‘Scream 7' star Jasmin Savoy Brown reacts to Jenna Ortega, Melissa Barrera exits: ‘Stressful'

New York Post

3 hours ago

One of the Core Four in the 'Scream' franchise has addressed Jenna Ortega and Melissa Barrera's shocking exits.
In the book 'Your Favorite Scary Movie: How the Scream Films Rewrote the Rules of Horror,' released Tuesday, August 19, author Ashley Collins of the Ankler unpacks how the 'Scream 7' cast picked up the pieces after its two leading ladies departed the slasher.
In 2022's 'Scream' and 2023's 'Scream VI,' the Core Four consisted of Ghostface surviving sisters Tara (Ortega) and Sam Carpenter (Barrera) and twins Mindy (Jasmin Savoy Brown) and Chad Meeks-Martin (Mason Gooding).
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13 Jasmin Savoy Brown, Jenna Ortega and Melissa Barrera attend the Global Premiere of 'Scream VI' on March 6, 2023 in New York, New York.
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13 Jenna Ortega and Melissa Barrera in 'Scream VI.'
©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection
Now, Brown, who reprises her role in 'Scream 7,' is opening up about her co-stars' abrupt exit and reflecting on the 'stressful' year of production.
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Barrera, 35, was fired from the thriller in November 2023 after sharing what the movie's production company, Spyglass, deemed as antisemitic posts about the Israel-Hamas War. The actress maintains she is not antisemitic.
It was soon revealed that Ortega had dropped out of the film, reportedly due to scheduling issues with Season 2 of 'Wednesday.'
13 The Core Four Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding in 'Scream VI.'
©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection
13 Jenna Ortega in a scene from 2022's 'Scream.'
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13 Melissa Barrera in a scene from 2022's 'Scream.'
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The actress later spoke about her decision.
'The Melissa stuff was happening, and it was all kind of falling apart. If Scream 7 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 stated.
Brown reflected on moving forward without half of the Core Four for 'Scream 7.'
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13 Jasmin Savoy Brown in 2023's 'Scream VI.'
©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection
13 Melissa Barrera (Sam Carpenter) and Jenna Ortega (Tara Carpenter) in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group's 'Scream VI.'
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'It's been really sad and stressful,' she said in the book.
The 'Yellowjackets' star, 31, also seemingly criticized the reason behind Barrera's departure.
'Often, actors are expected to know as much about politics as politicians. And, in today's day and age, when everything is online, everyone thinks they're an expert in everything, which isn't the case,' Brown shared. 'I also think there is a clear difference between talking politics and standing up for people who don't have a voice. It's not politics, it's human life.'
13 Melissa Barrera (Sam Carpenter), left, and Jenna Ortega (Tara Carpenter) in 'Scream VI.'
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13 Melissa Barrera (Sam Carpenter), left, and Jenna Ortega (Tara Carpenter) in 'Scream VI.'
©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection
She's still holding out hope, though, that one day the Core Four will reunite.
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'I can't imagine making this movie without Melissa and Jenna,' she continued. 'It won't be the same. On the flip side, I do care about this character so much, and I care so much about the people that care about her. I hope that someday — even if it's 20 years from ­now — the Core Four gets back together on screen.'
Brown plays the daughter of Martha (Heather Matarazzo) and the niece of Randy (Jamie Kennedy), one of the characters in the original 1996 'Scream.'
13 Melissa Barrera attends Paramount's 'Scream VI' World Premiere at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on March 06, 2023 in New York City.
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13 The 'Scream VI' movie poster featuring Jenna Ortega.
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Ortega and Barrera weren't the only ones to exit the film.
Several directors, including Tyler Gillett, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Christopher Landon, pulled out of the horror flick.
Kevin Williamson, who worked on 'Scream' (1996), 'Scream 2' (1997), and 'Scream 4' (2011), then signed on as the director of 'Scream 7.'
13 From left: Mason Gooding, Jenna Ortega, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Devyn Nekoda, Melissa Barrera in 'Scream VI.'
©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection
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The latest installment will focus on Wes Craven's original scream queens Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), who returns to the franchise after sitting out 'Scream IV,' and her inner circle.
'1923' actress Isabel May stars as Sidney's daughter, and Joel McHale plays Sidney's husband, Mark Evans.
The thriller also features Mckenna Grace, Celeste O'Connor, Asa Germann, Sam Rechner, Anna Camp and Mark Consuelos.
13 2022's 'Scream' movie poster, top, from left: Courteney Cox, David Arquette, bottom, from left: Mikey Madison, Dylan Minnette, Jasmin Savoy Brown (top), Marley Shelton, Jack Quaid, Neve Campbell, Melissa Barrera, Mason Gooding, Jenna Ortega, Sonia Ammar.
Paramount/Courtesy Everett
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Several stars from the original 'Scream' are in 'Scream 7,' too.
Courteney Cox will reprise her role as news reporter Gale Weathers and vets whose characters were killed by Ghostface are also making appearances, including David Arquette, Scott Foley, and Matthew Lillard.
According to Williamson, the latest installment is 'a standalone,' with the director telling the book author, 'but it'll probably feel more like the original Screams than any of them, which is what I love about it.'
'Scream 7' is scheduled to be released on February 27, 2026.