Jenna Ortega Discloses Brief Details About Her Departure from Scream Movie
Jenna Ortega, the acclaimed actress known for her roles in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and the current A24 release Death of a Unicorn, has announced her departure from the Scream series after appearing in Scream VI. Ortega's character survived the latest instalment, but she will not return for Scream 7.
The departure was not due to pay or scheduling issues, contrary to earlier rumours. Instead, it was related to the departure of the original directors, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, and the controversial firing of Ortega's co-star Melissa Barrera over political comments.
Barrera, who played the role of Sam Carpenter in Scream VI, was let go from the franchise due to her pro-Palestinian statements, which caused a difficult situation for the production. This, along with the departure of the original directors, led Ortega to feel that continuing with the franchise was not the "right move" given these disruptions.
The original directors, Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett, had initially directed Scream 6, but handed the reins over to Christopher Landon, who later departed the project. Landon, who is also no longer involved in Scream 7, was replaced by Kevin Williamson, the creator of the Scream franchise.
Scream 7 is scheduled to hit theaters in February 2026. Ortega, meanwhile, has roles in upcoming feature films, including "Hurry Up Tomorrow" with the Weeknd, "Klara and the Sun" directed by Taika Waititi, and "The Gallerist" directed by Cathy Yan. She is also set to return for the second season of her Netflix series, Wednesday.
- Gizmodo reported that Jenna Ortega's decision to leave the Scream series after Scream VI was not due to pay or scheduling issues, but rather the controversial firing of her co-star Melissa Barrera and the departure of the original directors, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett.
- Io9 speculated about Ortega's future projects, mentioning that she will be starring in movies like "Hurry Up Tomorrow" with the Weeknd, "Klara and the Sun" directed by Taika Waititi, and "The Gallerist" directed by Cathy Yan, in addition to returning for the second season of her Netflix series, Wednesday.
- Technology and entertainment websites, such as Movies-and-TV, have been discussing the departure of Christopher Landon from both the Scream project and Scream 7, with Kevin Williamson, the creator of the Scream franchise, taking over as director for the upcoming seventh installment.
- The Hollywood Reporter revealed that the upcoming Scream 7 movie is scheduled to hit theaters in February 2026, while Ortega's departure from the Scream series has left many fans wondering if her absence may impact future movies and the presence of celebrities within the franchise.
