Scream 6 star Hayden Panettiere opens up about how the upcoming slasher sequel will address Kirby’s near-death experience in Scream 4. More than ten years on from the franchise’s previous installment, Scream 2022 welcomed audiences back to the tormented town of Woodsboro. Now Scream 6 is preparing to take the terror to the East Coast as Ghostface looks set to make his mark in New York City. Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega will return to lead the newest gang of suspects, while Courteney Cox will also reprise her role as legacy character Gale Weathers.
In what has proved to be a great week for Scream fans, Panettiere sat down with EW and discussed how Kirby’s return in Scream 6 will see an evolved version of her character following the trauma of her past. Panettiere opened up about how Kirby’s previous run-in with Ghostface has “obviously impacted her life” but she is still the same Kirby at her core. Panettiere also hinted at what audiences can expect from her return, sharing that Kirby is still just as snarky as before, but that she is also a little wiser. Check out Panettiere’s quote below.
She’s come a long way. What happened to her has obviously impacted her life, and it sends her in a certain direction, but she’s still the same old Kirby at the heart of it. She’s just a little older, a little wiser, but just as spitfire-y, and snarky, and all that good stuff.
Why Kirby’s Return Is Important
News of Kirby’s return in Scream 6 delighted audiences who had been hoping to see Panettiere someday reprise the role following her debut in 2011’s Scream 4. Panettiere’s heroine became an instant favorite for her charming quick wit and extensive love of horror, though hopes of a future return seemed to be off the table initially when the character appeared to die during the final act of Scream 4. Eagled-eyed audiences noticed a few hints that suggested Kirby had actually survived this attack before official confirmation came that Kirby would once again face off with the infamous Ghostface killer in Scream 6.
The anticipation surrounding Panettiere’s return is at an all-time high, with the recent release of the Scream 6 trailer offering a proper glimpse at Kirby’s big return, as well as the next-level Ghostface who seeks to wreak havoc across NYC. Panettiere’s return is particularly exciting as she now joins Cox’s Gale as a fellow franchise legacy character, with many excited to see how she will approach this looming threat now that she has experience with the Ghostface killer. Kirby’s inclusion in this new generation lineup could be key to Scream 6‘s overall story as her knowledge is likely to aid her fellow survivors, although with some speculating that Kirby could in fact be the killer in Scream 6, it remains to be seen just what sort of role Panettiere has signed on for this time around.
As Panettiere states, Kirby’s near-death experience has undoubtedly had a major impact on her growth as a character, so it will be interesting to see just how this manifests as Kirby now looks to face Ghostface again. With many having had their wishes granted through Kirby’s return in Scream 6, the questions that surround the circumstances of her return are sure to keep audiences intrigued as the film’s release draws ever closer. Releasing with the promise of being the goriest installment in the franchise, it remains to be seen whether Kirby will have maintained her final girl status by the time Scream 6‘s credits roll.
Source: EW
