Jenna Ortega Reflects on Her Exit from the Scream Franchise
Jenna Ortega has opened up about her decision to leave the Scream film series, particularly in light of the recent firing of her co-star Melissa Barrera. In a revealing cover story for The Cut, published on Monday, Ortega, who starred alongside Barrera as the Carpenter sisters, shared her thoughts on the franchise amidst shifting dynamics.
The backdrop of Ortega’s exit is notable—the Spyglass Media Group announced in November 2023 that Barrera was terminated from the upcoming seventh installment due to comments she made regarding the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict on Instagram. Shortly after, it was made known that Ortega would also not be returning, prompting speculation about her motivations. Some guessed it was related to Barrera’s dismissal or contract disputes; however, Ortega clarified her reasoning.
“It had nothing to do with pay or scheduling,” she stated. “The Melissa stuff was happening, and it was all kind of falling apart.” Furthermore, she highlighted the departure of directors Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin from Scream VI as a critical factor in her choice to leave the franchise.
Ortega elaborated, “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.” This sentiment reflects her desire for a creative environment that resonates with her values and experiences.
In discussions regarding their exits, Barrera praised Ortega’s support, saying to The Hollywood Reporter, “She’s been very supportive of me, and we’re sisters for life.”
Future Projects and Creative Priorities
Since departing from Scream, Ortega has been busy with a variety of exciting projects, including last year’s highly anticipated sequel, Beetlejuice, and the upcoming second season of her Netflix hit, Wednesday.
“I’ve happened to join a lot of franchises, which is so great to be a part of legacy,” Ortega remarked. “But for me, I’m really trying to prioritize new directors and original stories.” She acknowledged that her choices might appear unconventional to some, stating, “I never thought I would do a movie with unicorns. But an original script is exciting. If I can help get it made, I love to do that.”
As part of her role in the new season of Wednesday, Ortega will also serve as an executive producer, allowing her to take a more proactive stance in creative decision-making, saying, “I feel a bit more empowered to speak my mind.”
Upcoming Scream Installment Highlights
In exciting news for Scream fans, original series star Neve Campbell, who previously sat out the last film over salary disputes, is set to return in Scream 7. The narrative will focus on her character, Sidney Prescott, and her daughter, with actor Joel McHale also joining the cast as Sidney’s spouse, Mark Evans. Core cast members Mason Gooding and Jasmin Savoy Brown, who starred alongside Barrera and Ortega, will reprise their roles.
Franchise creator Kevin Williamson, who crafted the scripts for the original film, Scream 2, and Scream 4, is taking the reins as director this time around, while Guy Busick, who penned 2022’s Scream and Scream VI, has written the new script.
Fans can mark their calendars as Paramount prepares to unleash Scream 7 in theaters on February 27, 2026.