Fans of outrageous parody and over-the-top horror comedy have reason to celebrate: Anna Faris and Regina Hall are set to return for a new installment in the Scary Movie franchise. The project, which is in active development, will mark the first time the two comedic powerhouses have shared the screen in the series since Scary Movie 4 in 2006. Their reunion promises to deliver the same sharp timing, absurd gags, and fearless physical comedy that made the early films box office hits and enduring cult favorites.
Faris and Hall became breakout stars of the original Scary Movie in 2000, a film that gleefully skewered the teen slasher genre with a mix of slapstick, pop culture references, and R-rated audacity. Faris’s portrayal of the well-meaning but hapless Cindy Campbell and Hall’s scene-stealing turn as her brash best friend Brenda Meeks quickly became fan favorites, anchoring the series through four installments. Their chemistry, both verbal and physical, helped distinguish Scary Movie from other parody films of the era and kept audiences coming back for more.
The new installment will be produced by Paramount Pictures in partnership with a creative team intent on reviving the spirit of the original films while updating the humor for a new generation. According to early details from those involved, the script will target the explosion of elevated horror, true crime obsession, and supernatural thrillers that have dominated the genre in recent years. Expect nods to everything from prestige horror hits to streaming-era viral scares, with Cindy and Brenda once again finding themselves at the center of a chaotic and deadly—but hilarious—mystery.
For Faris, the project marks a return to the franchise that launched her career and solidified her reputation as one of the most fearless comedic actors in Hollywood. After stepping away from Scary Movie following the fourth film, she went on to star in a range of projects from romantic comedies to her long-running role on the CBS sitcom Mom. Hall, meanwhile, has built an impressive career that spans comedy, drama, and indie film, with standout performances in Girls Trip, Support the Girls, and the recent Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul. Their return to the anything-goes absurdity of Scary Movie will bring both nostalgia for longtime fans and curiosity from audiences who have followed their more recent work.
The Scary Movie franchise, which began as a send-up of films like Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer, eventually expanded its targets to include nearly every major genre trend of the early 2000s. The first two installments, directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans, were commercial juggernauts, and the series went on to gross over $800 million worldwide. While later entries saw diminishing returns and mixed critical reception, the early films in particular have enjoyed a second life in the age of memes and streaming, where clips of Faris and Hall’s most outrageous moments continue to circulate.
Bringing the duo back is as much a strategic move as it is a creative one. Producers recognize that the heart of the original films lay in the chemistry between Cindy and Brenda—a comedic pairing that could deliver a rapid-fire exchange about a killer on the loose one moment and a slapstick pratfall the next. Their timing, commitment to absurdity, and willingness to embrace the ridiculous made them relatable even in the most ludicrous scenarios.
The production is expected to begin filming later this year, with a release date tentatively eyed for late 2026. Fans can expect a blend of the familiar and the fresh: running gags and callbacks to the original films, along with new characters and scenarios that reflect the evolution of horror in the last two decades.
For Faris and Hall, the new Scary Movie is a chance to revisit the roles that first brought them together while introducing Cindy and Brenda to a new audience. For the franchise, it is an opportunity to recapture the anarchic spirit that made the original films so beloved. And for fans, it’s the promise of two of comedy’s best returning to the genre they helped define—ready to scream, run, and crack us up all over again.
