Jenna Ortega reveals real reason she left 'Scream 7': 'It was all kind of falling apart'
Jenna Ortega reveals real reason she left 'Scream 7': 'It was all kind of falling apart'
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Jenna Ortega jokes she has to 'suffer through' hosting 'SNL'
Jenna Ortega and Melissa Barrera chat with USA TODAY's Brian Truitt about "Scream VI," which takes place this time in New York City.
Entertain This!, USA TODAY
Jenna Ortega has finally revealed why she's ghosting the "Scream" franchise.
The "Wednesday" star, 22, spoke with The Cut in an interview published Monday about why she isn't returning for the upcoming "Scream 7" after starring in the horror franchise's most recent two entries.
Some previous reports indicated Ortega exited the sequel due to scheduling conflicts with "Wednesday." But in the interview, the actress clarified this was not the case.
"It had nothing to do with pay or scheduling," the actress told The Cut. "The Melissa (Barrera) stuff was happening, and it was all kind of falling apart. If 'Scream VII' wasn't going to be with that team of directors and those people I fell in love with, then it didn't seem like the right move for me in my career at the time."
Ortega's co-star Melissa Barrera was fired from "Scream 7" due to her social media posts about the Israel-Hamas war. Prior to Barrera's firing, Christopher Landon was tapped to replace Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, who directed both of Ortega's "Scream" movies, as director.
Ortega and Barrera played sisters Tara and Sam Carpenter, respectively, beginning in the 2022 reboot "Scream," which established them as the franchise's new main characters. They both returned in 2023 for the sequel "Scream VI," which became the series' highest-grossing entry at the domestic box office.
In between the two films, Ortega achieved a new level of fame thanks to the release of "Wednesday."
Scream 7': Matthew Lillard's shock return, Mark Consuelos, and everything else we know
Barrera was initially expected to once again lead "Scream 7" before being fired in November 2023 due to social media posts supportive of Palestine that production company Spyglass Media Group alleged constituted "hate speech." In response, Barrera said at the time, "I condemn hate and prejudice of any kind against any group of people."
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter in 2024, Barrera said that she and Ortega "chatted for a while" about the situation. "I love her so much," she told the outlet. "She's been very supportive of me, and we're sisters for life."
Neve Campbell is returning for 'Scream 7' after pay dispute, Melissa Barrera firing
Some of Barrera's other "Scream" co-stars are returning for "Scream 7," though: Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding are coming back to play twins Mindy and Chad. Chad, Mindy, Tara and Sam were described as the "core four" in "Scream VI," which implied these four characters would all continue to star in future installments.
Instead, "Scream 7" is now set to focus on the series' original star Neve Campbell, returning as Sidney Prescott after exiting "Scream VI" due to a salary dispute. Several actors whose characters died in past "Scream" films, including Scott Foley and Matthew Lillard, are also returning by means that are not yet clear.
"Scream 7," set for release in 2026, also got a new director in the wake of Barrera's firing. Kevin Williamson is now helming the sequel after Landon stepped away from the gig, which he described as a "dream job that turned into a nightmare."
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