Regina Hall’s Brenda Meeks is more than a final girl that keeps coming back or the comic relief character. She’s the heart of the Scary Movie franchise just as much as Anna Faris’s Cindy Campbell is. So when news came out that the Wayans Brothers were teaming up to bring Scary Movie 6 to life, there was no question in our minds that if we’re going to do another sequel, Brenda has to make her glorious return.
Brenda was a regular in the first three Scary Movie films. She played Faris’s best friend and she didn’t make it out alive by the end of the first movie. This being a franchise that doesn’t adhere to the same rules as the horror movies these comedies are inspired by, Brenda made her return in Scary Movie 2 and 3. Even in the third iteration of the Scary Movie franchise, Brenda was killed and then made a brief appearance in the fourth movie. Too brief for our liking. Neither Faris or Hall made an appearance in Scary Movie 5. But who remembers that movie anyway?
When it comes to Scary Movie 6, they’ve already asked Hall if she would be returning. She gave a typical Hollywood answer to TV Insider and said that she was excited for the Wayans Brothers to start the project and how “We’ll see if Brenda is in this new world. I’m thrilled at the possibility that the band could get back together again. That would be fun.” When Faris was asked about her possible return for Scary Movie 6 she made it clear to PEOPLE that she had two conditions: money and that Regina Hall had to return.
So what makes Brenda Meeks such an iconic character?
We mentioned it briefly earlier but Brenda goes against the horror movie stereotypes. She dies but she always comes back. That creates a dedicated fandom that is eager for her return and doesn’t question when she appears after being killed in the last movie. Brenda just is. She’s also the best character because she has the best lines. From her first moments on screen when she was talking about another character being fake to her wishing that Cindy would die in Scary Movie 2, her lines are iconic. Even her smaller appearance in Scary Movie 4, I don’t remember the movie. But I remember her outfit giving sister wife and the way she flirted.
Brenda is also the best part of the Scary Movie franchise because the actress herself hands herself so willingly to the material. The Scary Movie universe is purposefully ridiculous and oftentimes offensive. And Hall gives herself over to this franchise like she is set and ready to give an Oscar performance. That’s a respect to the craft and shows how truly multifaceted she is. And it makes the viewer 10 times more invested in what she’s doing because we feed off of her energy.
Then there’s Brenda’s friendship with Cindy. Brenda is a ride or die kind of girl. But she also knows when it’s time to pack it up and cheer on the number one person in your life aka yourself. That leads to hilarious scenes where you’re very much cheering on sisterly bonds and girlhood but also a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do to survive. Nevertheless, their silly, endearing, and hilarious scenes give off the kind of energy where you know their friends in real life. Or you hope for them to be real life friends.
Altogether, Regina Hall is that girl and Scary Movie 6 needs her Brenda Meeks as much as it needs Anna Faris’s Cindy Campbell. And with a resurgence of these movies becoming popular again, I think the Scary Movie franchise can shake things up by rebooting it with the same characters. No younger cast to be the lead roles. We need the OG’s to take on The Babadook or Get Out. Because if you’re already leaning into nostalgia, I say go all the way and shake up this industry built now on reboots and sequels.
