Jenna Ortega Reveals Why She Left ‘Scream VII’ Due to Production Issues

Jenna Ortega opens up about stepping away from her role in “Scream VII.” In a recent chat with The Cut, she revealed it wasn’t related to pay or scheduling, but because things on set were just not working out. Back in November 2023, Spyglass Media Group, the company behind the movie, parted ways with Melissa Barrera following a conflict related to social media posts about the Israel-Hamas war. Barrera denied accusations of antisemitism in an interview with The Times in April 2024.

Despite initial reports that Jenna’s exit was due to a schedule clash with filming the second season of “Wednesday” on Netflix, the story took a different turn as the series of events unfolded. In the complicated aftermath of Barrera’s departure, Jenna announced her decision to leave the project a day later. Director Christopher Landon also decided to step down from directing “Scream VII” about a month later.

Making headlines, screenwriter Kevin Williamson stepped in to take over as the director of the film. Williamson shared on Instagram about his excitement in guiding the next chapter of the “Scream” series, with the return of actress Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott on the screen. For the fans out there, it’s a big moment as the franchise circles back to its roots nearly 30 years after the original release directed by Wes Craven.