Back in 2022, filmmakers Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett pulled off the seemingly impossible task of reviving the Scream franchise after the death of Wes Craven. A key component in what made their sequel work is that, rather than relying entirely on legacy characters, they shifted the focus to Sam and Tara Carpenter, played by Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega, respectively. Shortly after the movie’s release, a sequel was ordered, in which Barrera and Ortega, alongside other newcomers, reprised their roles.
After the confirmation of a Scream 7 in 2023, however, Barrera shared support on social media for Palestine and was quickly fired from the sequel by production company Spyglass Media Group. Soon after, directed Christopher Landon parted ways with the project, while Jenna Ortega also dropped off.
Melissa Barrera was recently asked by JustWatch if there was a world in which she would return to the Scream franchise. After being visibly surprised by the question, the actor noted, “Not with the company that currently holds the rights … I love the franchise. I had an amazing time making those movies. But a lot of the hate and the difficulty that I’ve faced in the last years is because the leadership of that company made it a point to label me something that I’m not, and they never apologized, even when I was proven right.”
She added, “Even with an apology, I wouldn’t go back to work with them. So, not that I’m holding my breath — I don’t think they have that ability — but if the franchise were ever to leave those hands and go more into hands that I think honor Wes Craven’s legacy more, I think yeah.”
Understandably, a world in which Barrera returned to the series seems unlikely. However, longtime star Neve Campbell was a focal point of the first five movies, then expressed how she wouldn’t be returning for Scream VI due to a dispute over her salary. In the wake of Barrera’s firing, Campbell returned for Scream 7, as the overall narrative once again put Sidney Prescott at the forefront.
Another star who also returned for Scream 7 was Matthew Lillard, whose Stu Macher died in the original movie. While his appearance was ultimately chalked up to deepfake technology, Lillard recently expressed his remorse over his decision to return.
“When that happened to Melissa, the whole world didn’t pipe up … But she was a year early on what the f-ck’s going on. But the whole world should have popped up and said, ‘She’s right.’ And they didn’t. And that’s brutal,” Lillard recently shared at a convention appearance. “I went back to do Scream, and I got called out. And I’m like, ‘Oh, f-ck. That’s brutal.’ I feel bad about that. I feel ashamed about that. Because in that moment I was so excited to go back, I didn’t really think about Melissa and that journey. I didn’t say no.”
Lillard added, “I blew that … I’m on the wrong side of history for that. I still like being in the movie [but] it may not have been the best idea.”
Lilla and Nora Zuckerman are writing Scream 8, though other details about the project are largely unknown.
