Hayden Panetierre returns to 'Scream' teen slasher movie franchise

American actress-singer Hayden Panetierre has returned to the 'Scream' universe. The 32-year old Golden Globe nominee was photographed on the set of the upcoming sixth instalment in the 'Scream' franchise on Saturday (Pacific Standard Time).

Her return to the franchise was announced in May, following her character Kirby Reed's near-death scene in 2011's Scream 4, reports People magazine.

Her co-star Jasmin Savoy Brown, who joined the franchise as Mindy Meeks-Martin in this year's fifth instalment, shared some candid shots on BeReal of the two of them sitting in a hair and makeup trailer.

"Will Mindy & Kirby be friends?? Hayden thinks yes, I think no," Brown, 28, wrote with the post as she took over the film's social media account.

Panetierre previously had spoken to People about her return to the franchise, which will mark her first film in eight years. "I'm so happy that this is going to be my first project back because I have such fond memories of doing Scream 4," she said earlier.

"I love the character and I love her sass, and I feel like I'm coming back and I know her," Panetierre added of playing Kirby. "So, it's a little less intimidating. I'm excited. I'm really excited."

According to People, Saturday's post comes about after Neve Campbell announced her "very difficult decision" not to return for the upcoming sixth instalment in the Scream franchise, after starring in the first five films.

"Sadly I won't be making the next Scream film. As a woman I have had to work extremely hard in my career to establish my value, especially when it comes to Scream," she said in a statement accessed by People. "I felt the offer that was presented to me did not equate to the value I have brought to the franchise."

After starring in Wes Craven's original 1996 teen slasher, she last returned for the fifth instalment, which premiered earlier this year. From Ready or Not directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, it was the first film in the franchise to not have Craven attached, after he died of a brain tumour in August 2015.

People further states that Courteney Cox has also confirmed her return to the franchise, and she was spotted on the movie's Montreal set last month. She previously gave an update to the Just for Variety podcast in December after getting the script.

"I haven't read it yet, I just got it..." she said at the time. "I'm excited to read it, and I know they're going to start filming... I think, in June, in Canada."

"I don't know if I'm supposed to say anything. Let me tell you the killer!" Cox, 58, joked.