Scream Is Officially 25. Here's Where the Cast Is Now.
This is a Gale Weathers appreciation post.
Even though it seems insane to think about, Scream came out 25 years ago. More! (By a month, anyway.) Most franchises fall out of favor (or worse... won't stop making sequels), but that ill-fate has not befallen Scream. Not only does the original hold up tremendously, but with the release of Scream 5, fans are ecstatic to catch up with the likes of Sidney Prescott, Gale Weathers, and Dewey Riley. That's because Scream has never missed.
Ghostface, meta commentary, Drew Barrymore's initial death: it remains fresh, all these years later. A big reason for that is because unlike other franchises, Scream has always stuck to what it's done best. The same can be said of the cast, which has managed to bring back its three protagonists for every film. Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette—no matter the spot in their careers—have always managed to make it back to Woodsboro to elude the shiny march of Ghostface's knife. And much like miracles of modern science (or escaping death four times over), the main players look as good today as they did back when. Before you check out the new film and all its gory glory, revisit the cast who started it all... from 1996 to 2022.
Neve Campbell, 1996
Coming off of Party of Five and The Craft, 1996 was a massive year for Campbell, landing her the lead role in the series. Sidney Prescott knows no rest.
Neve Campbell, 2020
In 2021, Campbell has become a TV guest star staple, recently starred in the film Clouds, as well as the TV series House of Cards, and of course, reprised her role as the unkillable Sidney Prescott in 2022's Scream 5.
Drew Barrymore, 1996
Barrymore was explosive in the 90s, and this was one of the most iconic deaths in horror history.
Drew Barrymore, 2021
Though Barrymore won't be appearing in Scream's new installment, she's thriving with a wildly successful (if not incredibly kooky) daytime talk show.
Courteney Cox, 1996
Scream is nothing without Courteney Cox and her insanely unethical journalist character, Gale Weathers. At the time, she was also starring on this indie sitcom you might have heard of called Friends. Just a little side project.
Courteney Cox, 2020
Cox is thriving in 2021, looking better than ever. She recently reunited with the Friends cast and has been making multiple TV guest spots. She also returned to Scream in 2022.
David Arquette, 1996
Arquette's star was rising at the time that Scream came out, launching the TV star into movie star status, especially when he married co-star Courteney Cox.
David Arquette, 2021
Arquette has had quite a journey since Scream. Recently, he was a professional wrestler. Seriously. He retired from the gig back in 2021, just in time to come back to Scream as Sheriff Dewey Riley.
Matthew Lillard, 1996
Scream helped launch Lillard from celebrity to superstar following Scream. He plays one of the two killers in the original.
Matthew Lillard, 2021
Listen. This guy has stayed booked and busy following the original Scream, most notably thanks to the Scooby Doo series, where he voices Shaggy. He also co-starred in the NBC series, Good Girls.
Rose McGowan, 1996
Rose McGowan was riding high in 1996, coming off a handful of well-known comedies. Her character did not fare well in Scream.
Rose McGowan, 2021
In 2021, McGowan has shifted her role in Hollywood entirely. An integral player of the #MeToo movement, McGowan has become a vocal activist, speaking out for women who have experienced sexual trauma. Her political statements have become a divisive lightning rod in online discussion.
Jamie Kennedy, 1996
Coming into Scream, Kennedy was a relatively known face, having guested and co-starred in a handful of TV series.
Jamie Kennedy, 2021
Since then, Kennedy continued to appear in TV series, having co-starred in the network drama, Ghost Whisperer. In 2022, Kennedy has a successful standup career.
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