The Scream franchise received’t be the identical after Melissa Barrera‘s firing and Jenna Ortega‘s departure forward of the seventh movie.
Earlier than the stunning dismissal, Scream grew to become a horror staple spanning many years. The primary movie, which was launched in 1996, targeted on Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) as she confronted off towards quite a few killers hiding their id behind the Ghostface persona. The ultimate woman acquired assist from fellow OG Scream characters Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) and Dewey Riley (David Arquette), which led to the creation of three sequels in 1997, 2000 and 2011.
The franchise was revived practically a decade after Scream 4 was launched. This allowed Scream to herald new protagonists Sam (Barrera) and Tara Carpenter (Ortega). With the modifications got here shocking exits, similar to Campbell’s choice to half methods with the franchise after filming the fifth installment attributable to failed wage negotiations.
The shakeups stored coming when information broke in November 2023 that Barrera being vocal about her help for Palestine amid battle within the Center East with Israel led to her being fired. That very same month, Deadline reported Ortega can even exit attributable to a conflicting filming schedule with Netflix’s Wednesday.
Preserve scrolling for the whole lot to learn about Scream VII:
Who Is Returning?
Earlier than Barrera and Ortega’s departure, followers have been anticipating to see each reprise their roles. Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding are the remaining actors who make up the onscreen “Core 4” pal dynamic and can presumably return as effectively.
Since Sam’s boyfriend Danny (Tom Segarra) was left alive on the finish of Scream VI, there was an assumption that he would stay a part of the group. Segarra, for his half, confirmed that he had plans to play Danny in additional installments of Scream.
Scream VI additionally left the door open for legacy characters similar to Gale (Cox) and Kirby Reed (Hayden Panettiere) to make appearances sooner or later.
Which Forged Members Will Not Be Coming Again?
Campbell, who was an OG Scream star, didn’t play Sidney within the sixth movie. Regardless of outrage from devoted followers, it doesn’t seem that Campbell and the studio have been in a position to attain an understanding about her wage, so she presumably received’t be coming again in Scream VII both.
Barrera was the second stunning exit from the Scream franchise. After her firing made headlines, manufacturing firm Manufacturing firm Spyglass Media Group denied that Barrera’s pro-Palestine feedback brought on the choice.
“Spyglass’ stance is unequivocally clear: We have now zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any kind, together with false references to genocide, ethnic cleaning, Holocaust distortion or something that flagrantly crosses the road into hate speech,” learn their November 2023 assertion to Selection.
Ortega won’t be returning as effectively due to prior filming commitments.
What Artistic Shakeups Have Taken Place?
After Spyglass Media Group secured the rights to develop the fifth movie, Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin have been employed as administrators on the challenge. The duo returned for Scream VI, however the subsequent installment was set to be helmed by Christopher Landon, who is thought for his involvement with Joyful Dying Day and Freaky. Nevertheless, Landon introduced in late December 2023 that he has left the challenge.
“I suppose now’s nearly as good a time as any to announce I formally exited Scream 7 weeks in the past,” Landon shared through X (previously generally known as Twitter). “It will disappoint some and delight others. It was a dream job that changed into a nightmare. And my coronary heart did break for everybody concerned. Everybody. Nevertheless it’s time to maneuver on. I’ve nothing extra so as to add to the dialog apart from I hope Wes [Anderson’s] legacy thrives and lifts above the din of a divided world. What he and Kevin [Williamson] created is one thing wonderful and I used to be honored to have even the briefest second basking of their glow.”
The place Did the Story Go away Off?
Scream VI targeted on Sam’s way of thinking as she wrestled with the revelation that she is the daughter of the primary Ghostface killer, Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich). Reddit trolls began to theorize that Sam was the particular person murdering her family members due to her father’s murderous previous. Sam was capable of finding a approach to come to phrases together with her dad being a killer whereas refusing to go down the identical path.
In the meantime, Sam’s sister, Tara, tried to depart the previous behind after their transfer to New York Metropolis. By the tip of the sixth movie, Tara discovered love together with her pal Chad (Gooding).
Which Fan Theories May Be Addressed?
The favored fan concept that one of many authentic Ghostface killers Stu Macher (Matthew Lillard) wasn’t really useless has been introduced up many instances because the franchise was revived. Lillard has enthusiastically supported the concept of him coming again in some capability, and Scream VI stored that choice open.
What Does Melissa Barrera’s Exit Imply for Sam?
Earlier than her firing, Barrera mentioned the place she want to see Sam’s story go.
“That’s one of many causes that, once I learn the script for Scream 5, I used to be so within the character. There’s a lot potential right here of the place she may go together with her psychological well being — she’s simply unpredictable,” the actress advised Digital Spy in June 2023. “I discover that that darkness in her makes her that rather more fascinating to play and to look at.”
Barrera continued: “She’s the hero however she’s additionally type of the villain. It’s this contradiction in her that I discover fascinating and, if we get to do one other one, I’d like to see. The writers have finished a very good job together with her up till this level, so I belief them simply to know the place to take her [in a way] that will likely be surprising and funky for the followers.”