Before Wicked Had Hugs, Scary Movie Had Bear Hugs
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Long before red carpets became cuddle zones and press tours turned into emotional support circles, Regina Hall and Anna Faris were out here doing the most — hugging, gushing, and convincing the world they were best friends… possibly under studio orders.
In a recently resurfaced Scary Movie press clip that feels like it was shot on a flip phone powered by pure chaos, Hall and Faris can be seen getting hilariously touchy-feely while promoting the 2000 horror spoof. When Hall rewatched the footage years later, the realization hit her like a perfectly timed jump scare.
“We were like the original Cynthia and Ariana, huh?” Hall joked, comparing their early-2000s affection to the famously inseparable Wicked: For Good stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. And honestly? She’s not wrong.
The throwback interview is a masterclass in exaggerated celebrity bonding. Faris explains — with a wink — that they want everyone to believe they get along, implying that someone, somewhere in a studio office may have gently suggested “more love.” What follows is a parade of high-pitched compliments, dramatic declarations, and Oscar-worthy sincerity.
Ahead of ‘Scary Movie 6,' Regina Hall is dishing on what makes Brenda so iconic — and why she and Anna Faris were "the original Cynthia and Ariana." 🤣 pic.twitter.com/qCPiIzhI69
— Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) December 2, 2025
“She is hilarious,” Hall proclaims like she’s reading a love letter.
“She’s great!”
“We love working together,” Faris adds, right before the two hug and grin as if friendship itself were a competitive sport.
Fast-forward to today, and the affectionate press-tour tradition lives on. Grande and Erivo became famous for holding hands, hugging constantly, and radiating what can only be described as Broadway-level emotional intimacy while promoting Wicked, which went on to dominate the global box office. Coincidence? Regina Hall doesn’t think so.
While Wicked just released its second chapter last month, the Scary Movie franchise has been suspiciously quiet since 2013 — a film neither Hall nor Faris appeared in. But fans, rejoice and clutch your popcorn: Hall casually dropped the kind of news that makes comedy lovers scream into pillows.
Yes, Scary Movie 6 is happening.
Yes, Regina Hall and Anna Faris are back.
And yes, it’s scheduled to hit theaters June 12.
The upcoming sequel will once again be guided by the Wayans brothers — Keenen Ivory, Marlon, and Shawn — returning as writers and producers, proving that nothing truly scary ever stays dead in Hollywood.
Faris had previously made it very clear she was ready to reunite with Hall, telling PEOPLE in 2024 that she’d love to work with her again. “We would make each other giggle all day long,” she said, before adding the most honest Hollywood requirement of all: “And money. But mostly all Regina!”
Hall, for her part, got visibly nostalgic watching the old footage. Reflecting on her character Brenda and Faris’ Cindy, she pointed out that their on-screen friendship was as unexpected as it was iconic.
“I think Brenda and Cindy were the two most unlikely friends,” Hall said. “Cindy’s a good friend. I don’t know if Brenda is a great friend.”
Fair. Brenda did have a habit of surviving situations she absolutely shouldn’t have — sometimes at Cindy’s expense.
As for why fans still adore Brenda after 25 years? Hall has a theory. “Maybe because Brenda’s so irreverent. I mean, there’s something off there, right?” she laughed. That slightly unhinged energy, she says, is exactly what makes Scary Movie humor so special — broad, bold, and completely unapologetic.
And apparently, timeless.
So before Wicked gave us tender hand-holding and viral hugs, remember this: Regina Hall and Anna Faris walked — no, clung — so others could fly. And this June, they’re bringing the chaos, the comedy, and probably the hugs back to theaters.
