Scream 7 is now in cinemas, marking the return of Sidney Prescott — and raising a major question among fans: why are Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega missing?
After Scream VI shifted the focus to the Carpenter sisters, many expected Sam and Tara to remain at the center of the franchise. Instead, Scream 7 arrives without them, following a turbulent development period that reshaped the film entirely.
Sidney Prescott Returns — But the Carpenter Sisters Don’t
One of the biggest headlines surrounding Scream 7 is the return of Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott. She was notably absent from Scream VI due to a pay dispute, sparking backlash from fans who argued the franchise couldn’t exist without her.
Despite that controversy, Scream VI was a box office success, earning $169.1 million worldwide. Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett hoped a seventh film could reunite the story with Sidney — but events took a very different turn.
Why Melissa Barrera Was Dropped from Scream 7
On November 21, 2023, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that Melissa Barrera had been removed from the film following social media posts about the war in Gaza, in which she referred to the situation as “genocide” and “ethnic cleansing.”
Spyglass responded with a public statement:
“Spyglass’ stance is unequivocally clear: We have zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion or anything that flagrantly crosses the line into hate speech.”
Two days later, Barrera issued her own response:
“First and foremost I condemn antisemitism and Islamophobia. I condemn hate and prejudice of any kind against any group of people. As a Latina, a proud Mexicana, I feel the responsibility of having a platform that allows me the privilege of being heard, and therefore I have tried to use it to raise awareness about issues I care about and to lend my voice to those in need.”
She continued:
“Every person on this earth – regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or socio-economic status – deserves equal human rights, dignity and, of course, freedom. I believe a group of people are NOT their leadership, and that no governing body should be above criticism.”
Her removal effectively dismantled the planned Carpenter-sisters storyline.
Jenna Ortega’s Exit: Not About Money or Scheduling
The day after Barrera’s firing, it was announced that Jenna Ortega would also not return. Early reports suggested scheduling conflicts with Netflix’s Wednesday, and later claims pointed to alleged salary negotiations.
Ortega publicly denied those explanations in April 2025.
“The Melissa stuff was happening, and it was all kind of falling apart,” she said. “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.”
Her decision made it clear that Barrera’s exit — and the resulting creative shakeup — played a decisive role.
A Franchise in Turmoil Behind the Scenes
The instability didn’t stop there. Director Christopher Landon, who had taken over the film, exited the project in December 2023.
“It was a dream job that turned into a nightmare. And my heart did break for everyone involved. Everyone. But it’s time to move on.”
In an April 2025 interview, Landon revealed he received threats following Barrera’s firing:
“A lot of people think I had something to do with it, and it was not my doing. I had no control of the situation at all.”
He added:
“I think in the absence of people understanding how Hollywood works and what the hierarchy is, the fans were like, ‘That’s the guy’. And so they came for me, knives out.”
Kevin Williamson Steps In
With Landon gone, franchise creator Kevin Williamson stepped up to direct a Scream film for the first time. He also co-wrote the script alongside Guy Busick, aiming to stabilize the series after months of upheaval.
The result is a film that pivots away from the Carpenter sisters and re-centers the franchise around its original legacy.
The Bottom Line
Melissa Barrera’s firing triggered a chain reaction that reshaped Scream 7 from the ground up. Jenna Ortega’s departure followed, key creatives exited, and the film ultimately reinvented itself to survive.
Scream 7 is now playing in cinemas — but it arrives as one of the most controversial and reworked entries the franchise has ever seen.
