Jenna Ortega on Why She Really Left ‘Scream’ Franchise

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Jenna Ortega explains her decision to leave the Scream series, following the dismissal of her fellow cast member Melissa Barrera.

In an article for The Cut published on Monday, actress Melissa Barrera, who starred in the rebooted Scream franchise alongside Jenna Ortega as the Carpenter sisters, discussed her departure from the series. This decision came after Spyglass Media Group announced in November 2023 that Barrera was let go from the upcoming seventh installment due to controversial comments she made about the Israel-Hamas conflict on Instagram. The following day, it was revealed that Ortega would also not be returning to the film. While rumors suggested her exit was due to either Barrera’s dismissal or salary disagreements, Ortega herself clarified the reasons behind her decision.

Ortega stated that the issues weren’t related to wages or timetables. Instead, he mentioned the ‘Melissa situation’ which was causing turmoil and everything seemed to be unraveling.

In his analysis, Ortega identified the departure of the directors of Scream VI, namely Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, as a significant factor.

Had Scream VII not been under the direction of that beloved crew, it just didn’t feel like the right fit for me professionally at that moment,” I expressed.

At that point in time, Barrera expressed to The Hollywood Reporter about Ortega, “She’s been incredibly supportive of me, and we share a bond for the rest of our lives, like sisters.

Since then, Ortega has appeared in numerous productions, such as “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” last year and reprising her role for the second season of her Netflix sensation, “Wednesday.

Ortega shared with The Cut that he’s been involved in numerous franchises, which he appreciates being a part of a lasting tradition. However, his main focus is on giving opportunities to fresh directors and unique narratives. Some might question his choices, thinking, ‘What on earth is she doing?’ when they see her associated with a movie about unicorns. But an original script captivates him. If he can contribute to its production, he’s all for it.

In the upcoming second season of “Wednesday,” Ortega will not only serve as an executive producer, but he seems to express a sense of increased confidence and assertiveness, stating, “I feel a bit more emboldened to voice my opinions.

Actress Neve Campbell, famously known for her role in Scream, is returning to reprise her character Sidney Prescott in Scream 7. The new film will primarily focus on Sidney and her daughter, with Joel McHale joining the cast as Mark Evans, her spouse. Previous cast members Mason Gooding and Jasmin Savoy Brown are set to return, having been part of the main quartet along with Ortega and Barrera in previous installments.

In the director’s chair for the upcoming Scream film is Kevin Williamson, known for penning the scripts of the original, Scream 2, and Scream 4 within the franchise. The script for this latest installment has been penned by Guy Busick, who also wrote Scream from 2022 and Scream VI.

Paramount is set to release Scream 7 in theaters on Feb. 27, 2026.

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2025-04-07 20:24