Jenna Ortega reveals real reason she left ‘Scream 7’: ‘It was all kind of falling apart’

After months of speculation, Jenna Ortega has finally opened up about her decision to step away from the Scream franchise. In a new interview with The Cut published Monday, the Wednesday star set the record straight: her exit from Scream 7 wasn’t about money or scheduling conflicts — it was about loyalty to the creative team she had come to love.

It Wasn’t About Scheduling or Pay

For a while, reports suggested that Ortega couldn’t return because of her busy filming schedule for Season 2 of Netflix’s Wednesday. Some even speculated that salary negotiations might have played a part. However, Ortega made it clear: neither of these rumors was true.

“It had nothing to do with pay or scheduling,” Ortega explained. “The Melissa (Barrera) stuff was happening, and it was all kind of falling apart. 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.”

Behind the Scenes Drama

The “Melissa stuff” Ortega referred to involves her co-star Melissa Barrera, who played her on-screen sister, Sam Carpenter. Barrera was fired from Scream 7 in November 2023 after she made social media posts related to the Israel-Hamas war. Spyglass Media Group, the production company behind Scream, claimed her posts constituted “hate speech.” Barrera, however, responded by stating, “I condemn hate and prejudice of any kind against any group of people.”

Before Barrera’s firing, Scream 7 had already seen a shakeup: Christopher Landon was announced as the new director, replacing Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, who had directed Ortega and Barrera in Scream (2022) and Scream VI (2023).

With the original creative team and her on-screen sister both out, Ortega felt it wasn’t right to continue.

A Breakout Moment for Ortega

Between Scream and Scream VI, Ortega’s career skyrocketed thanks to her lead role in Wednesday, the hit Netflix series that made her a household name. Still, Scream played a key role in her rise, and her chemistry with Barrera was a highlight for fans.

In Scream (2022) and Scream VI (2023), Ortega’s character, Tara Carpenter, quickly became a fan favorite. Her portrayal helped bring new life to the decades-old horror franchise, with Scream VI becoming the series’ biggest hit at the domestic box office.

In an earlier 2024 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Barrera mentioned that she and Ortega had a heartfelt conversation after Barrera’s firing. “I love her so much,” Barrera said. “She’s been very supportive.”

What’s Next for Scream 7?

Despite the setbacks, Scream 7 is still moving forward. Reports suggest that original Scream star Matthew Lillard is making a shocking return, alongside new cast members like Mark Consuelos. However, with both Ortega and Barrera out, and the creative team reshuffled, the next installment faces major challenges to recapture the magic that fans loved.