'Scream' TV series spoilers: Biggest star gets killed in opening minutes of premiere episode

Scream mask for the MTV series MTV

MTV is set to premiere its new "Scream" TV series at the end of the month but the network seems quite adamant in giving fans an early taste of what the show is like. MTV has just shared the first eight minutes of the show and wasted no time in killing off Bella Thorne's character, Nina Patterson, before the premiere was up. 

Bella Thorne is arguably the biggest name in the new television series' lineup which is led by Willa Fitzgerald, Bex Taylor-Klaus, and Jason Wiles. Killing off Thorne might seem a bit of a shocker to newcomers to the "Scream" franchise but veteran fans of the "Scream" films will identify this as a notable tribute to the very first film. 

In the 1996 film, "Scream," Drew Barrymore's character Casey Becker was killed off right in the opening sequence of the film. The tradition continued with each subsequent "Scream" film killing off big name actresses in its opening sequence. Barrymore was followed by the likes of Jada Pinkett Smith, Lucy Hale, and Anna Pacquin. 

Nina Patterson's death serves as a tribute to this opening although MTV also made it clear back when the show was announced that the series does not serve as a continuation to the films' canon. The series' official plot synopsis also indicates that Patterson's death will cause a ripple effect amidst the main character's storylines and will be a major plotpoint all throughout the show. 

According to a report from the Wrap, the short preview also gives fans their first good look at the new "Scream" mask. 

The original was inspired by a painting by Edvard Munch titled "The Scream" and depicts a face that is both screaming and crying simultaneously. The new mask in the television series keeps the open mouth but also changes it to resemble a more realistic, human shape. 

"Scream" premieres on June 30. 

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