Neve Campbell and David Arquette in 2011.Photo: Jeff Vespa/WireImage
David Arquetteis speaking out about his longtimeScreamcostarNeve Campbell’s recent decision to not appear in the franchise’s upcoming sequel.
In a conversation withComicBookpublished Monday shortly after Campbell, 48, explained her “very difficult decision” to not return for the sixthScreaminstallment, Arquette, 50, said he “understand(s) her decision.”
He also said he would “love for her to be a part of” the films and “aScreammovie without [Campbell’s character Sidney Prescott] is kind of unfortunate.”
“It’s all a business, in a way — they have to balance all these elements to fit a budget and produce a film,” Arquette continued.
“I get it, she’s still alive! She [can] absolutely be in future ones, but I think it’s up to fans to call for that in the future,” he added.
Campbell announced her decision on Monday in a statement that began, “Sadly Iwon’t be making the nextScreamfilm. As a woman I have had to work extremely hard in my career to establish my value, especially when it comes toScream. I felt the offer that was presented to me did not equate to the value I have brought to the franchise.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.
Neve Campbell and David Arquette inScream 3(2000).Dimension Films/Kobal/Shutterstock
RELATED GALLERY:Amazing Throwback Photos from the 1996 Premiere ofScream
“It’s been a very difficult decision to move on,” the actress added. “To all myScreamfans, I love you. You’ve always been so incredibly supportive to me. I’m forever grateful to you and to what this franchise has given me over the past 25 years.”
Reps for Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media have not responded to PEOPLE’s requests for comment.
In his interview with ComicBook, Arquette said that although the news “is sudden,” he realizes “it’s a business.”
“I respect her decision, for sure,” he added of Campbell.
RELATED VIDEO: Courteney Cox on Returning toScreamFranchise: “In a Million Years Never Thought” We’d Do It Again
Along with fellow legacy stars Arquette andCourteney Cox, Campbell last returned for the fifth installment, which opened earlier this year. FromReady or NotdirectorsMatt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, it was the first film in the franchise to not have Craven attached, after he died of a brain tumor in August 2015 at the age of 76.
Campbell previously said thather return was up in the airas she commented on the next film during a panel at the Mad Monster Party convention in North Carolina back in February.
“They have approached me. There’s no script yet. There is a draft coming in soon is what I was told,” she explained at the time. “Actually, I was supposed to call a producer yesterday, because he wanted to talk to me about what’s going on. You know, we’ll see. I’ll read the script and see how I feel.”
source: people.com
