Carmen Electra Says Keenen Ivory Wayans ‘Fought for Me’ to Be in “Scary Movie”: ‘No One Else Was Sure I Could Do It’ (Exclusive)

Lexi Lane, Stephanie SengweSat, June 6, 2026 at 3:30 PM UTC

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Carmen Electra at the 'Scary Movie 6' premiere in Los Angeles on June 3, 2026; Keenen Ivory WayansCredit: Jesse Grant/Getty; Steve Granitz/WireImage -

Carmen Electra credited Keenen Ivory Wayans for fighting to cast her in the first Scary Movie, which came out in 2000

Electra also appears in Scary Movie 6, which was released in June 2026 and reunites original cast members like Anna Faris and Marlon Wayans while parodying recent horror films

"I love you, Keenen, forever, for pulling for me and changing my career, because being in Scary Movie really did," she said

Carmen Electra "really wanted" to be in the Scary Moviefranchise — and she feels grateful for Keenen Ivory Wayans for fighting for her to be part of the cast.

While at the premiere of Scary Movie 6on Wednesday, June 3, Electra, 54, exclusively told PEOPLE that she thought it was "amazing" that Marlon Wayans, 53, and Shawn Wayans, 55, are back leading the franchise.

"I was in the first Scary Movie and [Scary Movie 4], and I think we all could feel the difference without the Wayans not being involved in the fourth one," she said. "So it's just so cool and it gets no better than working with the Wayans. It's always fun. It's a good time."

Carmen Electra in 'Scary Movie' (2000)Credit: Jack Rowand/Dimension Films

Electra added that she thinks the Wayans are brilliant and able to tap into a unique blend of comedy that only they can perfect.

"They always have been from the beginning," she said. "There's so many movies and so many different genres, and I knew I wanted to be a part of Scary Movie 1. I really wanted it, but I think that back then, they weren't sure that ... I know Keenen really wanted me in the movie, but no one else was sure I could do it. And so they had other people come in and shoot for it."

She continued about Keenen, 67, going to bat for her, saying, "He goes, 'No.' He fought for me. So I love you, Keenen, forever, for pulling for me and changing my career, because being in Scary Movie really did."

Carmen Electra and Anna Faris in 2000Credit: Scott Gries/Getty

Along with Electra, Keenen also pushed to have Anna Faris play Cindy starting in the first film. Since then, Faris, 49, has returned for every Scary Movie film, except for 2013's Scary Movie 5.

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"Yeah, I heard that as well," Electra said about Faris getting cast in the first film. "Keenen, he fought for who he wanted in the movie and it worked. Scary Movie 1 was a complete hit, and it just worked. So it's awesome."

Electra noted she had been a fan of the Wayans family before Scary Movie, noting she watched their television show, The Wayans Bros., which aired from 1995 to 1999. Keenen also created and hosted In Living Color alongside Damon Wayans in 1990.

"You know what? It felt special to me because I was a fan of the Wayans before the movie," she said. "I knew who they were, I watched their movies, I watched their TV show. So I knew who they were, but I don't think anyone knew it was going to be as big as it was. It blew up. It was number one all over the world. And we were on tour in Europe. It was fun. It was amazing."

Carmen Electra; Keenen Ivory WayansCredit: Monica Schipper/Getty; Mike Coppola/Getty

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The first Scary Movie film premiered in 2000, and was directed by Keenen while Shawn, who played Ray Wilkins, and Marlon, who played Shorty Meeks, wrote the script.

Now, Scary Movie 6, which stars returning cast members Faris, Electra, Regina Hall, Marlon, Shawn, Dave Sheridan and Cheri Oteri, and a few new faces with Olivia Rose Keegan and Sydney Park, parodies recent horror films like 2022's Scream, 2025's Weapons and 2017's Get Out.

The latest Scary Movie is in theaters now.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”