Hollywood, California – Jenna Ortega, the actress known for her role in the popular horror franchise Scream, has made headlines after dropping out of the upcoming seventh installment of the film series. Alongside Ortega, the director of Scream 7, Christopher Landon, has also announced his departure from the project.
The news was revealed following a reunion meetup between Ortega, her co-star Melissa Barrera, and the rest of the Scream cast at MPTF’s 17th Annual Evening Before Gala. The gathering brought together the original “Core 4” cast members, including Mason Gooding and Jasmine Savoy Brown, who have been part of the franchise since Scream V and Scream VI in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
Unfortunately, controversy arose when Barrera, who played Ortega’s on-screen sister, shared a social media message regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict. The production company, Spyglass Media, considered Barrera’s perspective on the matter to be antisemitic and swiftly terminated her from the film. In a statement, Spyglass Media made it clear that they have a “zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form.”
Barrera later expressed her position on social media, stating that she had used her platform to raise awareness about issues she cares deeply about. She stressed the importance of speaking out for those in need and advocating for peace and safety, human rights, and freedom.
In light of these developments, Ortega decided to withdraw from Scream 7 a day after Barrera’s departure. The actress cited scheduling conflicts with her Netflix series as the reason for her decision. The sudden exits of both Ortega and Landon, the film’s director, came as a surprise to fans and industry insiders.
Landon took to social media to announce his departure, sharing that he had formally left the project weeks before. He described the experience as a “dream job that turned into a nightmare” and expressed his heartfelt disappointment for everyone involved. However, he concluded by stating that it was time to move on.
The departure of both Ortega and Landon from the highly anticipated Scream 7 has left fans wondering about the future of the film. The news comes as a blow to the franchise, as both Ortega and Landon’s contributions were highly anticipated by audiences.
As of now, it remains unclear who will take over the directorial duties for the film and what impact these departures will have on the overall production. Scream fans worldwide eagerly await further updates on the fate of the seventh installment and who will be involved in bringing the iconic horror series to life once again.