Neve Campbell Is 'Grateful' to Be Back in New “Scream”: 'I Was Sad to Miss the Last One' (Exclusive)

"Those movies have been such a big part of my life and it means so much to me," the actress says

Neve Campbell is "so excited" to be heading back to the world of Scream.

The actress, 50, who first starred as Sidney Prescott in 1996's Scream, announced in March that she'll be returning to the franchise in the forthcoming Scream 7, directed by Kevin Williamson.

Campbell notably appeared in all of the film's sequels except for the 2023 entry, due to a contractual disagreement.

She told PEOPLE at the return of Reefer Madness: The Musical in Los Angeles on May 30, that the Scream franchise remains an important part of her story.

"Those movies have been such a big part of my life and it means so much to me, and I was sad to miss the last one, to not be a part of it," Campbell says. "I was really grateful that they came back to me in a respectful way. I think that means a lot to women and to society. I'm grateful to be able to step in into Sidney's shoes again and tell her story."

Speaking on her character Sidney, Campbell added that the franchise's protagonist is "so strong" and has "inspired a lot of people."

"I meet a lot of fans who say her strength has helped them get through tough times, and it means more than I could ever have imagined to some people," she adds.

Related: Neve Campbell 'Excited to Get Back in' Her Scream Role, 'Grateful' Studio Listened to Her Pay Concerns (Exclusive)

Earlier this month, Campbell spoke with PEOPLE about rejoining the horror franchise, a move that followed her headline-making departure from Scream VI  over a salary offer she felt did not equate to the value she brought. As she recently explained, negotiations went differently for the forthcoming installment.

“I'm really grateful that the studio heard me when I talked about pay discrepancy and when I talked about [negotiations] not feeling respectful,” she said.

“When they first approached me [for Scream 7], I thought, ‘I don't know what respectful looks like to them. We might be in very different places.’ But they started out in a strong place, so that was lovely."

Campbell added at the time that it felt "nice" to have "been listened to and to have made a difference in that way," noting that she hoped other actors "get that opportunity too."

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For the upcoming project, she will once again join forces with Williamson, who wrote the original film, as well as Scream 2 and Scream 4. “I'm really excited that Kevin Williamson is going to direct,” Campbell said. "I think he's been wanting to do it for years and he deserves it. This is his baby. He's going to do a phenomenal job."

When announcing her return to the franchise in March, Campbell wrote that Williamson was "not just an inspiration as an artist but has been a dear friend for many years."

The director explained in his own post that he was "overcome with gratitude and excitement, and I can’t wait to take this journey with Neve and the entire Scream family as we bring back Sidney Prescott in the next chapter of the Scream franchise."

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