The fate of Hayden Panettiere’s character Kirby Reed in Scream VI has been a subject of speculation among fans. Here’s what we know about her role in the latest installment.

The iconic horror franchise, Scream, is back with its sixth installment, and fans are eager to know whether their beloved character, Kirby Reed, played by Hayden Panettiere, makes it out alive. Scream VI is directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, who have shifted the setting from the fictional town of Woodsboro to New York City.

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While legacy characters, including Courteney Cox as Gale Weathers, are back in action, Scream VI introduced a new set of protagonists, including Melissa Barrera as Sam Carpenter and Jenna Ortega as her sister Tara. With the return of Hayden Panettiere’s character, Kirby Reed, fans are excited to see how her storyline unfolds.

In an interview with The Independent, Hayden said “I took four years off and didn’t know what the right next move was.”

“Then Scream came along and I was like, ‘It’s perfect’. It was like going home. Like going home to a family.”

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Kirby Reed has been a fan-favorite since her debut in Scream IV back in 2011. In Scream VI, Kirby returns as an FBI agent who takes a keen interest in Ghostface cases after being stabbed by one of the killers in Woodsboro. She teams up with the new group of protagonists to catch the latest killer in New York City.

However, during the final act of the movie, Kirby is knocked out by Ghostface, and Dermot Mulroney’s Detective Wayne Bailey tries to turn the Carpenter sisters against her. Despite surviving a stabbing, Kirby’s fate seems uncertain. But the concluding sequences of the movie reveal that she survives, teasing the possibility of her return in future installments.

Scream VI marks a departure from the previous installments, as the setting has shifted from the small town of Woodsboro to the bustling streets of New York City. While fans may miss the classic setting of the series, Scream VI still manages to deliver the thrills and scares that fans have come to expect.

Scream VI brings back some of the beloved characters of the franchise while introducing new ones. Fans will be pleased to know that Hayden Panettiere’s Kirby Reed survives the events of the movie, although it’s a close call. With the potential for her return in future installments, fans can rest assured that Kirby’s story is not over yet.