Heroes' Hayden Panettiere to star in Scream 4

Hayden Panettiere has said filming Scream 4 has been 'a blast'.

The Heroes actress will star in the fourth instalment of the slasher franchise alongside Scream regulars Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox-Arquette and David Arquette, and is confident filmmaker Wes Craven will do the past films justice.

"For an audience that is so well-versed in Scream [films] and in what happens and who becomes the killer, it's trickier to throw them a curveball. I think they've done a really cool job with the script, [and] we've had a blast on it," she told MTV.com.

Hayden, who plays 'edgy, sassy and smart' Kirby, has been filming the fourth chapter in Michigan, and heaped praise on her castmates - which also include Adam Brody, Emma Roberts and Rory Culkin - and the acclaimed director.

"Wes Craven is not only the nicest human being, but he's a brilliant director. And it's all the original cast as well: Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox and David Arquette. We've got an incredible new cast that's come in, and we have a pretty good team," she added.

"I think it's just perfect timing, the amount of time that has passed since the last one came out. It's a perfect set-up. I think with all of the Scream [films], the idea is to throw the audience for a loop every time."

Scream 4 is scheduled to open in 2011.