Jenna Ortega, star of the recent “Scream” franchise reboot, will not return for the upcoming 7th installment in the slasher film series. Her departure comes on the heels of Melissa Barrera’s firing from the project, stemming from what the studio deemed controversial online posts regarding the war in Gaza.
Barrera and Ortega had developed a strong on-screen rapport in their roles as sisters Tara and Sam Carpenter over the last two “Scream” films. Their characters were expected to play a pivotal role in the next sequel. However, Spyglass Media Group severed ties with Barrera this week, stating her alleged “anti-Semitic” social media posts as the reason.
While scheduling conflicts with Ortega’s Netflix show “Wednesday” were initially cited as a potential issue for her return, the timing of her exit announcement points to deeper factors. “Scream 7” has already faced delays due to industry strikes, and the loss of two leading cast members leaves the production scrambling right as filming was slated to commence.
Veteran horror director Christopher Landon (“Happy Death Day”) was previously attached to take over the franchise reins from Radio Silence, who helmed the recent sequels. This suggested a shift in creative direction was underway even before the casting shakeups. Still, the abrupt exits have stunned fans who were invested in the Carpenter sisters’ trajectory.
Social media reactions range from confusion over the reasons for Barrera’s release to disappointment regarding Ortega’s departure. Attention now turns to how the filmmakers will adapt on short notice and where the franchise goes next following this substantial void in star power and narrative continuity with the past two films.
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