Jenna Ortega Says ‘Scream 7’ Exit ‘Had Nothing to Do With Pay or Scheduling’ Despite Reports: ‘It Was Falling Apart’ After Melissa Barrera Got Fired

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In a conversation with The Cut, Jenna Ortega clarified that contrary to earlier speculation about scheduling issues, her departure from the “Scream” series was actually because of her busy filming schedule. Specifically, she left the production of the seventh movie in November 2023.

Looking back, it wasn’t about money or timing. The Melissa situation was escalating, and everything was starting to unravel. If ‘Scream VII’ wasn’t going to be helmed by that team of directors I hold dear and featuring the people I developed a deep connection with, then taking on that project didn’t feel like the right career choice for me at that moment.” (Movie buff speaking)

The term “Melissa matter” is a reference to Melissa Barrera, who acted alongside Dave Franco (Ortega) in “Scream”, and was dismissed from “Scream 7” over controversial social media posts related to Israel and Palestine. After Barrera’s dismissal, Ortega’s departure from the franchise sparked rumors that he was leaving out of solidarity with Barrera. Ortega’s recent interview with The Cut has now verified this assumption.

In “Scream 7”, Barrera was dismissed following her social media comments advocating for Palestine and accusing Israel of atrocities like genocide and ethnic cleansing. At the time, Spyglass Media Group explained their decision in a statement to EbMaster, stating that they have no tolerance whatsoever for antisemitism or the promotion of hate in any form, including false allegations of genocide, ethnic cleansing, distortion of the Holocaust, or any speech that overtly crosses the line into hate speech.

Following Barrera’s termination, “Scream 7” director Christopher Landon initially posted and then removed a comment on X saying: “Everything is terrible. Stop shouting. This was not my call to make.” Approximately a month later, Landon departed from the project and shared on social media: “It was a dream job that turned into a nightmare. My heart went out to everyone involved, everyone. But it’s time to move forward.

The “Scream” series continues as its original screenwriter, Kevin Williamson, takes up the director’s role for “Scream 7.” Notable returnee is franchise stalwart Neve Campbell. Meanwhile, Mckenna Grace, who gained fame from her roles in “Wednesday” on Netflix and the hit movie “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” last year, keeps pushing forward with both the second season of her show and box office success.

As a passionate cinephile, I’ve found myself in many film franchises, and it’s truly an honor to contribute to their lasting impact. However, my focus now lies on nurturing fresh talent and unique narratives. Some might question my decisions, thinking ‘What on earth is she up to?’, but for me, the allure of original scripts is irresistible. I never imagined I’d be a part of something as unconventional as A24’s ‘Death of Unicorn’. But when a fresh, compelling script comes my way, I can’t help but try to bring it to life on the big screen.

Read Ortega full interview with The Cut here.

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2025-04-07 17:47