Jenna Ortega Won’t Return for ‘Scream VII’ and the Timing Is Raising Questions

Jenna Ortega will no longer be in Scream VII. Several outlets reported that the actress will be stepping away from the Scream franchise due to alleged scheduling conflicts with the second season of Wednesday.

But the new reporting arrives just one day after Spyglass Media Group — the production company behind the Scream films — fired Ortega’s co-star Melissa Barrera for her social media posts in support of Palestine amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. Variety reports that Ortega’s departure was “apparently not influenced” by Barrera’s firing, though the timing leaves room for speculation that there may be more to the story.

While some outlets are reporting that the actress departed the franchise months ago, rumors were circulating that Ortega had asked SpyGlass to end her contract due to Barrera’s firing. Ortega, too, has been vocal about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza on her popular Instagram account.

Variety first broke the news that Spyglass had dropped Barrera from Scream VII, receiving a statement from the company claiming that her posts in support of Palestine were interpreted as antisemitic.

“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,” a Spyglass spokesperson said.

Since the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack and Israel’s attacks on Gaza, the Mexican actress has been sharing pro-Palestine messaging, including a “Compassion Must Prevail” image with a caption pleading that President Joe Biden “call for an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Gaza.”

“We must end the bombing of Gaza, secure the safe release of all hostages, and demand adequate access for humanitarian aid to reach the people that desperately need it,” Barrera wrote on Oct. 27.

On her Instagram Stories, the singer has shared images from the conflict and ceasefire protests from activists. Among the posts, Variety reports that one accused Israel of “genocide and ethnic cleansing.”

Barrera was set to star in Scream VII after she played the leading role of Sam Carpenter in the fifth and sixth Scream sequels. Ortega played Barrera’s half-sister Tara.

Christopher Landon, who is set to direct Scream VII, wrote on Twitter: “Everything sucks. Stop yelling. This was not my decision to make.” He later deleted the message.