The next instalment in the 'Scream' franchise has secured the return of another legacy character.

Hayden Panettiere is set to reprise her 'Scream' role in the next movie of the horror franchise.

Panettiere previously played the role of Woodsboro teen Kirby Reed in 'Scream 4' from 2011. In the film, the character is left bleeding out after being stabbed by one of the copycat Ghostface's, and was presumed dead. However, it was revealed in this year's reboot/legacy film 'Scream 5' that Kirby survived the massacre, appearing briefly in a blink-and-miss-it YouTube video image.

Interestingly, the actor is believed to have had a clause built into her 'Scream 4' contract which stated that she would not die on-screen - which handily allows her to appear in the upcoming flick without too many questions being asked.

The 2022 revival of the horror franchise from Wes Craven, 'Scream 5' (which was titled 'Scream'), was a success at the box office, bringing back Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox one final time as Sidney Prescott and Gale Weathers. David Arquette, who appeared in all of the 'Scream' films, also returned as Dewey Riley. It's unknown if any of the original cast will return for this new sequel.

Joining Hayden Panettiere for what we presume will be titled 'Scream 6' (or 'Scr6am' perhaps) will be the new stars from this year's horror effort - Melissa Barrera, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding and Jenna Ortega, who all survived the fresh Ghostface ordeal unleashed by his modern-day copycats.

Not much is known about the upcoming film, which is due to begin shooting this summer, but Spyglass Media and Paramount Pictures have teased it will continue "with the four survivors of the Ghostface killings as they leave Woodsboro behind and start a fresh chapter".

Following its successful theatrical run earlier this year, the follow-up film was greenlit with directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (Radio Silence) on board once again.