It seems like Scream’s cast is experiencing some changes as both Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega have reportedly decided to leave the franchise. Barrera was let go by Spyglass from the upcoming Scream VII due to her comments on the Israel/Palestine war. Now, it’s been revealed that Jenna Ortega will also not be returning for the next installment of the horror movie series.
There are currently no confirmed details about the director for Scream VII or Spyglass’s plans for the future of the franchise. Some sources close to the situation have mentioned that Ortega’s departure is unrelated to Barrera’s firing. Ortega’s representatives reportedly informed Spyglass about her decision to not return before the actors’ strike. In the last year, Ortega has gained recognition and even earned an Emmy nomination for her role in Netflix’s Wednesday.
It is rumored that Ortega either did not have a contract in place or asked for a higher salary during renegotiations, which the movie company did not agree to. Additionally, Spyglass decided not to bring back original franchise star Neve Campbell after she requested a significant pay raise for Scream VI, leading to her absence in the movie—a first for the series.
Barrera and Ortega portrayed sisters in the 2022 film Scream and were viewed as essential to the future of the franchise.
