WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Scream, now playing in theaters.
According to the filmmakers behind the latest entry in the Scream franchise, the new reboot/sequel includes a number of secret cameos from the stars of the 1996 original.
Executive producer Chad Villella told Bloody Disgusting that Drew Barrymore, whose character Casey Becker was slaughtered by Ghostface in the original Scream's iconic opening scene, recorded a voice cameo for the fifth film. "She is the principal making announcements at the beginning of the movie when the camera pans down from the tree to find our new cast at the picnic tables," he revealed. "Drew did the principal announcement, and that's just one of many, many."
Stu Macher actor Matthew Lillard, who's revealed to be one of the killers in the original Scream, appears as Ghostface yet again in the latest installment. Co-director Tyler Gillett explained that Lillard "does the voice of flamethrower Ghostface," who can be seen saying "this shit is lit" in the trailer for Stab 8, the slasher series that exists within the universe of the Scream films.
Lillard's voice can also be heard during the new film's third act, which takes place at Stu Macher's house from the original Scream. "There's a line when Amber's (Mikey Madison) walking through the party, there's a couple right before she turns into the kitchen, and Matthew Lillard's ADR is 'Cool house Freeman,' which we thought was funny because it's his house," said co-director Matt Bettinelli-Olpin.
"Then we got Jamie Kennedy to come back, he does the line, 'Someone's goofy ass dad is kicking us out at the party,'" added Gillett. Additional franchise stars whose voices can be heard during the house party at the end of the film include Henry Winkler, Adam Brody and Hayden Panettiere.
The fifth Scream also includes several nods to late horror legend Wes Craven, who directed the first four entries in the series. Bettinelli-Olpin recently said the new film serves as a "love letter" to his predecessor. One such tribute takes place in the film's third act when the characters throw a party "For Wes," a dual reference to Dylan Minnette's slain character, Wes Hicks, and the film's dedication to Wes Craven.
The latest Scream installment, which features a new cast of characters alongside franchise mainstays Neve Campbell, David Arquette and Courteney Cox, got off to a solid start at the box office -- becoming the first film to take the number one spot away from Spider-Man: No Way Home since the Marvel blockbuster hit theaters on Dec. 17.
Scream is currently playing in theaters.
Source: Bloody Disgusting