It’s been quite the week for the SCREAM series, with the news that Sam & Tara Carpenter will not be appearing in the next installment.
Melissa Barrera (Sam) was fired from the production by Spyglass while it was also announced that Jenna Ortega (Tara) is no longer attached to reprise her own role from the previous two movies, and Variety brings a bit more clarity to the behind the scenes chaos in a new report.
Variety details, “It seemed to some fans like the planned sequel was collapsing in real time. However, even before Barrera was fired, plans for the next Scream were being retooled. Ortega’s exit had required the creative team to make some alterations, according to individuals with knowledge, but there were still hopes that the actress might be convinced to come back for some sort of cameo. That no longer seems to be in the cards. Another source familiar with the franchise disputed this, saying Ortega was never in the mix for the new film.”
“James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick, writers of the previous two Scream installments, will now work on a fresh draft to present to filmmakers,” Variety continues. “Some set pieces and twists may be preserved, but the movie will need to find new protagonists.”
Variety mention that Neve Campbell and Patrick Dempsey are two actors the studio may be potentally interested in bringing back for SCREAM 7 – Campbell sat out the 6th entry due to a salary dispute, while Dempsey was only seen in SCREAM 3.
SCREAM ’22 did establish that their characters are in a relationship, and with Dempsey’s horror stock sky high after THANKSGIVING this idea seems like a no-brainer.
Melissa Barrera took to Twitter to issue a statement following her firing: