There’s been a massive cast shake-up.
After enduring a long hiatus, Scream fans were treated to both 2022’s Scream and this year’s sixth instalment, with a new creative team and fresh-faced cast giving the long-running series a new lease of life.
Although Scream VII is still in the works, the franchise appears to have hit a bump in the road, with a couple of key cast members no longer returning for the sequel.
In November, it was announced that Melissa Barrera had been dropped from Scream VII after sharing a series of Instagram posts about the Israel-Hamas war.
The next day, it was confirmed that Jenna Ortega would also not be returning to the horror franchise.
By the end of Scream VI, Sam (Barrera) and Tara Carpenter (Ortega) had been firmly established as the future of the franchise, with many now calling for more stories featuring the sisters and their fellow survivors.
So, why are Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega not returning for Scream VII? And what does this mean for the cast now? Read on for everything you need to know.
Who will be in the Scream 7 cast?
While each of the core returning Scream cast members made it through the sixth entry in one piece, Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega will not be reprising their roles in Scream VII.
Barrera was dropped from the film following her Instagram posts about the Israel-Hamas war.
In one Instagram post, Barrera wrote: “Western media only shows the [Israeli] side. Why do they do that, I will let you deduce for yourself,” adding: “We don’t need more hate. No Islamophobia. No Anti-semitism.”
Other posts shared by Barrera included claims that Gaza was “currently being treated like a concentration camp”.
A spokesperson for Spyglass, the studio behind the Scream films, released a statement to Variety saying: “Spyglass’s 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.”
Barrera has since broken her silence on the studio’s decision, insisting: “Silence is not an option for me.”
In a statement shared on her Instagram Stories, Barrera said: “First and foremost I condemn Anti-Semitism 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,” the statement 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.”
She continued: “I believe a group of people are NOT their leadership, and that no governing body should be above criticism. I pray day and night for no more deaths, for no more violence, and for peaceful co-existence. I will continue to speak out for those that need it most and continue to advocate for peace and safety, for human rights and freedom.”
The next day, it was confirmed that Jenna Ortega would also not be returning to the horror franchise due to her Wednesday season 2 shooting schedule.
Ortega’s exit was not influenced by Barrera’s firing, according to Variety, and was in the works months ago before the SAG-AFTRA strike kicked off.
As for the rest of the Scream VI cast, it was expected that Mason Gooding and Jasmin Savoy Brown would reprise their roles in Scream VII.
In addition, we could also see more from Hayden Panettiere’s fan-favourite FBI agent Kirby Reed as well as Courteney Cox’s tough reporter Gale Weathers, both of whom narrowly avoided death in the latest instalment.
It’s less certain whether original star Neve Campbell would return as Sidney Prescott, after the actor turned down Scream VI over a pay dispute.
Sidney is referenced in the movie – confirmed to be alive and well – but her return would rest on Campbell and Paramount reaching a salary agreement. At this stage, there’s no way of knowing if that will happen.
Of course, no Scream movie would be complete without Roger L Jackson as the sinister voice of Ghostface, so expect to hear him down the other end of the phone in any future films.
Scream VI also featured a brief reference to Matthew Lillard’s character Stu Macher – one of the killers in the first film – which alluded to the possibility of him still being alive (as has long been speculated by fans).
When quizzed on the idea, co-director Gillett told Entertainment Tonight: “Anything’s possible… We brought back Billy as a hallucination.”
Indeed, actor Skeet Ulrich has appeared in both 2022’s Scream and Scream VI as a figment of Sam Carpenter’s imagination, encouraging her to live up to her killing potential as his daughter.
Scream 7 release date speculation
While Scream VII has officially been confirmed, a release date is yet to be announced.
With many projects only just starting to resume filming following the end of the SAG-AFTRA strike, we’re unlikely to be reunited with Ghostface before early 2025.
Scream 7 plot theories
Scream VI paid close attention to the troubled mind of Sam Carpenter, exploring the strange urge she feels to don the Ghostface costume and become a murderer herself, just as her father did decades earlier.
In the closing moments of the film, she drops a Ghostface mask at the scene of the final stand-off – having worn it during her fight with Detective Wayne Bailey (Dermot Mulroney) – potentially meaning she’s leaving those frightening thoughts behind.
However, if not herself, the discarding of the mask could provoke another twisted individual to take up the mantle – thus setting in motion another entry in the franchise…
Is there a trailer for Scream 7?
Sadly, nothing yet. We’ll update this page if any new footage is released.
Check out more of our Film and Sci-Fi coverage, or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to see what’s on tonight.
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