Anthony Anderson Is Back for Scary Movie — and He Has Thoughts

The Reunion He Did Not Know He Was Missing Until Now

Here is something Anthony Anderson probably did not expect to say at a red carpet event: he had no idea the Wayans brothers were not involved when he made Scary Movie 3 back in 2003. None. Zero. He just showed up, did his job, made people laugh, and had a great time — completely unaware that the whole thing had been yanked away from the family who created it in the first place.

Fast forward to 2026, and Anderson, 55, is finally doing it the way it was always supposed to be done.

On the red carpet at the Peabody Awards in Beverly Hills on May 31, Anderson opened up to People about his return to the Scary Movie franchise — this time with Marlon and Shawn Wayans firmly back in the driver's seat. "Marlon called me soon after he wrestled the franchise back into the family name," Anderson said. And just like that, he was in.

The Franchise That Got Stolen — And Finally Came Home

To understand why this new film feels like such a big deal, you need to know a little history. Marlon and Shawn Wayans, along with their older brother Keenen Ivory Wayans, created the original Scary Movie in 2000. It was a sharp, outrageous parody of 90s slasher films like Scream, and it became a massive hit. They followed it up with Scary Movie 2 in 2001. Then things got messy.

Miramax — the studio then run by Harvey Weinstein and his brother Bob — moved forward with a third entry in the franchise in 2002, just after Keenen, Shawn, and Marlon had signed a deal to work with a different studio. According to a May 25 interview Marlon gave to Variety, the Weinstein brothers refused to give the Wayans their requested raises and then essentially took the franchise and ran with it without them.

That is how Anthony Anderson ended up in Scary Movie 3 and Scary Movie 4 in the mid-2000s alongside a completely different creative team — and how he spent years not knowing the full story behind the scenes.

Now, over two decades later, the franchise is back where it belongs. Keenen Ivory, Marlon, Shawn, and Craig Wayans all have writing and producing credits on the new film, directed by Michael Tiddes. It hits theaters June 5, 2026 — the first entry in the series since 2013.

A Cast That Reads Like a Comedy Hall of Fame

The new Scary Movie is not coming in quietly. Anna Faris and Regina Hall are back as Cindy and Brenda, the franchise's beloved female leads. Marlon returns as Shorty, Shawn is back as Ray, and alongside Anderson, the film brings in Jon Abrahams, Lochlyn Munro, Cheri Oteri, Dave Sheridan, Chris Elliott, Heidi Gardner, and Kim Wayans. Damon Wayans Jr. is also joining the family reunion, bringing a fresh generational energy into the mix.

According to GeekTyrant, the film takes aim at everything that has happened in horror since the franchise went quiet — prestige horror, endless franchise revivals, the whole ecosystem of modern scary movies is getting roasted. Movies like Get Out, Sinners, and Weapons are all reportedly in the crosshairs.

More Than Just a Sequel — It Is a Statement

What makes this particular comeback feel different is the intentionality behind it. As Blex Media reported, Marlon Wayans has been clear that this film is not just about cramming in pop culture references and calling it a parody. His focus has always been on funny characters in outrageous situations — the thing that made the original work in the first place.

He also hinted that if this film performs well, he is ready to move forward with long-awaited sequels to White Chicks and Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood. Two cult classics that fans have been begging to revisit for years.

For Anthony Anderson, the whole thing has come full circle in the best possible way. He got to be part of the franchise during the years it lost its identity, and now he gets to be part of it finding its way back home. That is a pretty good Hollywood ending — and judging by the cast list and the energy around this release, the laughs are going to be worth the 13-year wait.

From FTE News