Directed by Michael Tiddes (‘A Haunted House’), in addition to the Wayans, the film stars Anna Faris (‘Lost in Translation’), Regina Hall (‘One Battle After Another’), Olivia Rose Keegan (‘Dutton Ranch’), Chris Elliott (‘Cabin Boy’), Dean Cole (‘Michael’), and Damon Wayans (‘The Last Boy Scout’).

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Olivia Rose Keegan about her work on ‘Scary Movie’, the film’s success, joining the franchise, improvising on set, the movies they spoof, working with the Wayans, Anna Farris, and Regina Hall, collaborating with director Michael Tiddes, and if she would like to return for a possible sequel.

Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Scary Movie’ (2026)

Anna Faris plays Cindy, Regina Hall plays Brenda, Olivia Rose Keegan plays Sara and Cameron Scott Roberts plays Jack n ‘Scary Movie.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures. © 2026 Paramount Pictures.

Moviefone: To begin with, congratulations on the success of the movie. Were you surprised to see so many fans of the franchise come out to support the film?

Olivia Rose Keegan: It’s healthy to try and at least not expect things to go a certain way because you just have no control over it. As an actor, it’s about the journey not the destination, but it feels cool when it does well. So, I am just so pleasantly, I wouldn’t say surprised, but relieved and excited, and I couldn’t be happier that people are receiving it the way that they are. I’m just so grateful.

MF: Were you a fan of the series before making this movie and what was it like joining the franchise?

ORK: Oh, yes. Whenever I went over to a friend’s house, if it was around spooky season, we had it playing in the background. It’s that film. The ‘Scary Movie’ films feel more like a cultural movement than a film franchise. It goes so much deeper than that, like the references and everything. So, it was living in my bones before I even got the audition, and I was so excited when I did. But also, I’ve never done a comedy before, so I didn’t think they would pick me, but I thought I’d have fun doing the audition, and I did and I’m happy that the casting director did too.

(L to R) Olivia Rose Keegan plays Sara, Cameron Scott Roberts plays Jack, Benny Zielke plays Jess, Ruby Snowber plays Elle, Gregg Wayans plays Brad, Sydney Park plays DEI and Marlon Wayans plays Shorty in ‘Scary Movie.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures. © 2026 Paramount Pictures.

MF: Was there a lot of improvisation on set and what was it like for you as an actor?

ORK: Improv throughout. This movie is probably half improvised from all of us and you’re encouraged to bring in your own ideas. On most sets, it’s looked down upon to stray far from the writer’s words because you want to honor the writer. We had a jam-packed amazing script, but it was almost looked down upon to not come in with your own ideas and punchlines, which is something that I’ve never explored, which was so fun for me.

MF: The film spoofs a lot of horror films including the ‘Scream’ franchise and ‘Sinners’. Were you given a list of movies to watch before filming, or had you already seen all of them?

ORK: I mean, Michael, our director and the creative team, everyone was there for any sort of questions we had going into it. Although there wasn’t a list, if I was reading the script and didn’t get any of the references, I would ask what movie it was, and I made sure to watch all of them before we started filming to go in feeling like I knew what was going on. It was so cool to spoof an Oscar winning movie in hopefully a way that is honorable and funny and spoofy. I think they did a good job at balancing that.

(L to R) Olivia Rose Keegan plays Sara, Cameron Scott Roberts plays Jack and Savannah Lee Nassif plays Tuesday in ‘Scary Movie.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures. © 2026 Paramount Pictures.

MF: What was it like working with Marlon and Shawn Wayans?

ORK: It was everything you’d hoped it would be and more. They’re both such different creatures too, but every time they’re on set together, it just works harmoniously. They have such different processes. Shawn, he’s so sweet and amazing and brilliantly talented and he has an ability to just be so in the pocket with everything he does. He never strays from the pocket. His brain just gets it on this deep level. So that was amazing to watch. He works in that way. Then Marlon is this incredible, fearless, untamable beast and you can just turn on the cameras and watch him go for 20 minutes in these different directions. He’s just always oozing with 10,000 ideas and very encouraging of us, new kids on the block, to really listen to our own creative voices, which I’ve never worked in that way before. I’ve never worked in a way where you show up to set with your own ideas and punchlines and you feel free to improv the whole time. That is so fun. I learned a lot about myself and what I’m capable of through his encouragement and just watching him be so fearless about it.

MF: What was it like working with Anna Farris and playing her daughter?

ORK: I feel so blessed. I have admired her and her work for as long as I can remember. She’s always been my comedic north star. So, when I found out in the audition process that I would be playing her daughter, I was so relieved and excited to just let all the love that I had for her shine through Sarah, my character. Working with her was even cooler, once again, just cooler than you’d even expect. She’s not only so talented, but she works so hard and genuinely wants to make something good. She’s in it for the pure love of it and the love of the craft and was also coming in with her own hilarious ideas every day. She’s the kind of actor that stays seven hours after she could have gone home to read one line of off-camera dialogue, which is so rare. It was a blessing. It was so amazing.

Anna Faris plays Cindy, Regina Hall plays Brenda in ‘Scary Movie.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures. © 2026 Paramount Pictures.

MF: You also got to work with Regina Hall, what was that like?

ORK: Regina is just one of the most talented people also on this planet and watching her, the way she works is, again, she just always gets it and she’s just in the pocket.

MF: Was it difficult to keep a straight face while shooting your scenes? Did you or anyone else laugh during shooting?

ORK: So yes, we all had the giggles. But I learned that about myself. I’ve never been on a comedy set, so I didn’t know what it was like, and I didn’t know that these people were going to be so funny. I guess I knew what I was signing up for. These are some of the most brilliant comedians in the world. But I discovered that I’m bad at holding it together. I genuinely need to work on it.

Producer Marlon Wayans and Director Michael Tiddes on the set of Scary Movie.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures. © 2026 Paramount Pictures.

MF: What was it like collaborating with director Michael Tiddes on set?

ORK: Very collaborative. He was always there for anything you needed, like a very grounding force too. We had a lot of different energies going on, and Michael was always good at keeping an eye on the target. So, I’m grateful that we had him as our leader leading this ship.

MF: Finally, are you open to returning for a possible sequel?

ORK: Are you kidding? I would be so beyond excited. I mean, there’s no official word about anything and you try to take things with a grain of salt in this industry because things are just so unpredictable. But I would be so happy to do that again.

Editorial Note: James White conducted this interview and contributed to this article.

Marlon Wayans plays Shorty in ‘Scary Movie.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures. © 2026 Paramount Pictures. “Ghost Face is a Registered Trademark of Fun World Div., Easter Unlimited, Inc. © 1999. All Rights

What is the plot of ‘Scary Movie’ (2026)?

Twenty-six years after outrunning a suspiciously familiar masked killer, the Core Four are back in the killer’s crosshairs and no horror movie IP is safe.

Who is in the cast of ‘Scary Movie’ (2026)?

Anna Faris plays Cindy and Regina Hall plays Brenda in ‘Scary Movie.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures. © 2026 Paramount Pictures.

List of Movies in the ‘Scary Movie’ Franchise:

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