Original ‘Scream 7’ Director Exited Amid Death Threats Over Melissa Barrera’s Firing Even Though ‘I Did Not Fire Her’; Jenna Ortega Was Out When He Signed On

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Director Christopher Landon of ‘Happy Death Day’ is discussing his decision to leave “Scream 7”. In December 2023, he officially announced that he would no longer be involved in the horror film sequel, approximately a month following Melissa Barerra’s dismissal from the project due to controversial social media posts regarding Israel and Palestine. The news of Jenna Ortega‘s departure from “Scream 7” was shared the day after Barerra’s termination.

Landon stated in an interview with Vanity Fair that he received threatening messages such as, “I intend to locate your children and I will murder them due to your support of child killing,” following Barerra’s dismissal. The seriousness of these threats required the intervention of security heads from multiple studios and the FBI for examination. The level of aggression was alarming and extremely frightening.

Landon stated that he was initially criticized online for Barerra’s dismissal as he was connected to “Scream 7” production. He further explained: “In the lack of knowledge about how Hollywood operates and its structure, fans assumed I was responsible. Consequently, they targeted me, ready with their attacks.”

Or simply:

Landon admitted that he faced online criticism for Barerra’s termination since he worked on “Scream 7”. He clarified: “Since many fans don’t understand Hollywood’s inner workings and the hierarchy, they mistakenly thought I was at fault. This led them to attack me.

The director made clear that he didn’t dismiss her. Many assume he played a part in it, but he insists he wasn’t involved. He had absolutely no influence over the circumstances whatsoever.

Or:

The director clarified that he didn’t let her go. It appears many believe he had some involvement, but he maintains he didn’t. He had no hand in the situation at all.

In the chilly month of December 2023, I, being Landon, took to social media with a heartfelt post, expressing that the opportunity to work on “Scream 7” had been a cherished dream-come-true that morphed into a harrowing ordeal. In an exclusive interview with Vanity Fair, I shared the chilling reason behind this transformation: the relentless death threats I’ve received.

Landon expressed that he chose not to invest any piece of himself into it because it wasn’t worthwhile for him. Instead, he preferred to channel his energy into something more rewarding where he could experience appreciation and respect. The hostility and mistreatment significantly diminished his enthusiasm, and the concept of continuing became unappealing. Additionally, he was mourning the departure of a cherished professional goal – one of his dream jobs.

At the time of her departure, Ortega mentioned her busy “filming commitments” as the reason behind not being able to appear in “Scream 7.” However, she revealed to The Cut this month that it was actually the aftermath of Barrera’s dismissal that led to her decision to leave the movie.

According to Ortega, things were not going well with ‘Melissa’ and everything was becoming chaotic. If the directorial team for ‘Scream 7’ wasn’t going to be the same group of people he cherished, it didn’t seem like the right choice for his career at that moment in time.

or

Ortega stated that things with ‘Melissa’ were a mess and everything was unraveling. If ‘Scream 7’ wasn’t going to be directed by the team he admired, it didn’t feel like the suitable option for his career at the time.

or

In Ortega’s words, things were not looking good with ‘Melissa,’ and everything was collapsing. If ‘Scream 7’ wasn’t going to be directed by the team he appreciated, it didn’t seem like a fitting decision for his career then.

During EbMaster’s “Drop” press tour, Landon expressed that he was informed, upon joining the project, that Ortega wouldn’t be involved. This was among the very first things he learned about the project, and it came as quite a surprise to him. He reacted with something like, “Oh, really?

At that point, we were pondering how to create another film without her involvement. How could we handle that situation?” he explained further. “From the start, I was already aware of this dilemma. Her perspective made perfect sense to me since actors often develop strong bonds with their colleagues and creative partners. When a new person joins the team, it’s natural to feel a bit skeptical – ‘Who is this person?’ – so I completely understood her sentiments.

In a new development for “Scream 7,” the original screenwriter, Kevin Williamson, is taking over as director. Notably, franchise legend Neve Campbell is set to reappear in the film.

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2025-04-09 21:16