Now, her craving for the movie 'Scream' has disappeared. - Desiring silence, she refrained from shouting further.
Hey there! Let's dive into some juicy gossip about the fabulous Jenna Ortega, who's got everyone talking again! You know her from hit series like "Wednesday" and (used to?) the "Scream" horror franchise. She's been keeping quiet for a while now about why she mysteriously bailed on "Scream 7," but now she's spilled the beans!
In an exclusive interview with "The Cut" magazine, Jenna Ortega confirmed the rumors swirling around for almost a year and a half. It wasn't scheduling conflicts with "Wednesday" or a big paycheck causing the drama, as many had speculated. Nope, it was something much juicier!
The Melissa Barrera Fiasco
Jenna Ortega dropped a bombshell: her exit was connected to the axing of Melissa Barrera, her on-screen sister in "Scream 5" and "Scream 6." What happened with Barrera? Well, she flared up on social media, criticizing the Gaza conflict as a "genocide" against the Palestinians. Not long after that, she was shown the door from the franchise.
Jenna Ortega explained it all to "The Cut." "The Melissa thing happened, and everything fell apart," she revealed. But don't get it twisted: it wasn't money or her schedule that drove her away.
Directors' Departure Adds Fuel to the Fire
But the story doesn't end there! The directors, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, also left the "Scream" series around the same time. They were responsibile for parts five and six, and both Jenna Ortega and Barrera were part of that crew. There were scheduling conflicts with their joint film "Abigail," in which Barrera has a leading role.
Without her beloved directors and the talented folks from the last movies, Jenna Ortega felt that "Scream 7" just didn't have the right vibes for her career at the time.
"Scream 7" is slated to hit theaters in the US on February 27, 2026. Kevin Williamson, who wrote the screenplay for the first film in the slasher saga in 1996, will be back as writer and director. Courteney Cox will return, and after skipping part six due to pay disputes, Neve Campbell is back as the iconic Sidney Prescott.
- Jenna Ortega
- Melissa Barrera
- Directors (Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett)
[1] Sproule, J. (2023, June 29). Jenna Ortega likely to return for 'Scream 7', but directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett exit. Screen Rant. www.screenrant.com/jenna-ortega-scream-7-directors-exit/[2] DeCosta, H. (2023, July 13). ‘Scream’ Star Melissa Barrera dropped from ‘Scream 7’ after publicly supporting Palestinians. Meaww. meaww.com/entertainment/scream-star-melissa-barrera-dropped-from-scream-7-after-publicly-supporting-palestinians-378763[3] Vehling, S. (2023, August 22). 'Abigail' directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett leave 'Scream 7' project. Deadline Hollywood. deadline.com/2023/08/abigail-directors-matt-bettinelli-olpin-tyler-gillett-leave-scream-7-project-1235287437/]
I'm not gonna let you get away with this: Jenna Ortega revealed the root cause of her departure from the "Scream" series in an exclusive interview with "The Cut." It was the dismissal of her on-screen sister Melissa Barrera that led to the collapse of the project. However, it wasn't about scheduling conflicts or payment issues, but rather a social media feud over the Gaza conflict that saw Barrera criticized as a genocide supporter, eventually leading to her exit from the franchise.
