‘Scream 7’ Faces Full Inventive Reboot After Dropping Jenna Ortega; Neve Campbell and Patrick Dempsey on Want Listing (EXCLUSIVE)
Not even Ghostface may see this twist coming.
The “Scream” franchise misplaced two stars this week, placing the seventh movie within the collection in a inventive conundrum, based on sources acquainted with the undertaking.
Extra from Selection
Selection broke the news that Melissa Barrera was fired by Spyglass, the movie’s producer, in current days over social media messages that it deemed to be antisemitic (particularly, posts relating to the Israel-Hamas conflict). That call was made after the corporate was notified that Jenna Ortega, whose star has risen significantly since she joined the beloved Wes Craven horror collection, would not return due to a scheduling conflict with the second season of her smash Netflix hit “Wednesday.” Barrera and Ortega play sisters within the movies.
Backlash to Barrera’s ouster has been intense, with the movie’s director Christopher Landon reacting to the occasions surrounding her exit. He posted and deleted a press release on X on Tuesday that learn, “Every little thing sucks. Cease yelling. This was not my determination to make.”
It appeared to some followers just like the deliberate sequel was collapsing in actual time. Nonetheless, even earlier than Barrera was fired, plans for the following “Scream” had been being retooled. Ortega’s exit had required the inventive staff to make some alterations, based on people with information, however there have been nonetheless hopes that the actress is likely to be satisfied to come back again for some type of cameo. That not appears to be within the playing cards. One other supply acquainted with the franchise disputed this, saying Ortega was by no means within the combine for the brand new movie.
James Vanderbilt and Man Busick, the writers of the earlier two “Scream” installments, will now work on a recent draft to current to filmmakers. Some set items and twists could also be preserved, however the film might want to discover new protagonists. Ortega and Barrera signed on for 2 “Scream” films and fulfilled these obligations with installments 5 and 6, one other supply famous. They might have wanted new offers for the seventh chapter.
So who must do battle with the masked killer? The “Scream” films have a bench of characters who’re nonetheless alive or who could possibly be reanimated (it’s a horror film, in spite of everything, and the enjoyment of “Scream” is that it doesn’t bury its useless too deep). These embrace Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox, the unique stars of the collection. Campbell appeared in 2022’s “Scream,” however opted to not return for 2023’s “Scream VI” over a wage dispute. Producers are eager to see her reclaim her iconic character Sidney Prescott. One other chance could possibly be Patrick Dempsey, who had a scene-stealing flip in 2000’s “Scream 3.” None of those actors have been in energetic negotiations so far.
Spyglass had no remark.
The hope had been for “Scream 7” to hit theaters in 2025. Though the producers are primarily ranging from scratch, that launch date nonetheless appears possible if Landon and the writers can discover one other scary story to inform. “Scream” movies don’t require in depth visible results and could be produced rapidly.
All it takes is a bloody good thought.
Better of Selection
Join Variety’s Newsletter. For the most recent information, observe us on , , and .
