Jenna Ortega reveals actual motive for leaving ‘Scream 7’

• READ MORE: ‘Scream 6’ overview: a nightmarish thrill experience by The Metropolis That By no means Sleeps

In 2023, Scream 5 and 6 lead actress Melissa Barrera was unceremoniously fired from Scream 7 after posting on Instagram in assist of Palestine. Following her removing from the challenge, co-lead Jenna Ortega additionally introduced she wouldn’t be returning attributable to different scheduling commitments.

Now, Ortega has revealed that her exit wasn’t precisely attributable to scheduling points. As a substitute, she chalks up her exit to the challenge “falling aside” with Barrera’s firing and Scream 6 administrators Tyler Gillet and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin additionally leaving the movie.

“It had nothing to do with pay or scheduling,” Ortega stated, chatting with The Lower. “The Melissa stuff was occurring, and it was all sort of falling aside. If Scream 7 wasn’t going to be with that group of administrators and people folks I fell in love with, then it didn’t seem to be the suitable transfer for me in my profession on the time.”

Following Ortega’s and Barrera’s exit, it was confirmed that Neve Campbell – who didn’t seem for Scream 6 attributable to “pay discrepancies” – would return to guide Scream 7. Moreover, it was lastly locked in that directing the upcoming movie would be the franchise’s creator Kevin Williamson. Williamson’s attachment comes after a string of filmmakers dropped out of the movie.

Scream 7 is scheduled for launch February 27, 2026. Matthew Lillard will be a part of franchise regulars Courtney Cox and Neve Campbell. Particulars behind Lillard’s return are being stored beneath wraps, as his character presumably died on the finish of the unique Scream movie.

Lately, one other previous character was reported to be returned – David Arquette’s Dewey, who shall be becoming a member of the brand new movie regardless of having been killed in 2022’s Scream.

Scream 6 scored a four-star overview, with Alex Flood writing for NME: “Scream VI isn’t excellent: the fixed meta references (previous killers, the ‘guidelines’ of the franchise) felt creative in final yr’s reboot, however right here develop tiresome. There’s additionally a complicated subplot round Sam’s suppressed need to emulate her dad (Billy Loomis, the unique Ghostface), who seems in hallucinations telling her to homicide folks. Throw within the typical exposition periods, which maintain the viewer updated on the plot however make it really feel like a Gen Z Poirot, and it may all begin to get in your nerves. Fortunately, such is the sheer, bloody pleasure of the factor that you simply’ll be too preoccupied to note. Possibly extra horror baddies ought to transfer to New York?”