Jenna Ortega Discloses Reasons Behind Her Departure from 'Scream 7'
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Synopsis
Jenna Ortega has clarified her exit from the 'Scream' franchise, stating it was due to her shooting schedule rather than pay or scheduling conflicts. The actress emphasizes her focus on original projects and new directors, distancing herself from the franchise's recent controversies.
Key Takeaways
- Jenna Ortega left 'Scream 7' due to her shooting commitments.
- Claims of scheduling conflicts and pay discrepancies are incorrect.
- The exit followed the dismissal of co-star Melissa Barrera.
- Ortega prioritizes original stories and new directors.
- She has ongoing projects like 'Wednesday' and 'Beetlejuice'.
Los Angeles, April 7 (NationPress) Hollywood actress Jenna Ortega has disclosed that her departure from the 'Scream' franchise stemmed from her shooting commitments. This contradicts earlier reports that pointed to scheduling disputes and salary issues as the reasons for her exit.
Ortega, who portrayed Tara Carpenter in 2022’s 'Scream' and 2023’s 'Scream VI', departed from the seventh installment in November 2023, according to 'Variety'.
She informed 'The Cut', “It had nothing to do with pay or scheduling. The Melissa situation was unfolding, and it was all kind of disintegrating.”
“If ‘Scream VII’ was not going to be with that team of directors and those individuals I had grown fond of, then it didn’t appear to be the right decision for my career at that moment,” she added.
According to 'Variety', the “Melissa situation” pertains to Ortega’s 'Scream' co-star Melissa Barrera, who was dismissed from 'Scream 7' due to social media posts regarding Israel and Palestine. News of Ortega's exit came just a day after Barrera's firing, which naturally sparked speculation that Ortega was leaving the franchise in support of Barrera.
Barrera was terminated from 'Scream 7' due to her social media posts advocating for Palestine and condemning Israel for “genocide and ethnic cleansing.” The franchise’s producer, Spyglass Media Group, stated to 'Variety', “Spyglass’ position is unequivocally clear: We have zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hatred in any form, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion, or anything that blatantly crosses the line into hate speech.”
Following Barrera’s dismissal, 'Scream 7' director Christopher Landon shared and then deleted a statement on X stating, “Everything sucks. Stop yelling. This was not my decision to make.” About a month later, Landon left the project and posted on social media: “It was a dream job that turned into a nightmare. And my heart did break for everyone involved. Everyone. But it’s time to move on.”
'Scream' has continued with Kevin Williamson, the franchise’s original screenwriter, stepping in to helm the seventh installment, which will see the return of franchise icon Neve Campbell. Ortega has shifted her focus to the second season of her Netflix hit 'Wednesday' and the box office triumph of last year’s 'Beetlejuice'.
“I’ve happened to join many franchises, which is wonderful to be part of a legacy,” Ortega told The Cut. “But for me, I’m genuinely trying to prioritize new directors and original narratives. I understand that from the outside, people might be questioning my choices like, ‘What is this girl doing?’ I never anticipated doing a movie like A24’s ‘Death of Unicorn’. But an original script is thrilling. If I can assist in bringing it to life, I would love to do that.”
