“Willa Fitzgerald Reflects on Scream Role and Career Changes”
We Invoke the Spirit of Scary Television
Few were aware of Willa Fitzgerald’s immense talent when she snagged the prestigious lead role of Emma Duval in MTV’s adaptation of Wes Craven’s renowned film franchise, Scream. Having previously starred as a recurring cast member in Season 6 of USA Network’s Royal Pains, she quickly scaled up for the Scream gig. For two adrenaline-pumping seasons, she directed the team through the dense webs of deceit and murder in the sleepy town of Lakewood, Colorado. Their collective efforts revolved around unmasking the infamous Lakewood Slasher.
Unexpected Turns: Scream’s Abrupt Shift
Scream gained a dedicated following, so it rattled fans when the third season took an unexpected turn. The series decamped from Colorado to Atlanta, Georgia, and introduced a new protagonist, RJ Cyler’s Deion Elliot. This surprise move caught audiences off guard. Indeed, Fitzgerald also found herself in the whirlwind of this sudden change. She shared her experience on Ladies Night.
On an otherwise ordinary day in the Spring of 2017, Fitzgerald received a life-altering phone call. She recounted: “We thought we were all set for Season 3. There I was, sitting in a coffee shop near Orchard Street in New York, awaiting an eye exam, when my team called. They hit me with, ‘They’re not using any of the original cast. They’re recasting.’ I was initially crushed, but took it on the chin, processing the hard reality. The show had always been intense, and each season felt like a pressure cooker.”
Life After Scream: Fitzgerald’s Career Takes Flight
Following Scream’s end, Fitzgerald reflected on her journey with the series and felt optimistic about the future. In her early 20s, Fitzgerald felt the world was at her fingertips. She shared, “I was, luckily, eager for new directions in my career. Time felt elongated in my early 20s, and I was eager for a change. Next thing I knew, I was off to Ireland for Little Women. Then my world truly turned upside down.”
Prime Video currently hosts all three seasons of Scream.
Watching the screen siren navigate life post-‘Scream’ is available on Prime video. Spoiler alert: Fitzgerald’s world does explode—in a good way.
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