Anna Faris beat out Melissa Joan Hart for the role of Cindy Campbell in the “Scary Movie” franchise.
Creators Marlon and Shawn Wayans dropped the casting bombshell to Faris while they promoted “Scary Movie 6” in a new interview with “Entertainment Tonight.”
“She was supposed to play Anna’s part,” Marlon, 53, said about the 50-year-old “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” star.
“I didn’t know this,” a stunned Faris, 49, responded. “She’s good!”
But Marlon revealed that their brother and co-creator, Keenan Wayans, was so impressed with Faris that he suggested they give her the role instead.
“So you took Melissa Joan Hart’s job. Good job, Anna!” Marlon joked.
The comedian quipped, “Way to go. Taking food out of another white lady’s mouth.”
Shawn, 55, jokingly added, “We see the way you do it.”
Faris played along with the pair, replying, “I didn’t. I’m not… I’m not trying to take food out of anyone’s mouth!”
Marlon dubbed the situation “white on white crime” before telling Faris he would never deny her the role because she’s “the star of the movie.”
“Yeah, but barely,” the “House Bunny” star responded. “Only because I work for free.”
Shawn joked to Faris, “You have low self-esteem. It’s a badge of honor to work for free.”
“Who needs self-esteem? It’s overrated,” Marlon declared, as Faris replied, “It is? Thank goodness!”
The Wayans brothers created the “Scary Movie” franchise, which debuted in 2000 and spoofs horror films.
Faris and Regina Hall (who plays Cindy’s BFF Brenda Meeks) have appeared in five out of the six films, the most of any of the cast members from the franchise.
In “Scary Movie 6,” the pair stars alongside Cheri Oteri, Chris Elliott, Dave Sheridan, Lochlyn Munro, Jon Abrahams and Anthony Anderson.
During a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, Faris admitted she thought doing another “Scary Movie” film “would be a concession of my soul.”
“Because I imagined that I would be a cameo and that I would be getting paid a lot of money, but not enough,” the actress explained. “Not enough for my pride. It’s a franchise that I’ve had complicated feelings about in the past.”
Faris said she feared being “typecast” because of her role in the franchise, but she’s finally learned to embrace her place in comedy.
“I really appreciate that when people do recognize me, they usually just smile,” she told EW. “They remember something ridiculous I did, or a joyful memory. That is a huge gift.”
She also said getting to work with the Wayans brothers again has been “very meaningful and powerful.”
“I felt valued in a way that I never thought the franchise would give me,” she shared.
“Scary Movie 6” comes out Friday.
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