Anna Faris Says Keenen Ivory Wayans Asked Her Not to Do “Scary Movie 3”. Here's Why She Did
Anna Faris Says Keenen Ivory Wayans Asked Her Not to Do “Scary Movie 3”. Here's Why She Did
Gabrielle RocksonMon, June 15, 2026 at 5:40 PM UTC
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Ana Faris and Keenen Ivory WayansCredit: Brianna Bryson/FilmMagic; Steve Granitz/WireImage -
Anna Faris revealed Keenen Ivory Wayans asked her not to join Scary Movie 3 after the Wayanses lost the franchise
Faris shared that she earned little for the first three films despite being under a three-picture contract
The Wayans brothers and Faris reunited for Scary Movie 6, which she described as a "healing" experience
Anna Faris is getting candid about her reasons for doing 2003's Scary Movie 3.
Speaking in a new interview with Variety, published Saturday, June 13, the actress, 49, revealed she was asked not to take part in the third installment of the franchise by its then-director Keenen Ivory Wayans, 68.
"So, in 2002, that was the last time I'd talked to Keenen," Faris told the outlet. "He had called me and said that the franchise had been taken away from them, and he asked me to not do it."
"It was such a devastating moment in the sense that I admired Keenen so much, and he was asking me to do something, but I was under contract," she continued.
Faris added, "He said, 'All they can do is sue you!' and I'm thinking, 'I'm living in a one-bedroom apartment by the farmer's market!' "
Regina Hall (Brenda Meeks) and Anna Faris (Cindy Campbell) in Scary Movie 3Credit: Marni Grossman
Keenen was the director for Scary Movie (2000)and Scary Movie 2 (2001). His brothers,Shawn Wayans (who played Ray Wilkins) and Marlon Wayans (Shorty Meeks), also served as screenwriters for both films.
Marlon, 53, revealed in an interview withVariety last month that he and his brothers were pushed out of the franchise by Harvey and Bob Weinstein after the Wayanses asked for a raise for a third film, and the Weinsteins allegedly failed to properly pay them royalties from the first two films.
Meanwhile, Faris —who recently reprised her role as Cindy Campbell in the sixth movie of the horror comedy, alongside the Wayans brothers—went on to say in her recent Variety interview that she did not receive much compensation during the earlier films of the franchise.
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"When I got the role for Scary Movie, I got a three-picture deal," she said. "My new manager celebrated it, but I didn't know what it meant."
She continued, "What it means is that they can lock you into a movie franchise and not pay you much. I got paid 65,000 Canadian dollars for the first movie, which quickly dissipated after taxes and manager's fees."
"I wasn't paid much for the second one or the third one," Faris revealed. "So, my feelings about the franchise were tough, and I felt so arrogant if I ever dismissed my massive stroke of luck in getting the role of Cindy Campbell."
Shawn Wayans, Anna Faris and Marlon Wayans attend the "Scary Movie" Mexico Photocall at Bosque de Chapultepec, on May 11, 2026 in Mexico CityCredit: Manuel Velasquez/Getty
She added, "That made me feel grotesque, as though I'd been poisoned by the fame; but at the same time, I felt, f---, if I'm good enough to compete, let me run with the champs! You know?"
In addition to Faris and the Wayans, Scary Movie 6's returning cast members include Regina Hall (Brenda Meeks), Carmen Electra (Drew Decker), Dave Sheridan (Officer Doofy) and Cheri Oteri (Gail Hailstorm).
Speaking about being asked to return for the sixth movie by the Wayans brothers, Faris told PEOPLE in April that, "When they called me, I was shocked and immediately thrilled."
"I couldn't believe it," she said. "I couldn't believe that there was a world where I would be feeling so good about doing Scary Movies — not just good, like great." She added that everyone coming together again for the film was "healing."
Scary Movie is in theaters now.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
