Screampremiered in 1996, and in 25 years with five sequels, the franchise has had a lot of roles to cast. Each new film expands its cast with fresh faces only to kill them off, leaving room for a slew of new characters in subsequent sequels.
TheScreamfranchise has a history of excellent casting. Not only does the film cast well-known actors for misdirection, likeDrew Barrymore, but they have been the launching point of many actors' careers, likeTimothy OlyphantandPortia de Rossi. With such a large roster, it’s easy to forget roles played by actors that still hold weight today.
Timothy Olyphant
Timothy Olyphant was cast inScream 2as the “freaky Tarantino film student” Mickey Altieri. In the original version of the film, it was Sidney’s (Neve Campbell) boyfriend Derek (Jerry O’Connell) and roommate Hallie (Elise Neal) who were revealed to be theGhostfacekillers, however after a script leak during production, it was rewritten, and Mickey became one-half of the killer duo.
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Olyphant has gone on to a staggering career in both film and television. He is known for playing stoic lawmen in series likeDeadwood,Justified,andThe Mandalorianand for hit films likeOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood. Despite his dramatic offerings, his stand-up background has helped him produce great comedic performances inThe Santa Clarita DietandThe Office.
Patrick Dempsey
InScream 3,Patrick Dempseystars as Mark Kincaid, a grizzled, film-obsessed homicide detective assigned to solve the murder of Cotton Weary (Liev Schreiber). Kincaid’s interest in thehistory surrounding theStab 3murdersreads suspicious, but he proves loyal to Sidney, taking a knife for her in the film’s final act.
In 2000, Dempsey’s career had seemingly already peaked from his stint as a teen star in films likeCan’t Buy Me LoveandLoverboy;however, five years later, he was cast inGrey’s Anatomyas Dr. Derek “McDreamy” Shepard, a role that relaunched his career. SinceScream 3,he has starred in hits likeSweet Home AlabamaandEnchanted; he also is a professional race car driver when he is not acting.
Anthony Anderson and Adam Brody
Anthony AndersonandAdam Brodyplay Deputies Perkins, and Hoss, respectively, who assist Sheriff Dewey (David Arquette) in navigating the carnage inScream 4. However, the duo doesn’t make it far, as Hoss hilariously points out, “the cops on security detail always get it.”
Both Anderson and Brody were relatively known actors at the time of the film. Anderson had starred in theScary Moviefranchise,and Brody was known for playing Seth Cohen on the teen dramaThe O.C.SinceScream 4,Anderson has starred in the critically acclaimed hit showBlack-ish, while Brody has starred in films likeShazam!,Promising Young WomanandReady or Not.
Jada Pinkett Smith and Omar Epps
Scream 2opens withOmar EppsandJada Pinkett Smithas a couple on a date to see a sneak preview ofStab.The pair don’t make it past the opening sequence either in the film they are watching or the one they are a part of. In trueScreamtradition, like Drew Barrymore, Pinkett Smith was a popular actor that was promoted as being part of the main cast, only to bekilled off in the first scene.
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Epps, known for his roles onERand the filmJuice, went on to star inLove and BasketballandThe Wood. Pinkett Smith was known for her breakout role inA Different Worldand films likeMenace II SocietyandSet it Off. She has since starred inThe MatrixandMadagascarfranchises and hosts her own talk showRed Table Talkon Facebook Watch.
Patrick Warburton
InScream 3Patrick Warburtonis a bodyguard to actress Jennifer Jolie (Parker Posey). Stone is repeatedly irked by Dewey, who has been dating Jennifer, as he tries to take over running her security detail.
UntilScream 3, Warburton was mostly known for his stint onSeinfeldand for voicing Joe Swanson onFamily Guy. After performing as the ill-fated bodyguard, he starred inThe TickandThe Rules of Engagement. He famously voiced Kronk in Disney’sThe Emperor’s New Grooveand its sequels and remains one of the most recognizable voices in film and television.
Jenny McCarthy
InScream 3Jenny McCarthyplays actress Sarah Darling, who has been cast in the fictionalStab 3.She is called to the set to run lines before she gets the iconic Ghostface phone call, and she is forced to hide on set before she ultimately meets her demise.
McCarthy was an MTV staple in the mid-to-late 90s, bringing her flirtatious and goofy style of humor to hostSingled OutandThe Jenny McCarthyShow,and had dipped her toes into acting a few years before Scream 3. Since then, she has returned to hosting with a stint onThe Viewand is currently a judge onThe Masked Singer.
Alison Brie
Alison Brieplays Sidney’s eager publicist who schedules a book signing for her memoir in Woodsboro on the anniversary of the original murders inScream 4. She is one of the most spineless characters in the franchise, urging Sidney to exploit her trauma before ultimately falling victim to Ghostface.
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WhenScream 4hit theaters, Brie was known for her roles as Trudy Campbell onMad Menand Annie Edison onCommunity. She has since gained more prominence for her performance inGLOWand for voicing Unikitty inThe Lego Moviefranchise.
Sarah Michelle Gellar
Cici Cooper (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is a sorority sister at Omega Beta Zeta who has stayed behind to fill the “sober sister” role inScream 2. She is the first person in the film to get a call from the killer, who she believes to be her drunk boyfriend, Ted; she ends up being the fourth victim of Ghostface’s sequel rampage.
1997 was a big year for Geller.Buffy The Vampire Slayerpremiered in March of that year, followed byI Know What You Did Last Summerin October andScream 2only months later. Buffy went on for seven seasons and developed a devout following; Gellar has since starred in hits likeCruel Intentions,The Grudge,andScooby-Doo.
Rebecca Gayheart and Portia de Rossi
Rebecca GayheartandPortia de Rossiplay Lois and Murphy, sorority sisters in Delta Lambda Zeta trying to recruit Sidney into their fold. The pair appear to have little empathy or tact as they are seen rushing over to Omega Beta Zeta to gawk at Cici’s dead body before police arrive and are openly dismissive of Sidney’s roommate Hallie who is eagerly trying to pledge.
Both actresses were relative unknowns whenScream 3was released, Gayheart had a recurring role onBeverly Hills 90210, and de Rossi had very few roles on her resume. Gayheart when on to star inUrban LegendandJawbreakerbefore taking an acting hiatus and returning with a role inOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood. De Rossi went on to star in the hit seriesAlly McBealbefore landing the role of Lindsey Funke inArrested Development. She has since retired from acting but specified she would only come out of retirement for subsequentArrested Developmentprojects.
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