Variety has reported that Scream 7 is set to undergo a significant creative reboot following the departure of Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega this week.
A Different Scream
Barrera was dropped from the movie after Spyglass Media Group decided she’d been antisemitic in supporting Palestine during its conflict with Israel. She has stood by her support for Palestine after being let go.
Ortega decided scheduling conflicts with Wednesday Season 2 and wrapping up Beetlejuice 2 would prevent her from being able to shoot Scream 7, so she has also departed.
Neither had initially signed up for a third movie, and would have had to negotiate new deals, which would definitely have to have been on higher pay.
With the onscreen sisters gone from the movie, it leaves those making the movie with a big problem as they were central to the last two Scream films, with Barrera becoming he new series lead. The events of Scream 6 also appeared to tease another chapter in the story of Barrera and Ortega’s Carpenter sisters. So now it appears a creative reboot is on the cards.
No doubt Spyglass will attempt to alleviate the damage done to the film’s reputation by firing Barrera and losing Ortega, and its plans apparently include bringing Neve Campbell back as Sidney Prescott.
Campbell walked away from Scream 6 after a dispute over fair pay, making it the first entry in the series not to include her. She recently stated she felt no ill will towards anyone over it, but it would be interesting to see how she responds to a tainted olive branch.
Another touted returning character is Patrick Dempsey’s Mark Kincaid, who was last seen in 2000’s Scream 3, but his role was hardly memorable in the grand scheme of things.
As of yet, neither has been in negotiations about returning. Scream 7 was set for a 2025 release window before this, but a significant rewrite and finding new cast members will likely take up a lot of extra time.
