Carl Roberts 
Scream VII is supposed to be hitting screens in 2025. But with the departure of Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega, we ask..what’s going on with the Ghostface sequel?
Has Ghostface been defeated, not by a ‘Final Girl’, but by reasons beyond his control? After the success of Scream VI, a seventh film was announced. Ghostface would return to slice and dice in Scream VII. It was expected that actresses Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega would return to do battle with the serial killer again, alongside Jasmin Savoy Brown, and Mason Gooding. The movie could also see the return of Courtney Cox, and Hayden Panettiere. And possibly Neve Campbell after she sat out the sixth film due to a pay dispute. Hopes were high for the film.
Now though, those hopes are up in the air. Melissa Barrera has been fired for her comments on the Israel/ Palestine crisis that’s going on. The actress was fired by Spyglass Entertainment for what they saw as anti-Semitic comments. That was a blow in itself. But with the withdrawal of Jenna Ortega (for scheduling reasons), and the rumored POSSIBLE withdrawal of Jasmin Savoy Brown in solidarity, the sequel is in trouble. And it could prove to be fatal to the franchise.
MELISSA BARRERA
Barrera has issued a statement regarding her firing from the upcoming movie:
“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.“
“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. 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. Silence is not an option for me.“
The actress’s original comment which led to her firing was:
“Gaza is currently being treated like a concentration camp. Cornering everyone together, with nowhere to go, no electricity no water…people are still silently watching it all happen. THIS IS GENOCIDE & ETHNIC CLEANSING.”
The news of her firing sparked an online backlash from fans and film lovers all over, with the hashtag #IStandWithMelissaBarrera trending and a Justice For Melissa campaign starting.
SPYGLASS ENTERTAINMENT
Spyglass Entertainment said in a statement regarding Melissa Barrera’s firing:
“Spyglass’ 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.“
While director of the movie, Christopher Landon simply said in response to the online backlash the news has received:
“This is my statement: Everything sucks. Stop yelling. This was not my decision to make.“
THE FUTURE?
With the loss of Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega, where does that leave the sequel? Some people are expecting the film to be simply cancelled. But with such a cash cow as the Scream franchise, that isn’t likely. My opinion is that they will go back to the drawing board and bring back Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, Hayden Panettiere, and Patrick Dempsey. It was mentioned in the last film that Campbell’s character Sidney and Dempsey’s Mark Kincaid were married. This COULD be a plotline to launch a seventh film. But the filmmakers run the risk of alienating the new fanbase the rebooted films have. After the ill-advised Scream 4 derailed the cinematic franchise, it lay dead until 2022’s reboot.
The success of the fifth and sixth films was partly due to having new characters lead the franchise forward. The old-school fans turned out for them but the audience was comprised of new fans of the franchise, enticed by Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega. By losing the pair, the fans could quite easily shrug their shoulders and walk away from the franchise. Or they could decide to stand with Melissa Barrera and simply ignore or desert the film. That is more feasible than the studios behind the Scream films make it out to be. That’s the one fatal thing you could do, offend and isolate your core audience.
THOUGHTS
While I can understand Spyglass Entertainment’s action regarding the comments, I also think it’s a storm in a teacup. Everyone has their own opinion. Everyone is entitled to express their own opinion. Melissa Barrera was simply expressing hers, which is her right. Her original statement, to my mind, has been taken completely out of context. She was simply stating her thoughts about the suffering of the Palestinian people, the majority of whom are innocently caught up in a terror war.
Hopefully, calmer heads will prevail and the film will get back on track. It may be an idea to delay production on the seventh film and get all the vital components back in place. Get Melissa Barrera around the negotiation table again and come to a resolution and an agreement going forward. Wait for Jenna Ortega to become available after filming Wednesday season 2, and bring her back. The film could also feature the four classic characters joining in the blood-soaked mayhem. That would be something for the fans to get excited about. But as it stands, we are in the dark as to what is going on with Scream VII. It is a situation and tension that not even Ghostface’s knife can cut through. And that doesn’t look like changing any time soon.
We will keep you up to date with any further news about Scream VII and any other breaking news story right here at The Future Of The Force.
*The above article is the thoughts of the author and does not represent the thoughts and feelings of any other member of Future Of The Force*
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
He can be found either at his neighborhood cinema, enjoying the latest releases on the big screen, or at home streaming the newest blockbuster movies.
