls cast member first played a spa manager helping an inter-dimensional demon princess hide other women of her kind from the males who enslave them, before returning a few episodes later as a demon himself - specifically the kind that Angel’s ally, Allen Doyle (Glenn Quinn), is a descendent of on his father’s side.

Hayden Panettiere On Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (Ashley Austin Black, Angela Agnelli)

Back when she was still best known for Disney movies like A Bug’s Life and Remember the Titans, Hayden Panettiere guest-starred on Season 2 of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as the surviving young daughter of two singers accused of neglecting their recently deceased son. Right before joining the Heroes cast made her a household name, the actress and singer appeared on the spin-off’s sixth season as a Catholic high school student whose participation in a sex tape also featuring her classmate and an adult doctor, drove her to murder.

James Jordan On Veronica Mars (Lucky, Tim Foyle)

Years before joining the Yellowstone cast as Steve Hendon, one of James Jordan’s first major TV characters was Tim Foyle - a rival of Kristen Bell’s titular hero from the Veronica Mars cast who appeared in seven episodes, including the 2019 revival season. However, Jordan actually starred in a total of 10 episodes of the hit mystery drama and, for his first three, played a Neptune High janitor ironically named Lucky, who was shot and killed by a school security guard after showing up with an unloaded gun after he was fired.

Michael Cudlitz On CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (Officer William Spencer, Josh Barston)

Earlier in his career, former The Walking Dead cast member Michael Cudlitz made a guest appearance on each of the first three editions of the CSI franchise (and each time as a different character, too), but the original is the only one on which he appeared twice. His first played a cop driven to crime by greed in Season 2, and later played a contractor driven to murder by love in Season 9.

BONUS: Kali Rocha On Buffy The Vampire Slayer (Cecily Addams, Halfrek - Confirmed To Be The Same Character)

For years, it was debated among fans of Buffy of the Vampire Slayer whether or not Kali Rocha's roles of Cecily Addams - a 19th Century socialite whose rejection of Spike (James Marsters) resulted in his vampirism - and the vengeance demon Halfrek were the same person. Writer Drew Goddard would confirm in a DVD commentary track (via ScreenRant) that the theory is, indeed, true, which we have chosen to mention as a bonus item on this list just in case there were any fans who may have needed clarification.

Let this list be a lesson to any aspiring actor to never take a TV guest appearance or small recurring role for granted. It could be the first of many appearances on that show alone or could get you promoted to a regular position.

Last month, things got a little dicey for Hayden Panettiere and her supposed on-again off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson. A huge bar brawl caught on video showed the two at odds with several other patrons after Hickerson had criticized someone for leaving a low tip for a waitress. Now, the 33-year-old frequent fling to the Nashville alum is facing a new claim by his probation officer.

Technically, Brian Hickerson is still under probation because of two domestic violence incidents dating back to 2018, both involving Hayden Panettiere. Per USA Today, Hickerson had pleaded no contest to the charges in 2021 and was subsequently sentenced to 45 days in jail as well as four years of probation afterward. Additionally, he was penalized with 52 domestic violence classes, a $500 restitution fee, and five years of a protective order.

No official charges were reportedly filed against him for the recent bar fight but, apparently, there could be other consequences for him given the rules surrounding the aforementioned probation in effect until 2025. TMZ obtained certain court documents wherein his probation officer noted how he asked for a second round of the fight and that his famous girlfriend had apparently tried to warn him of potential jail time in the video. As a result, the P.O. told the court that the real estate agent is in fact in violation of his probation conditions by inflicting violence on another – whether in defense or not.

Furthermore, the government official recommended to the court that Brian Hickerson should face specific repercussions for his actions. Namely, he would like to see Hayden Panettiere’s beau complete 26 weeks of anger management and 26 weeks of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).

The situation clearly doesn’t isn’t looking too good. But, at the very least, Hayden Panettiere shared to the press at the time that she was doing “okay” in the wake of the fight, which saw her attempting to pull people off her boyfriend. Panettiere also clarified that she was “refused the opportunity” to give a police statement due to being ushered back into the bar.

Prior to the incident, reports habitually circulated that the Heroes alum had gotten back into a relationship with her ex, as they were spotted out and about together. They have both denied it, presumably because of the protective order, but the disastrous turn of events at the Sunset Marquis’ bar in West Hollywood might suggest otherwise.

Hayden Panettiere, who shares a daughter with ex-fiancé/boxer Wladimir Klitschko, has been on an acting hiatus since 2018. Her last role was in CMT’s Nashville drama series, which was cancelled after six seasons. However, an interesting choice of haircut for the actress in 2019 sparked fan excitement that she was hinting at reviving her Kirby Reed character in the latest Scream that was released this year as part of the 2022 movie schedule. Ultimately, though, there was a just old pic and voice cameo from the star, but nothing entirely new to see.

With this latest news from Brian Hickerson's parole officer, it's more than likely that further developments regarding the bar incident will arrive sooner rather than later.

It’s been awhile since we’ve seen Hayden Panettiere in the headlines for trouble with her on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson. Unfortunately, that time has come to an end, as they were caught on tape involved in a huge brawl with other patrons outside the Sunset Marquis Hotel's restaurant in West Hollywood. No charges were filed in the fight, and a representative for Panettiere said she is “okay.”

According to TMZ, the argument started at the hotel bar, leading to everyone involved being kicked out. Tensions continued to rise once outside, and while security could be seen trying to handle the situation, a huge fight eventually broke out in the street. Brian Hickerson was fighting a large group, with Hayden Panettiere trying to pull people off of him. At one point, it appeared the actress got kicked in the face, and could be heard yelling, “Brian, jail!” in a possible reminder to Hickerson that he is on probation. In a statement to People, a rep for the Nashville actress said:

By the time officers arrived to the scene, everyone had left and no report on the fight was filed, TMZ reported.

According to the statement from the Heroes actress' representative, she “happened to be with” Brian Hickerson, so it doesn’t sound like the couple is officially back together. Despite multiple domestic abuse reports (Brian Hickerson was arrested for domestic battery in February 2020, and for domestic violence in May 2019, both incidents involving Hayden Panettiere), the couple have been spotted together multiple times. 

They hung out in July 2021, following his release from jail after serving time on the domestic abuse charges. At the time, the aspiring actor told E! News:

Hayden Panettiere and Brian Hickerson saw each other again this past September. The former couple arrived and left separately, but within a few minutes of each other. Hickerson denied again that they had reconciled.

Hayden Panettiere has one child, a 7-year-old daughter Kaya, whom she shares with professional boxer and ex-fiance, Wladimir Klitschko. Kaya was living in Ukraine with her father, however, after the Russian invasion; Panetteire confirmed on Instagram that her daughter was safe:

Hayden Panettiere hasn’t acted since Nashville was canceled in 2018, but along with that and the series Heroes, she is known for such movies as Scream 4 (she even made a very small cameo in the most recent Scream movie), I Love You, Beth Cooper and Bring It On: All or Nothing. It’s good to hear that the actress was okay after that scary fight, and fingers crossed for continued safety for both Hayden Panettiere and her daughter.

Spoilers ahead for the new Scream movie! If you haven’t seen the slasher, you’ve been warned.

The horror movie renaissance has been going strong for years now, and it’s showing no signs of slowing down. As such, it’s the perfect time for the new Scream movie, since the franchise is known for deconstructing the genre. There are a few surprise returns in the slasher, and Scream producer Chad Villella confirmed that easter eggs reveal the fate of more legacy characters. And one has already been spotted.

The new Scream is largely focused on new characters, especially Melissa Barrera’s protagonist Sam. But longtime fans will be delighted in some surprise character returns, including Heather Matarazzo as Randy’s sister Martha Meeks. I had the privilege of speaking with directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett ahead of Scream’s release, as well as their collaborator and producer Chad Villella. When I asked if they were tempted to bring in more survivors from the franchise, Villella told me:

Do you hear that sound? It's hardcore Scream fans clamoring to their second screening of the new sequel. There were a ton of easter eggs and visual nods to the previous four movies, and it seems that some are more significant than others. But which characters could end up appearing in a possible sequel?

Because I couldn’t help myself, I pressed the Scream directors and producer about one character in particular: Hayden Panettiere’s Kirby Reed from the fourth movie. After all, we never saw her eyes actually close after being stabbed by Rory Culkin’s Charlie in Act 3. Co-director Matt Bettinelli-Olpin jumped in during the chat, telling me:

With Scream now in theaters, myself and other fans have been able to find exactly where Kirby is referenced in the new movie. It happens fairly early in the sequel’s runtime, where Jack Quaid’s Richie is watching YouTube videos to familiarize himself with the Woodsboro killings. There we see the thumbnail of a video with “Woodsboro Survivor” Kirby Reed. So while she doesn’t actually appear in the new movie, it seems Hayden Panettiere’s fan favorite character did actually survive the events of Scream 4.

This is one thrilling update, one that could potentially come into play if Scream gets another sequel. Could Hayden Panettiere appear in the next movie as Kirby? One could only hope.

In the meantime, it remains to be seen what other easter eggs are decoded as moviegoers go see the new slasher installment on repeated views. It’s always fun to track the killer on a second watch, but it’s clear that the filmmakers behind the new movie also added more exciting nods for the fans.

Scream is in theaters now. Be sure to check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

The horror franchise is built on franchises, so no property is ever truly gone. It looked like the iconic slasher series Scream had ended when horror legend Wes Craven died back in 2015, but that'll change with the recent development of Scream 5. Ready or Not directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett will continue the iconic franchise, using their signature mixture of comedy and horror. The upcoming sequel's cast is currently being assembled, and franchise star David Arquette wants one particular cast member from Scream 4 to return to Woodsboro. Namely, Hayden Panettiere.

Heroes and Nashville star Hayden Panettiere made a splash playing Kirby in Scream 4. The character was a sassy horror expert, and was able to rattle off countless movie titles in one of the movie's best scenes. Kirby was stabbed in the movie's third act, but her death was never explicitly shown. And while fans are already hoping Panettiere reprises her role in the upcoming fifth Scream movie, it seems that David Arquette agrees. He recently spoke to Scream 5's cast, saying:

Well, that was crystal clear. It looks like Scream fans can count David Arquette in as one of the many people calling for Hayden Panettiere's Kirby to return in the still developing Scream 5 movie. We'll just have to wait and see if the campaign actually succeeds, or if Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett leave the character in the past.

David Arquette's comments to Hollywood Life are sure to delight Scream fans who have been holding out hope that Hayden Panettiere's character might appear in the upcoming fifth movie. While the actor was careful not to actually reveal anything about the developing project, Scream 5's cast is clearly being assembled by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. So far both Arquette and Courteney Cox are returning as Dewey and Gale respectively, with newcomers being cast as well.

Kirby was a great addition to the Scream 4 cast, and represented the next generation of Woodsboro alongside actors Emma Roberts, Rory Culkin, and Younger's Nico Tortorella. While each of the new cast was killed off throughout the movie's runtime, Kirby's fate was left somewhat ambiguous. We saw her stabbed by Charlie, but her eyes never even closed and her dead body was never shown.

A few months ago Hayden Panettiere cut her hair in Kirby's short cut, which set Scream fans off. And now that Scream 5 is actually happening, she's no doubt getting plenty of tweets about the project. The story is a complete mystery to the public, although Neve Campbell revealed she was in talks and seemingly approved of the new vision.

CinemaBlend will keep you updated on all things Scream 5 as details become public. In the meantime, check out our 2020 release list to plan your next movie experience.

The horror world has been in a serious renaissance lately, as the genre has seen a ton of new and exciting properties hit theaters. And with the trend of nostalgia continuing to dominate the pop culture landscape, some horror classics have made their way back to theaters. Blumhouse had great success with Halloween, and there were recently rumors swirling about a possible fifth Scream movie. And Hayden Panettiere's haircut has seemingly added fuel to the fire.

Hayden Panettiere made her Scream debut in the most recent film outing, Scream 4. She played Kirby, the horror enthusiast best friend of Emma Roberts' Jill. She was a serious scene stealer throughout the slasher, especially during her epic monologue listing horror titles. The Nashville alum recently cut her hair to rock Kirby's look, and the fandom is collectively freaking out. Check it out below.

Do you hear that? It's the sound of horror fans everywhere freaking out. Because in addition to rocking Kirby's signature haircut from Scream 4, Hayden Panettiere directly referenced the 2011 slasher.

Hayden Panettiere's hair update comes from her personal Twitter account, which the actress utilizes to directly communicate with fans. The caption and hashtags mention her role in Scream 4, and her return to Kirby's spunky look. And given the rumors about a fifth movie, this is sure to exacerbate the campaign for another sequel.

Kirby's fate is one of the only questions left after the events of Scream 4. She was brutally stabbed by Rory Culkin's Charlie after "winning" the battle against Ghostface for his life. But despite meeting the pointy end of a kitchen knife, she was never actually seen dead. In fact, the final shot of Kirby had her eyes open, despite losing a ton of blood.

It certainly seems possible that Kirby survived, and could seemingly appear in Scream 5. Of course, there's no guarantee that a fifth movie will ever happen. It looks like those reports are only rumors, as not even franchise star David Arquette knows of any plans.

Related: Scream Star Jamie Kennedy Co-Signs Fan Theory After Scream 5 Announcement

Perhaps the biggest reason why a fifth Scream movie might not come to fruition is the death of horror legend Wes Craven. Craven created the iconic franchise, and directed all four big screen installments. But Craven passed away in 2015, so a fifth movie would require a seriously visionary filmmaker in order for it to fit alongside its predecessors. But given the success of Blumhouse's Halloween, perhaps its possible.

Hayden Panettiere doesn't have any film projects coming up, but hopefully that'll change with a fifth Scream movie. In the meantime, check out our 2020 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

When ABC canceled Nashville, CMT jumped in as a savior to the series, and has been the home for the show ever since. In that time following, the show has gone through some pretty big changes with Connie Britton exiting the show, and Rachel Bilson joining the cast to fill the void she left. Now, it looks like the curtain is finally closing on the series, as CMT announced today Nashville would be ending after Season 6.

Fortunately, the Nashville team seems ok with getting the boot this time around. Per TVLine, executive producer Marshall Herskovitz thanked fans for their support that led to CMT taking interest in the drama in the first place, and said that this final Season 6 will be a compilation of all the things that made the show great to them from the beginning:

When we first reported Nashville would be returning for Season 6 months ago, it was said that the series would return for 16 episodes at some point in the 2018 season. That's shorter than the usual 21-22 episode count and, at the time, was thought to be a consequence of a reduced budget in the series. Given the series' renewal came still fairly early in Season 5, it was assumed that CMT was eager to bring the show back for another season. Now that we know Season 6 will be the final season, one has to wonder if that was always the plan, or if something changed. Regardless, Season 6 now has an official airdate of Thursday, January 4th, so fans better get ready to say their goodbyes here in the near future.

Fans of Rachel Bilson's Alyssa Green already missed their chance to say goodbye, as it's also being reported Bilson will not return for the show's final season. While it was always known that Bilson's contract on Nashville was only for one season, the actress recently accepted a leading role in a new ABC series that officially pulled her away from the show. No other departures have been announced ahead of Season 6, so it appears that everyone fans expect to be back will be around for the final season.

As mentioned earlier, Nashville will return for its final Season 6 on January 4th on CMT. The series will survive just long enough to miss out on our 2017 cancellation list, but it appears as though it'll be one of the first entries for 2018. For less on cancelled shows, and more on what shows to watch throughout the rest of 2017, be sure to visit our fall premiere guide for dates and times for the hottest remaining shows of the year. For a look ahead at what's coming to television in the new year, head on over to our midseason premiere guide.

Nashville fans went through quite an emotional ordeal recently, as it temporarily looked like the drama's cancellation at ABC meant we wouldn't get to see these characters on our televisions again. But then in stepped CMT, the most natural new home for the show, and excitement for Season 5 could really begin. Unfortunately, producers had to make a few cuts on the move from broadcast network to cable channel, but now we know that the majority of the show's major players will be returning, headed up by Connie Britton's Rayna James.

While I'm sure there weren't many people out there holding their breath over the chance that Connie Britton wouldn't be tapped to bring her signature class back to the faux country music scene, the fact that nothing had been announced yet was quite the curiosity. So yes, Rayna will be back, and you're probably thinking that Charles Estes will also be back as Rayna's on-again/off-again Deacon, and that is the correct assumption to make, according to TVLine.

But you're probably even more anxious to know how that crazy cliffhanger will end up, right?

Fear not, world! Hayden Panettiere will reportedly be back for Season 5 as the illustrious Juliette Barnes. You may recall that when Season 4 ended, Avery learned at the airport that Juliette's plane had gone missing after a distress signal had been sent out, making the cancellation news all the more frustrating for viewers. But it looks like the sensible decision has been made to write an explanation for the missing plane so that Juliette can come home safely to her husband, as Avery portrayer Jonathan Jackson will also be returning for Season 5.

It's fabulous that Nashville will have four of its top draws back for more, but let's not forget everyone else that we'll be seeing again. We'll also get to catch up again with Clare Bowen's rising star Scarlett O'Connor, Sam Palladio's rising-even-higher star Gunnar Scott, Chris Carmack's out-of-the-closet hitmaker Will Lexington, and the sisterly duo of Maddie and Daphne Conrad, as played by Lennon Stella and Maisy Stella, respectively.

Confirmed recently were the character exiles of Will Chase's Luke Wheeler and Aubrey Peeples' Layla Grant, neither of whom will be returning for Season 5. And there are still a bunch of recurring characters whose fates are still up in the air, but if CMT is dedicated enough to bring back almost the entire main cast, the network just might be interested in keeping around more of the second-tier players than we thought.

There's no telling just when Nashville Season 5 is going to hit CMT, but at least we know that we're going to see just about all of the most familiar faces coming back for another round of harmony-blending drama.

A good sports team movie always needs an extensive cast to fill out all the roles, but that’s especially true for good football movies, which have several different positions to fill with strong actors, both on and off the field. Remember the Titans however, was sold on the star power of the head coach, so the team itself was made up of mostly unknowns at the time of its release in 2000.

But a lot can change in the span of 23 years, and many of those previously unknown actors are as far from unknown as you can get today. So what happened to the cast of Remember The Titans? Let’s take a look back at one of the most inspirational football teams in movie history and see where the individual members of the fantastic ensemble wound up. 

Denzel Washington (Herman Boone)

Denzel Washington was the only real movie star when Remember the Titans hit screens in 2000. He’d already won his first Academy Award for 1992’s Glory, and he’d been nominated for another the year before for his lead role in another sports film: The Hurricane. The actor is certainly one of the best out there.

Following his role as Titans coach Herman Boone, Washington would go on to win the Best Actor Academy Award in 2001 for his performance in Training Day. He  reunited with director Antoine Fuqua for the remake of The Magnificent Seven, which was released in 2016. 

Since then, he’s appeared in big films such as Fences, the Equalizer films, The Tragedy of Macbeth as an Apple TV+ original movie, The Little Things and more. He also worked as a producer on Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and A Journal for Jordan. 

Coming up, Washington is set to have a role in the upcoming Gladiator sequel, as well as the next Equalizer film.

Ryan Hurst (Gerry Bertier)

Fans will remember Ryan Hurst for portraying linebacker and team captain Gerry Bertier in Remember The Titans - a character tragically paralyzed in the film. In the years since the film’s release, Hurst took on a number of big screen roles (including films like We Were Soldiers and The Ladykillers, but today the actor is probably best known as Opie Winston from the FX drama series Sons of Anarchy. 

Hurst went on to do some amazing things after his major role in the FX series. He starred as Beta for two seasons in the hit show, The Walking Dead, becoming a huge villain in the series. Besides that, he also had big roles in television series’ such as The Outsiders, Bates Motel, Paradise City, and The Mysterious Benedict Society. He also voiced Thor in God of War: Ragnarok, a gaming franchise that is going to be adapted into a television series. Soon, he’ll be returning to the big screen with a movie called Desperation Road. 

Hayden Panettiere (Sheryl Yoast)

Hayden Panettiere started acting in soap operas at the age of five years old, playing Sarah Victoria 'Flash' Roberts on One Life To Live and Lizzie Spaulding on Guiding Light. However, she moved to the big screen to play Will Patton’s daughter, Sheryl, in Remember the Titans, and it wound up being huge exposure for the young actress. Years later, Panettiere got noticed playing "The Cheerleader" Claire Bennet in the original run of the series Heroes. 

Panettiere has mainly stuck to the small screen in her years, appearing in a major role in the television show, Nashville. However, she had a role in the film, Custody, and was also in Scream IV, Scream as a voice cameo and its sequel, Scream VI. She also appeared in the horror video game, Until Dawn. 

Will Patton (Bill Yoast)

While Will Patton is usually not called a movie star, he’s one of the more familiar faces in movies today thanks to dozens of memorable character roles. Whether you remember him as General Bethlehem in the Kevin Costner bomb, The Postman, as Bruce Willis’ sidekick Chick in Michael Bay’s asteroid movie Armageddon, or as Atley Jackson in Nicolas Cage’s remake of Gone in 60 Seconds you probably saw him someplace of note prior to seeing him as Titans assistant coach Bill Yoast. 

Since the release of Remember The Titans,  Patton has, like many actors, been spending a lot of time on television, including on TNT’s alien invasion series Falling Skies for five seasons until its end in 2015. Since then, he’s had roles in shows such as Yellowstone, Swamp Thing, Outer Range, Silo, Shots Fired and more. 

Patton also appeared in the newest trilogy of Halloween movies, and had roles in films such as Boarding School, Minari alongside Steven Yeun, and more. Soon, he’ll be appearing in the next western epic, Horizon. 

Wood Harris (Julius Campbell)

In Remember The Titans, Wood Harris played DE Julius Campbell, one of the African American students who had the hardest time dealing with the desegregated high school. 

In the time since the film was released, Harris has continued to act. He could be found in the Marvel Cinematic Universe playing Officer Gale, one of the detectives chasing down Paul Rudd’s Scott Lang in Ant-Man in 2015. He also took up a role in the Rocky franchise, featured in Creed as Tony "Little Duke" Burton, the boxing trainer of Apollo’s Delphi Gym.

Harris would continue to reprise this role in both Creed II and Creed III. Besides these roles, he also appeared in Blade Runner 2049, Space Jam: A New Legacy, and 9/11, among others. He was also a part of the Empire cast during Seasons 5 and 6, and has appeared in several other shows including, but not limited to, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, The Last O.G., Bronzeville, and The New Edition Story.  

Donald Faison (Petey Jones)

Donald Faison was not exactly an unknown quantity going into his role as Petey Jones in Remember the Titans, as audiences were already familiar with him from his role in Clueless - which he also reprised for three seasons on TV. Since the football film was released, however, it’s much more likely that you got used to seeing him in what would be his next big role, spending nearly a decade playing Dr. Christopher Turk on the medical comedy series Scrubs. 

Besides his part in Scrubs, Faison has been in many other television roles, including Emergence, The Exes, The L Word: Generation Q, Clone High and more. He also has appeared in the films The Perfect Match, The Wave, and Embattled. Faison is going to be in two new movies – Home Delivery and Extended Family. 

Ethan Suplee (Louie Lastik)

In Remember the Titans, Ethan Suplee played the team’s Left Tackle, Louie Lastik, and thanks to his loveable charm, provided the movie with some of its most memorable moments. Prior to the movie, the actor had already crafted a solid career for himself, appearing in movies like Mallrats and TV shows like Boy Meets World, and his career has stayed strong since. He’s also well known for playing Randy Hickey, the younger brother of Jason Kee’s Lotto winner character Earl Hickey on the underrated series My Name is Earl. 

He’s appeared in movies such as Deepwater Horizon, Motherless Brooklyn, The Hunt, Dog, and 2022’s Babylon. He’s also appeared in television series’ such as The Ranch, Good Girls, Chance and Santa Clarita Diet. Coming up, he’ll be in a few new movies called Manodrome and God is a Bullet.  

Kate Bosworth (Emma Hoyt)

Emma Hoyt was the young girlfriend of team captain Gerry Bertier in Remember The Titans, and while you may not remember it, she was played by a young Kate Bosworth in the movie. It was one of her first film roles, and obviously wouldn’t be her last. 

She went on to take the lead role in surf feature Blue Crush, and she notably played Lois Lane in director Bryan Singer’s attempted reboot Superman Returns. Besides that, she’s appeared in movies such as Barbarian, The Immaculate Room, Along for the Ride, The Domestics, The Enforcer, The Last Sentinel and more. Coming up, she is going to be in three new films called Confidential Informant, Bunker, and Carrier. 

Kip Pardue (Ronnie “Sunshine” Bass)

"Sunshine" Ronnie Bass was the quarterback who gets thrown into the game before he’s ready but makes it work anyway in Remember The Titans, and it was one of the earliest roles played by actor Kip Pardue. Since then, he’s stacked up many more titles on his resume including recurring spots on shows like ER, Ray Donovan and Mad Men.  

Pardue has since appeared in movies such as American Fable and several other smaller independent movies. Pardue has stuck to the small screen mainly, appearing in shows such as Runaways in a major role, as well as some guest appearances in series’ such as Hawaii Five-0 and Once Upon a Time. 

Ryan Gosling (Alan Bosley)

Who knew that one of the biggest stars coming out of Remember The Titans was going to the wiry little cornerback Alan Bosley? Buried among all these giant football players was a guy named Ryan Gosling, who started his career as a Mouseketeer and would go on to become one of the biggest movie stars/heartthrobs in Hollywood. Six years after the football film he received his first Oscar nomination playing a drug-addicted high school teacher in Half Nelson. 

Some of his biggest films since then have been The Big Short, La La Land (which garnered him an Oscar nomination), The Nice Guys, The Gray Man, First Man, Song to Song and Blade Runner 2049. In 2023, he is set to appear in Barbie as Ken, and later on will have a starring role in The Fall Guy.

Burgess Jenkins (Ray Budds)

The role of Tight End Ray Budds in Remember The Titans was only the second acting job for young actor Burgess Jenkins, the part following a one off role as "Brad" on a 2000 episode of Dawson’s Creek. He had a recurring role on the series Army Wives, but has found a home in the soap opera world. He was a regular on The Young and the Restless for a couple of years. 

Besides that popular soap opera, Jenkins has appeared in movies such as Noelle, The Reason, The Girl Who Believes in Miracles, and Our Time, as well as some other smaller films. Talk about a packed resume. 

Nicole Ari Parker (Carol Boone)

Nicole Ari Parker had several credits in her career prior to playing the wife of Denzel Washington’s coach Boone in Remember The Titans, and while she has had roles in multiple features since, most of her work has been found on the small screen. 

She’s had a number of recurring roles on television in recent years including shows like the sci-fi show Revolution, the crime drama Murder in the First andFox’s  series Rosewood, where she plays Kat Crawford.

Since then, Parker has appeared in multiple other television shows including Empire, Chicago P.D., I’m Dying Up Here, And Just Like That… on Max, which is in its second season, and more. She also has appeared in the films Almost Christmas, How It Ends, and the TV film Downsized. Coming up, she is set to appear in the film HeadShop. 

Talk about a stacked cast. There’s truly no stopping the Remember The Titans cast and I can’t wait to see what they do next.  

When you think of some of your favorite celebrities, there are certain qualities that come to mind first. Certainly in the world of Hollywood, height doesn't seem to play as much of a part. But, it may just be that we aren't noticing how tall or short some particular celebrities are. Sometimes casting can be based around height and sometimes we just can't tell how a celebrity would stack up against us.

The average height of a woman is about 5'4", of a man it is about 5'8", but when you think about Hollywood, everyone seems so much taller. Well, there are a few out there that weren't graced with Gisele Bundchen legs or Chris Hemsworth stature. And though it may not seem like it on screen, celebrities can be short too--- really, really short. Here's our list of 18 of the shortest celebrities.

Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi

Height: 4'8"

Nicole Polizzi, better known as Snooki, starred in the MTV reality TV show, Jersey Shore. Though short in stature, Snooki couldn't be missed (especially with her pouf). Her party girl antics brought a whole new meaning to the term "fun-sized".

Adrienne Bailon

Height: 4'11"

Adrienne Bailon is the face behind many pop sensations including 3LW and The Cheetah Girls. She may be small, but The Cheetah Girls wouldn't have made it without her.

Lil' Kim

Height: 4'11"

Lil' Kim's presence in the rap community is so large that it's easy not to notice the singer/songwriter is shorter than 5 feet. She's crushed records left and right and is one of only two female rappers to have at least 3 platinum albums.

AnnaSophia Robb

Height: 5'0"

AnnaSophia Robb has grown up a lot since her role as Violet Beauregarde in Charlie and the Chocolate factory, though it doesn't look like she grew in height much since. The 21-year-old Carrie Diaries actress comes in at 5 feet even.

Ariana Grande

Height: 5'0"

From Nickelodeon star to pop sensation, Ariana Grande has had quite the career for a 21-year-old. The Grammy Award-nominated singer/actress has become known for her babydoll image, which after learning her height, seems even more fitting.

Kourtney Kardashian

Height: 5'0"

Kourtney Kardashian may be the eldest of the Kardashian sisters, but she comes in at the shortest too. There's a 6 year difference between Kourtney and youngest Kardashian sister Khloe, yet almost a whole foot (10 inches) separating the two in height.

Hayden Panettiere

Height: 5'0"

Hayden Panettiere has had many memorable roles throughout her acting career, particularly as a superhuman cheerleader in Heroes. The actress' height has never been a problem for her, and she even met her 6'6" husband because of it, telling Ellen DeGeneres, that the two bonded over their extreme size difference.

Danny DeVito

Height: 5'0"

It's far more common to see female celebrities under the 5 foot mark, but that never stopped Danny DeVito. The funny 5-foot actor probably has his small stature to thank for snagging roles such as The Penguin in Batman Returns.

Jada Pinkett Smith

Height: 5'0"

Jada Pinkett Smith has been incredibly impressive as the sadistic gangster boss Fish Mooney in Gotham. It's hard to tell that the actress is so tiny, coming in at 5 feet even. Her height is most apparent when she's standing aside her 6'2" husband, Will Smith.

Rick Moranis

Height: 5'1"

Though we haven't seen much of Rick Moranis lately, he'll always be remembered for his roles in major Hollywood films such as Ghostbusters, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, Spaceballs, Little Shop of Horrors and more. And even though Moranis looked small in most of these films, it was hard to tell that the actor was only 5'1" (Note: Conflicting info, some sites say Moranis is 5'4", Google claims 5'1")

Kristen Bell

Height: 5'1"

Watching Veronica Mars, it was never truly apparent how short Kristen Bell was. But, Bell's knack for embodying strong female protagonists allows her to grow far past her 5'1" height.

Reese Witherspoon

Height: 5'1"

As a female lead in a number of rom-coms, Reese Witherspoon was always centered in a way that made it difficult to gauge how short she really was. The upcoming release of Hot Pursuit puts Witherspoon side-by-side with average-heighted Sofia Vergara, and the 6" height difference (along with the inches of Vergara's heels) make for quite the stark contrast.

Ellen Page

*Height: *5'1"

Ever since Ellen Page's breakout role in Juno, she has built quite the resume. From starring in the badass roller derby drama Whip It to her recurring role as X-Men's Kitty Pryde, Page proves that short girls kick serious ass.

Prince

Height: 5'2"

With a name like Prince, who needs a few extra inches in height. The singer-songwriter revolutionized pop music over the decades, and proves that you don't need to be tall to have a commanding presence on stage.

Kevin Hart

Height:5'2"

Working in the world of comedy, Kevin Hart has been the butt of many short jokes, but the comedian/actor has made a career out of it. With comedy albums such as I'm a Grown Little Man, Hart's 5'2" has only heightened his career.

Emilio Estevez

Height: 5'4"

Best known for his time as a member of the Brat Pack in 80s films such as The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo's Fire, Emilio Estevez was never noticeably short, but clocking in at 5'4", the actor/director runs on the shorter side of Hollywood stars.

Seth Green

Height: 5'4"

Once a rockstar werewolf on Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Seth Green had a quiet yet commanding mannerism that made him look a lot taller than the star actually is. But, despite only being 5'4", Green has played an array of characters.

Michael J Fox

Height: 5"4"

The brave and quick-witted Marty McFly was only 5'4"?! Who would've thought that Michael J Fox, Emmy and Golden Globe winning actor was actually below average in height. The actor, author and advocate may be small, but his name carries extra height.

Nashville actress Hayden Panettiere had some big news to declare this morning. The 24-year-old actress is engaged to professional boxer Wladimir Klitschko and she has the big ring to prove it, flashing a large piece of bling for fans who tuned in to Live with Kelly and Michael this morning. The actress was on the set to promote the second season of ABC’s Nashville, but she ended up talking a lot about her relationship, as well.

Panettiere and Klitschko actually dated a couple of times before the tough guy boxer proposed to the star. The two dated for around a year until May of 2011, when Klitschko announced they had split due to distance problems. The split actually seemed pretty amicable, with the 37-year-old boxer noting at the time that they both lived on different continents and that time apart can be a huge difficulty. The actress then dated New York Jets player Scotty McKnight for a while, before that relationship went south last winter. By the springtime, the actress had hooked back up with Klitschko and the rest is history.

Staying friends after a relationship is key to it working out over the long haul. At least that seems to be Panettiere’s philosophy. The actress told Glamour recently that she almost has trouble believing the attention her reunion with Klitschko got, especially since they stayed friendly after the initial breakup.

There was a snake on the set of Live with Kelly and Michael, distracting Ripa, but she did notice the ring enough to remark on it, leaving Panettiere to confirm her engagement. They talked for a bit about it, but it seems like the wedding planning is still in the very early stages. So far, the actress doesn’t even have a date set, due to her hectic acting schedule (and likely Klitschko’s work schedule, as well).

We'll keep you posted as soon as we learn more. In the meantime, congrats to the happy couple and best of luck during the first few months of picking dates and color schemes.

It’s pretty crazy to think that Wes Craven’s Scream came on the scene 15 years ago. In that time, a lot of things have changed and that goes for the franchise’s cast as well. While Neve Campbell, David Arquette and Courtney Cox are all back for Scream 4, they’re joined by the next generation of stars, including Emma Roberts, Hayden Panettiere, Rory Culkin and Anthony Anderson.

A few weeks back (yes, I’ve known who the killer is for nearly a month now), the franchise’s newest stars gathered together for a press conference, where they talked about the experience working on the film, from working with the surprisingly funny Wes Craven, to their relationship with the original movies and scaring each other on set. Check it out below, and be sure to check out Perri’s exclusive interview with Craven that we posted last week.

Have you watched the whole series? What did you think when you were offered this?

Anthony Anderson: Well I did, I grew up watching this franchise, and you have a trivia question now, or it will be. I actually spoofed this movie in Scary Movie 3 and 4, and now I’m a part of the franchise that I spoofed. So I think it’s Scary Movie 5 that I will be a part of now. But, the genre, the franchise itself was fun to be a part of and to watch growing up. The way that Wes Craven tells his stories and intertwines the horror with humor, I think that’s what really separates this franchise of horror movies from the others. What do you guys think?

Emma Roberts: For me, I was obviously too young to ever see it when it came out in theaters, but it was one of those movies that I saw when I was a teenager and all my friends were obsessed with wanting to watch scary movies and this was one of the first few I saw. And I remember thinking, it was probably the scariest, just because, out of all of the horror movies of my generation, I think this was the most real kind of? You know, it’s the most plausible. And that’s why it’s so freaky, you know, like when a phone rings, you’re kind of freaked out. And when you see those big glass windows, you know what I’m talking about, it’s scary. So it was definitely creepy.

Have you ever been in a situation where you were with some friends at night and then somebody gets a mysterious phone call, or you’re watching a scary movie?

Emma Roberts: You know, my friends keep calling me and doing the voice and saying, “What’s your favorite scary movie?” and as much as I know it’s a joke I still can’t help like looking over my shoulder a little bit, because it’s creepy!

Rory Culkin: Yeah, I saw the first one when I was like eight years old, around. I was scarred for a little while. And then, after I got this part I went back and watched all three. Pretty solid. Not really dated, but it says a lot about its time.

Anthony Anderson: I just want to say that, I just found out who the real killer is in this movie. I did. I don’t know if they couldn’t trust me with the script, but they never gave me a script with the ending. I really just found out who the killers were.

Emma Roberts: Did you really? [laughs]

Anthony Anderson: Like fifteen, twenty…And I haven’t seen the movie yet! So I really don’t know who the killers are. Fifteen minutes ago I found out who the killers were! I mean of course they know because they saw it but dammit! I just found out. That it was the black guy! New decade, new room baby. The black guy doesn’t die first anymore.

This movie had a battle with the Internet, so how did you guys, how crazy was the lockdown on set?

Emma Roberts: I mean for me, when I read the script, before I signed on to do the movie, I had to go to Wes Craven’s house and sit down and read it. And when we got our scripts, we were all, I think all of us were scared because they were all watermarked, and so if you lost it, you knew who lost it, it would say “Emma Roberts” across the script. So we were all just, I was scared because I was just gonna be embarrassed if mine got lost and it’s on the internet with my name on it, so there were a couple times when I just was like, do I shred them? What do I do? Because there were times when I almost lost it.

Anthony Anderson: Well I did lose mine. And that’s why, I think, they never gave me the real script. What else has happened? I never thought I really had the real script because every time I would go home and study these lines, I’d show up on set, they’d give me a completely new set of sides for the day. And I was like, “This is just not the shit that you told me to study for yesterday!” So that’s how I knew they were pulling tricks on me, at least.

Emma Roberts: It was just him, for the record. [To Anthony] Just you.

How easy or hard to scare are you guys, either watching scary movies or in your real life? Is it hard to scare you or very easy to scare you?

Emma Roberts: I’m very easily scared. I was covering my eyes through most of Scream 4, and I was in the movie! [laughs] I saw it with my mom and she was like, “Honey I love you but I have to step out for a moment, I’m too scared,” and I was like, “You’re too scared? It’s me,” and she was like, “It’s just scary.” So we were all horrified. I was sitting next to a bunch of people and we were all in our seats with our knees up.

So you experience a lot of action in this movie, a lot of physical stuff, did it empower you at all to do a more physical role?

Emma Roberts: I’d love to do more action roles. I’m not very athletic, I have to say. I always played, like, “girl sports,” I was never really a big sport person. So this was definitely, for me, as far as the physical aspect of it, difficult. I’ve never been able to really run convincingly so I had to learn how to do that in this movie.

Anthony Anderson: She’s pigeon toed, knock-kneed and bowlegged. That makes it difficult to run in a straight line.

Rory, how much of a cinephile or a moviephile...

Anthony Anderson: Hold on! Rory is not a pedophile! [laughs]

How was it working with the originals?

Emma Roberts: It was fun, I mean it was cool! We all had a good time, I think everyone, we were in Michigan for three months so we all got to kind of bond and hang out. We would spend a lot of time together when we weren’t flying home.

[Hayden Panettiere, who is arriving late to the press conference, sneaks in]

Anthony Anderson: [interrupting] Ladies and gentleman, Ladies and Gentleman! Hayden is here!

So, working with the originals?

Rory Culkin: Yeah, it was cool. They were sort of in our position ten, fifteen years earlier.

Emma Roberts: Fifteen.

Rory Culkin: So they understood where we were coming from and it was pretty cool.

Anthony Anderson: They’re all fossilized. They’re old. We’re the new generation of the Scream franchise. I mean you know they’re just tired and old and bitter. It was great, working with the, you know, David Arquette and Courtney Cox and I have been friends for thirteen, fourteen years now. David and I have worked together in the past. So it was great to finally work a gig with him in a franchise that I grew up watching and spoofed and parodied, and one that I enjoyed. And we bonded, we’d rent out a lake house and be out there for three, four days at a time just having water balloon fights and barbeques and lovemaking and all kinds of things.

Hayden Panettiere: Oh, I know how their barbeques went.

Anthony Anderson: You should have been there.

Hayden Panettiere: It was more like, flames. [miming huge flames with her hands]

Anthony Anderson: You need fire! You need fire to cook red meat! [laughs]

Emma Roberts: I saw those flames

Anthony Anderson: Like David Arquette threw gasoline on the gasoline on the fire pit...

Hayden Panettiere: But then they were doing a photo shoot!

Anthony Anderson: You don’t use gasoline at home when you’re cooking ribs!

Hayden Panettiere: You did not look too disturbed by it, you were like, “I’m a man! I make fire!”

Anthony Anderson: And you ate our meat!

Hayden Panettiere: I did eat the meat, I did.

Hayden, you haven’t said what it was like working with the original cast in this movie and if you had seen the original movie, what you thought of it? Because we asked them all that before you came here.

Hayden Panettiere: Well I was seven when it came out, so I waited until a little bit later in life to experience Scream, and it was something that I was a big fan of. You know it’s got that aspect, that Halloween aspect with the masked person but at the same time it’s got that very realistic aspect of somebody, the fear of somebody breaking into your house, and that’s a terrifying thing. But it was a great experience. You know, it’s always a little bit nerve wracking when you come into a family. It was something that was already established, the family that was already established, they had been through so much together, they had been through these films together, and you really have to tread lightly on that and have respect for that and find your way into that that group, that family, and where you fit in. But they were always great with that. They really had an interest in knowing us and including us and really made that effort, and it made it just a great experience.

Anthony Anderson: God, you’re beautiful [laughs]. I will fight your man for you.

Hayden Panettiere: You might have to quit acting for that afterward.

Anthony Anderson: I don’t fight fair. I’m telling you that right now, you will never see it coming.

Hayden Panettiere: I know, I know. My dad’s a fireman from Brooklyn, he always told me in a fight there are no rules.

Anthony Anderson: None, whatsoever.

Hayden Panettiere: You just swing. That’s it.

Your character is very spunky and she’s very fearless. How similar are you to her?

Hayden Panettiere: Well I’d like to think of myself as those things, but...It goes both ways. I was drawn to her because she’s not like anyone I’ve ever played before. She’s very, she tries, she’s sarcastic, she’s got that tomboy aspect to her, which I can relate to. But she’s a horror movie buff, under it all, which is not what you expect from her. And then it’s a really cool element to her personality that’s unexpected and kind of clever. I can’t say that I’m the same in that way, but it’s a fun character to play.

There’s a difference between seeing ghostface on screen, and then working with the guy, working with Dane Farewell in makeup and full costume. What was it like growing up with an iconic character and then having him fucking chasing you down? And seeing the scene?

Emma Roberts: It was scary, I mean I would get, even though we knew who it was, I would get freaked out. Running away would get scary. There was a scene where I had to run up some stairs and he was really treading me down and I really almost just completely ate it and fell down because I was just getting really nervous. Yeah, it’s scary.

Hayden Panettiere: You were also in stilettos.

Emma Roberts: I was also in eight inch heels because apparently, I was too short.

Hayden Panettiere: And lifts.

Emma Roberts: Yeah. I’m like 5’2” on a good day and I think I was probably 5’7” or 5’9” in the movie because I had shoes this big [motions with hands] that were not ideal for running away from a serial killer.

Hayden Panettiere: It’s scary. You know, you’ve got the horror mask nowadays and a lot of them are very gruesome and they’ve got blood and scabs and this and that, but there is something just so scary about that mask. It’s so simple. And even the painting that it’s based off, you know, that, it’s just eerie. It just gets you in a way that only the simplistic, unexaggerated way that it’s done can really make you scared. I don’t like knives, either.

Hayden, Wes Craven tweeted that he had Ghostface scare you off camera.

Hayden Panettiere: Yes, he did.

So can you tell us about your experience, was anybody else pranked on set?

Hayden Panettiere: Well we were doing a scene in the bedroom and it’s this whole, “Dun dun DUN” scene, and you think he might be in the closet, and you open the closet, he’s not there. And then all of a sudden, he was there! And he wasn’t supposed to be there! It was JB, our prop guy, and he scared me half to death, and he disappeared. And I didn’t see him until the next day, I was looking around for him, and I didn’t see him until the next day and he was like, “Dude, I wanted to come back but I was, I felt so bad, you were so scared!” and so he definitely got me. You know you try to front like you’re all tough and them something jumps out of the closet and “AAH!” That was the end of the story.

It sounds like it was a very lively, fun set. Especially with Wes pulling pranks on you guys and everything like that. Can you tell me, just, more about working with Wes?

Hayden Panettiere: He’s a mastermind.

Anthony Anderson: I wouldn’t go that far, Hayden. He just does what he does, I’m not gonna say he’s a mastermind. [laughs] He’s good at what he does. I’m like the biggest and the baddest one on set, the loudest and...

Hayden Panettiere: Hey! Hey! Slow down I wouldn’t say that.

Anthony Anderson: Okay, you’re a close second, Hayden. And so, not unlike Hayden, Wes did the same thing to me in the exact same scene. I had no idea that that’s what he did to her, but I’m upstairs in the bedroom of the house, I’m going through the closet, and you know, nobody is supposed to be in there and I opened up the door, and I didn’t know the prop guy’s name and he jumped out wearing the mask, with a knife, and he scared me shitless to the point where I soiled myself [laughs].

Hayden Panettiere: It wreaked in the house for days.

Anthony Anderson: And then, that’s when I found out, you know, Wes really has a sense of humor and really cool to work with and for. And I didn’t know what to expect from Wes, given some of his earlier works. I grew up watching The Last House on the Left and some crazy stuff that Wes Craven did, and then you know, to get the opportunity to work with him, it’s like, “Okay, how is this guy, how is he really gonna be on set?” I was expecting this weirdo, this creep and all that. And I got a weirdo and a creep, but in a great way. Wes is the uncle, the grandfather that you want reading bedtime stories to your kids. It was just fun and interesting to see him that way and to work with him in that capacity and to be a part of a franchise like this and for it to be as successful as it is. As successful as we hope it continues to be.

Hayden Panettiere: It’s kind of like what you would expect Stephen King to be. You kind of expect him to be...

Anthony Anderson: No, he’s crazy [laughs].

Hayden Panettiere: But you expect them all to be weird. You expect them all to have that creepy aspect to them and be just kind of an odd duck. It was very interesting because Wes is very, he’s kind of shy, he’s very quiet, and then he comes out with these, all of a sudden, you get to know his sense of humor. He comes out with these amazing one liners where you’re like, “Dude that was really funny. That was really really really funny.” Because you don’t really know how to take him in the beginning, and then he comes out with these clever ones and he’s got this kind of, “Ha ha ha!” smirk on his face. But he makes you feel very at home. He makes you feel very comfortable to try different things and throws different things at you. And when you’re coming into something that’s so established like a Scream franchise, it’s sometimes the stuff outside the box you get a little bit nervous to try your own thing. You’re kind of waiting for somebody to escort you down this path and tell you exactly how it’s done. And what’s amazing, too, is the little nuances that go into making a horror movie, things that you don’t even think about doing. Like, Wes would come up and go, “Add a little jump there. Just add a little jump.” And it doesn’t feel right to you then, it feels odd and out of place, but you know that when it’s all pieced together that it’s just such a big part of having the audience come with you on this journey and really feeling that fear that the characters are feeling.

Have any of you successfully scared the living shit out of someone else?

Hayden Panettiere: I have a little brother, that’s a given. And vice versa, I got it back as he got taller than me.

Rory Culkin: Yeah, when I was younger I actually had a ghostface mask, and I stood in my sister’s room in the corner for like half an hour until she saw in the reflection, me behind her, and she freaked out and started slapping me. That’s the only story I got.

Hayden Panettiere: It’s dangerous. It’s dangerous to scare someone, you never know, like you see with those Americas Funniest Home Videos, this guy pops up on the porch and the guy punches him in the face. And he’s apologizing afterward, but it’s never a good idea to scare people.

Emma Roberts: I’m not good at scaring other people but I get scared so easily, I got scared on set. My sister is ten and she scares me with stupid things like fake spiders in my bed, so I’m really used to.

Hayden Panettiere: Well you’d be the person who would go, “AH!” and the person screams and you’d go “Aaahhh!”

Emma Roberts: Yeah, yeah, that’s me.

Anthony Anderson: None for me, I grew up in an area where if you screamed, scared someone, you got your ass whooped. You know, just reflex. So you didn’t play those games.

With the hotly anticipated release of Scream 4 next Friday, Dimension will be kicking marketing up a notch despite the fact that it’s already on everyone’s minds. A new TV spot has cropped up online and shows off just what to expect from this movie--more of the same.

I get why the first Scream was so popular. It was a fresh look and satire of the horror genre and managed to be both funny and scary at the same time. But how many times can someone in a ghost face mask come after the same people and have it still be scary? The Scream sequels have both been bad, like really bad, so what is it about Scream 4 that’s got people so excited?

The two main draws for me, Anna Paquin and Kristen Bell, presumably get offed in the first 15 minutes following Drew Barrymore’s lead in the original (we don't know that for sure, it's just speculation). And that will be followed by about an hour of them wondering who the killer is as their friends get picked off one by one, followed by a frantic 15 minutes where those left think they know who the killer is and try to find him, and that will conclude with a shocking reveal that it was someone else all along and one of their friends was in on it--just like the others.

Maybe you folks could enlighten me as to why people care about these sequels.

When I was 10 years old I sat next to my mother and watched Casey Becker, sans insides, hang from a tree. Yes, the image made it tough to sleep at night for quite a bit, but Scream also left a long-lasting impression in the best way possible. Just a year later, my grandparents were kind enough to take me for not one, but two viewings of Scream 2 and finally, by 2000, I found ways to sneak into R-rated movies so I could enjoy the third film minus a guardian. Having grown up with this franchise, getting to speak with Wes Craven about resurrecting the franchise with Scream 4 is honestly a dream come true.

On the other hand, the pressure is on for Craven. I’m not the only moviegoer who’s a dedicated franchise fan, meaning that in Scream 4 Craven doesn't just have to do the original films justice, but he’s got to offer something new. No, the general story of Scream 4 or the decision to make another Scream film for that matter didn’t come from Craven, but the director certainly had a strong impact on the project from the moment Bob Weinstein offered him the gig.

Check out everything Craven had to say about bringing the franchise back to life, summoning the old, adding some new and where we can expect the series to go from here.

When did you decide to resurrect the franchise? Did you just wake up one morning and decide now is the time?

No, that’s actually pretty far off the mark. The way it worked is that Bob Weinstein called me and said that he was going to remake it or do a Scream 4. Kevin [Williamson] was working on an idea that Bob thought was really good and was I interested and would I like to talk to Kevin about it? That’s really how I came into the picture. I had dinner with Kevin; he didn’t have a script yet, but he had a very coherent outline of the film. I found it fascinating. But I didn’t commit to the film until some months later when the first of the real big chunks started coming. I think it’s a matter of Bob Weinstein deciding this. He told us, there was not going to be a Scream 4 for a long period mostly because of Scary Movie and because he didn’t want us just making it because we could, so I think it was smart of him to wait until we could comment on an entire decade and a decade that was the 21st century; that’s a significant landscape to set your picture on.

Considering Kevin only had that outline when you met, did that give you the opportunity to work with him on developing the actual script?

Yeah, the moment I signed on I’m writing notes, outlines, whatever I can to help the process. Kevin and I collaborated a great deal with Bob also on the script until Kevin left. So sure, I’m a very hands-on director in so far as notes and things like that, not demands, just, “I think this works,” or, “I think this maybe doesn’t work.”

And how about your returning cast? Did you approach it as though they’d come if you called or did you have to choose your words wisely?

No and again, the man who controls the circus is Bob Weinstein. He owns the franchise and he pulled the trigger on doing this film so by the time I came in he had already spoken to Courteney [Cox] and David [Arquette] and Neve [Campbell]. I can’t remember whether people had fully committed or not, I think maybe one had and the two others had not yet, but as soon as it was known that I was going to be directing or considering directing seriously, we all talked and made sure that we were going to be there for each other. I think we all feel very much that we depend on each other to keep the quality good and keep the franchise, whatever iteration of it that it is, strong and powerful and based in the original journey of Sidney Prescott.

And then how’d you go about choosing your new cast members? A lot of them bear similarities to previous characters, so did you have your eye on certain actors who reminded you of the original casts?

Within the structure of Scream 4 there is the film within a film, but that’s been part of the Scream franchise since Scream 2 when you had the Stab franchise. In our film, Stab is up to Stab number seven and the kids talk a great deal about that because we established that the first three Stabs basically were based on the life of Sidney Prescott. So then she sued them for using her story and for starting making up crazy qualms and making the one sequel after another. So that’s kind of our poking fun at people who just make endless sequels of the film that was originally original. Within the context there is the evil version of people, let’s just say, that are aware of original them, a certain emulation of them, a certain copying of them in a way to get at Sid’s arriving in town. She thinks having dealt with all the ghosts and perhaps even living in a town in a peaceful way that could put the stuff behind her. So that’s part of what those traces are doing; they’re saying it’s not over.

Once you had your stars, how’d you go about preparing them? For those newcomers, I assume they were all very familiar with the franchise.

Yeah, I think a lot of them have watched my films, several of the actors that used to watch it through fingers over their eyes, and they were familiar with the Scream franchise and a lot of them went back and watched them again to get refreshed on it. You just find the best actors that you can. There’s an inherent drama within the framework of scares and killings and all that. In Scream there is very real drama that would be in almost any drama. In this iteration [Sidney’s] mother’s sister is part of the cast and Sid’s cousin, played by Emma Roberts. So there were those family ties. That’s straight drama. There’s a thousand ways you could do it as a director to guide them, help them, whatever, but this was a very very experienced cast, really, even though they’re young. Emma Roberts, for instance, has been making movies for quite a long time. Hayden Panettiere same thing. Rory [Culkin] comes from a filmmaking family. A lot of them came with a great amount of professional accomplishment already, so then it was just a matter of approaching it as real life drama and not, “I need to hear you scream.” It’s never ever like that at all even though I constantly get asked, “Do you make them scream first?” It has nothing to do with that; it just has to do with people who can really act.

So how would you compare your directing style overall now to ten years ago? Times have changed, so have your methods – script breakdown, exercises?

Nothing like that. In general, I don’t even have the luxury of rehearsal time on most films that I make. It is just a scene-by-scene full cast read through. It’s very much just doing the rehearsal sometimes the day before, at the end of the day, but just on the spot as the scene unfolds. After a take is over going up to them and talking to them and giving my observations, my ideas and working with the thing as a progressive has been the way I’ve approached it ever since the beginning. The reason we’ve probably done very temporaneously in some ways, it’s done on practical locations where you’re not shooting on sets where things are much more conventional; you just don’t even have that trust to the set until the day the owners who have it move out. It is much more in-flow at the time talking about directing.

What’s the plan from here? When we first heard about Scream 4 there was a 5 and 6 there as well. Is that still the case?

No, there is no Scream 5 script. Kevin [Williamson], when I first talked to him about this project before there was a script, he had an idea for a trilogy, so we’ll have to see what comes out of that. I’m sure Bob Weinstein is open to it if the script or ideas are to his pleasure. He has very high standards. I don’t think he’s in any rush to do it particularly, but on the other hand, I think he’s open to the idea of a trilogy, so at the point when there is an idea that he’s really excited about I’m sure he will begin launching that next film.

Trailers for the upcoming Scream 4 have a funny way of showing up online long before the studio intends them to; the original teaser trailer popped up online in bootleg form twice before an official version finally landed, and now there's a new trailer-- by some accounts a Canadian one-- that's shown up on YouTube. As with the previous trailer, don't expect this one to last online too long, and cross your fingers for a more official, permanent version to show up soon. Take a look at it below, and meet me after to marvel at how good this actually makes the movie look

The biggest shame in the fact that this will likely be yanked offline soon is that it's a really good trailer, leaning a little harder on the comedy than the teaser did and bringing up a lot more of the meta jokes that are hallmarks of the Scream franchise-- never saying "I'll be right back," being forced to name other horror movies for the killer on the phone, and of course all those reoccurring Ghostface masks. I realize I'm totally the target audience to shell out of this sequel, having been an impressionable tween when the first movie came out, but I admit, I'm actually excited to see this. Scream 4, including original cast members Never Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette plus a ton of younger star cameos (Hayden Panettiere, Emma Roberts, Kieran Culkin, Kristen Bell, Anna Paquin), hits theaters April 15. Everything else you need to know about it can be found in our Blend Film Database.

It seemed like Scream 4 would be filming for something like 100 years, given that shooting started in May in Michigan and as recently as two weeks ago a new name was added to the cast. But, believe it or not, Wes Craven tweeted yesterday that Scream 4 was a wrap, and to celebrate, Entertainment Tonight ran their footage from a visit to the set.

You can watch it all in the two videos below, one of which is the official piece that went on the air, and the other extended interviews from the set. Because this is a tabloid show the focus is on Courteney Cox and David Arquette and their looooove story across the Scream series, but there's also some footage of Ghostface chasing Neve Campbell, Hayden Panettiere and Emma Roberts around a house, which is what you Scream junkies are really looking for. Take a look at the videos below (hat tip to Coming Soon for tracking them down). Now that the Scream 4 casting stories are finally finished, it's time to prepare for the slow trickle of publicity before the April 2011 release. It never ends!

It’s been a little while since we served up some Scream 4 news, but that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been a ton of action on the set. News outlets and paparazzi have caught an immense amount of the shooting through pictures and videos giving us peeks at stars Hayden Panettiere, Marielle Jaffe, Rory Culkin and much more. There’s certainly a ton of material floating around out there, so I’ve taken the liberty to sort through it all and pick out the best of the best.

The first item comes from director Wes Craven himself. A little over a week ago, Craven tweeted, “My crew was wondering what my cameo should be in #SCREAM4. Suggestions? No janitor, doctor or tourist.” You might recall catching a glimpse of Craven as Fred the janitor in Scream, a doctor in Scream 2 or a man with a video camera on a studio tour in Scream 3. Craven will keep the tradition alive and make an appearance in this new installment. His twitter followers submitted a slew of suggestions ranging from a schoolteacher to the actual killer, so you’ll really have to keep your eyes peeled; he could be anywhere.

An interesting piece from the folks over at Fox News in Detroit popped up and I don’t mean interesting in terms of plot revelations. This reporter seems to have a thing for Jaffe. In fact, the whole video is more of a fan boy-type report. He talks to some Courteney Cox-obsessed girl and a local stand in who enjoys namedropping. What makes this clip worth watching is the shots of the set. We get a glimpse of the Woodsboro Police Station, which is actually a parking lot and a quick peek at the fountain scene, a moment you might remember from the original Scream.

Speaking of that fountain scene, Before The Trailer has some great shots of Jaffe, Panettiere, Culkin and two guys, who I assume are Erik Knudsen and Nico Tortorella, practically reenacting that moment shared between Sidney and the gang in the first film. Well, minus the new generation’s leading lady. Emma Roberts is assumed to be the one leading us through this new trilogy, but she’s almost nowhere to be found in all of the spy videos and photos.

It’s more like Panettiere is the face of Scream 4. Not only is she in nearly every image, but she’s the only one talking to reporters. She took the time to chat with Access Hollywood about the script drama that cropped up when Lauren Graham and Lake Bell ditched. Back then, some source claimed Pantettiere’s role went from “really sharp” to “dumbed down” and that she wasn’t happy about it. But of course the actress had nothing but the best to say of the film when chatting with AH. She explained all of that was “very untrue and I love my character.” From there she babbles on about how great everyone on the set is. She continues to babbles in a video interview with MTV, which basically consists of a minute of stuttering and gushing.

I’ll wrap things up with a strange set of images from Bananadoc showing Woodsboro decorated with ghostface costumes. Okay, I get that the town is supposed to be obsessed with the murders, but don’t decoration imply celebration? If I were related to a Woodsboro murder victim I might be a little disgusted having to get a glimpse of my family member’s killer every time I walked down the block.

It was one thing to have Lake Bell call it quits just three days before filming began, but now it seems as though Wes Craven has lost another actress right in the middle of Scream 4’s very first week of shooting, Lauren Graham. The site that first reported on Graham’s casting, Ghouls on Film, is now saying Graham is out “due to date conflict and script changes.”

A date conflict? Is her role really that prominent that scheduling issues couldn’t be resolve at this point? And what about those script changes? Does that mean Jill Kessler’s (Emma Roberts) mother Kate has been removed from the film entirely or will the role be recast? You’re guess is as good as mine, but I’m thinking it’s a little late in the game for a character to be completely written out.

Like Bell, Graham’s exit isn’t devastating, but it is disappointing and even a little bit of a concern. When she first spoke about her casting with Jay Leno she seemed so genuinely excited about the project and there’s nothing more reassuring than that. But, oh well, we’ll get over it. The lasting issue is the possibility of a more serious problem with the production. Losing two actresses in two weeks, one in the midst of filming? It’s a little suspicious. I’ve got my fingers crossed my intuitions are wrong.

With shooting set to begin in just a few weeks, the blog Deep Said What (via Shock Till You Drop) came across one of the locations to be featured in Scream 4, Dearborn, Michigan’s Woodworth Middle School. The plan is to dress the build with a new façade. Why? So it’ll more closely resemble Woodsboro High from Scream because the building will be used for a flashback sequence.

As you can see in the image, the brickwork does look a lot like that of the Sonoma Community Center, the facility that starred as Woodsboro High in the first film. As STYD points out, Sonoma CC was Craven’s second choice for Woodsboro; he originally applied to use the Santa Rosa High School and struck a deal with the principal only to have the agreement revoked days before filming. Turns out the contract was merely verbal and when the school board decided the brutality of Scream might creep their students out, there was nothing Craven could do about it. Well, almost nothing. Craven threw this message in Scream’s closing credits, "And no thanks whatsoever to the Santa Rosa School Board."

So now back to this whole flashback concept; could it mean the Scream vets won’t meet a bloody end in the fourth film? Perhaps their involvement is restricted to these moments. Of course this is only speculation, but it’s certainly possible. Maybe the flashback will involve Lake Bell’s character who knew Sidney in her high school days. The character description does mention that Deputy Judy Hicks never made enough of an impression on Sid to remember, but possibly she’s got one instance buried deep in her memory when she and Hicks crossed paths and this could be it. Also, flashback or no flashback, if Scream 4 is about a new crop of Woodsboro High teens, wouldn’t you think they’d need to recreate the building anyway?

A children's movie done right can be a great thing. Creating a film that both kids and adults can enjoy equally is nothing short of a magical process, with each demographic getting something different out of the experience. From the look of the first international trailer for Lionsgate's Alpha and Omega, this film won't be one of them.

Lionsgate Films UK posted the trailer on its YouTube account and the video is nothing more than a Lady and the Tramp ripoff with wolves instead of dogs (real stretch there, guys). The short clip is nothing more than a minute of cheap slapstick humor and jokes about heavy wolves lying on top of smaller wolves. By the end you get the sense that someone just plum forgot to stick in a fart sound effect. Also, Steppenwolf's Born To Be Wild should be forever banned from appearing in another movie promotion.

Check out the trailer below.

Sick of the Scream 4 casting news yet? I hope not because it’s still coming in. Shock Till You Drop caught two interesting details in EW’s piece on Lauren Graham’s casting, Anthony Anderson and Marielle Jaffe. EW includes the two names in their list of newcomers joining franchise alum Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette. Funny thing is, this is the very first we’ve heard about their involvement.

Even funnier? Anderson is a Scary Movie vet, the spoof franchise that began at Scream’s expense. Can the guy do a turnaround and legitimately act scared when a bowie knife is put to his throat? I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt and say yes. Returning to that casting call, perhaps he’ll play one of the two detectives. The character Detective Hoss actually seems like the kind of guy who could provide some comic relief. He’s described as “New school cop. College graduate raised on the CSI TV series.”

Jaffe is a little harder to place, because there are still a handful of vacant roles that she could qualify for. She’s young, blond and apparently had a role in Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. I can’t recall ‘Aphrodite Girl’s’ big moment, did catch a YouTube video she posted of herself singing Christian Aguilera’s “Beautiful” and she’s pretty good. Oh, and apparently she’s a model. (Can’t you tell by the picture?) Of the four young female roles still up for grabs, I’m guessing Jaffe is best suited for that of Bette, Sidney’s personal assistant. She seems a little old to play a high school student, but since when does that matter? If Wes Craven goes the teen route, Jaffe could end up as Patty, “A bouncy teenage girl with a fountainhead of pop culture that is impressive. Like all teenagers who live in Woodsboro, she is obsessed with the Woodsboro murders and with the STAB films,” Marnie, “friend of Patty's. Funny and mischievous; loves practical jokes. Sometimes pushes too far. Bored with Woodsboro's obsessions with murders that happened when she and her friends were toddlers” or Rebecca, “Cute, vain, over-achieving student at Woodsboro High School. Editor in Chief of the high school newspaper. She's a future Gale Weathers.” Your guess is as good as mine.

Yesterday, news came through the tubes, thanks to Star Magazine, that long time friends an co-workers Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox would be reunited in Scream 4, where Aniston would play the film's opening scene victim. I mentioned in the original article that the source, who was unnamed, seemed kind of shaky and that the story was likely untrue. Being skeptical was the right call.

Reps from Dimension Films, speaking with Bloody Disgusting, have shot down the rumor as merely gossip. The film currently stars Cox, Neve Campbell, and David Arquette from the original trilogy as well as Emma Roberts, Hayden Panettiere, Rory Culkin, and Lake Bell.

Oh well. It looks like Aniston will have to go back to making bad romantic comedies while someone else gets gutted and hung from a tree. Shucks.

Clearly Wes Craven is on top of things because as the Scream 4 June start date quickly approaches, the casting confirmations are pouring in. Just yesterday we told you Emma Roberts, not Ashley Greene, will lead the cast as Jill, Sidney Prescott’s cousin, and now her best friend and boy toy have joined, to be played respectively by Hayden Panettiere and Rory Culkin.

When we first found out Craven had his eye on Panettiere and Culkin, Panettiere’s role was describes as Jill’s best pal and a film geek and Culkin’s as Jill’s love interest. The report from Coming Soon doesn’t mention these parts, but I think it’s safe to assume those are the roles they’ll play.

The funny thing is, that initial announcement had Lake Bell one step ahead of her potential co-stars. While they merely received offers, she was already in the midst of negotiations, yet her involvement still hasn’t been confirmed. If and when that deal does go through, Bell’s character will be a police officer who knew Sidney in high school.

Assuming Roberts survives, that only leaves us with three potential deaths; well, six if you include David Arquette, Courteney Cox and Neve Campbell who are rumored to finally come into contact with the killer’s bowie knife early on in the fourth film. Where will Craven go from here? Will he continue casting young Hollywood’s hottest or save some cash for production time? We’ll probably find out soon enough.

Let the Scream 4 casting rumors begin, and begin with a bang at that. According to THR, Lake Bell is in the midst of negotiations and offers have been sent Ashley Greene, Hayden Panettiere and Rory Culkin’s way. But that’s not all--the article reveals the roles they’re going for, and they reveal some juicy plot details.

Much of the team from the first film--Wes Craven, Kevin Williamson, Neve Campbell, David Arquette and Courteney Cox-- are returning, which means the newcomers have to be tied into the characters we know. If all goes to plan, Bell will play a police officer who knew Campbell's Sidney, while Greene gets a juicier role as Sidney’s cousin, Jill, and the series’ new leading lady.

It’s thrilling to hear they’ve decided to keep the Scream films in the family and not ditch the original characters completely in this passing-of-the-torch effort. Yes, we need some hot young stars for a fresh look, but cutting off ties to the original films, minus Mr. Ghostface of course, would have been devastating.

As for the remaining two potentials, Panettiere will play Jill’s film geek friend and Culkin Greene’s love interest. Do we have a new Randy and Billy in the making? Maybe, but we won’t know for quite some time. Craven is being super sneaky with plot details and isn’t even releasing the script to agencies. He’s certainly doing a fine job keeping the story under wraps, but the situation is making it harder for the talent to decide to sign on the dotted line.

I’ll admit, I’m a major sucker for the Scream movies, but I’m also confident this is a serious step in the right direction. Craven is aiming high, leaving the no-names to the reboot realm and sticking with quality actors. Hopefully his taste in talent represents the production’s quality.