While attending the Scream 7 premiere in Los Angeles, director Kevin Williamson addressed the protests happening at the event in response to Melissa Barrera‘s firing.
“We live in a world where a lot of bad things are happening out there, and I think a lot of people want to be heard and they want to have their voice heard about the bad stuff that’s happening,” Williamson, 60, told Variety on Wednesday, February 25.
Williamson admitted to having mixed feelings about the public boycott of the film, adding, “My heart goes out to them. I don’t know if canceling Paramount+ is the way to do it. But I think people should listen to their inner self and do what feels good for them.”
Barrera, 35, for her part, took to Instagram Stories after footage of the demonstrators surfaced on social media. “I see you,” she wrote, seemingly in response to the show of support after her exit.
Before filming began on Scream 7, news broke in November 2023 that Barrera was fired following her comments about the conflict between Israel and Palestine. The production company behind the newest batch of Scream films, Spyglass Media Group, subsequently denied that Barrera’s pro-Palestine comments were what caused her exit.
Barrera later broke her silence about no longer playing Sam Carpenter.
“First and foremost I condemn Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. I condemn hate and prejudice of any kind against any group of people,” she wrote via Instagram Story that same month, noting she felt a “responsibility” to speak out. “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.”
Jenna Ortega also didn’t return in the role of Tara Carpenter because of her filming schedule for season 2 of Netflix’s Wednesday. Director Christopher Landon, who was set to succeed Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, later pulled out as well.
Williamson subsequently returned to direct his first film in the iconic horror franchise, while Neve Campbell came back after previously sitting out the sixth movie due to failed salary negotiations with the studio. (Williamson wrote the original film as well as sequels Scream 2 and Scream 4.)
The horror genre hasn’t been the same since Ghostface asked Drew Barrymore that question in 1996. Three sequels and one TV spinoff later, the Scream franchise isn’t going anywhere. The first Scream film debuted in December, a month usually reserved for awards contenders and family-friendly holiday fare. Even so, it became a runaway hit, and […]
“Hi All. I’m so excited to announce this news!!! Sidney Prescott is coming back!!!!” Campbell, 52, wrote via Instagram in March 2024. “It’s always been such a blast and an honor to get to play Sidney in the Scream movies. My appreciation for these films and for what they have meant to me, has never waned. I’m very happy and proud to say I’ve been asked, in the most respectful way, to bring Sidney back to the screen and I couldn’t be more thrilled!!! Well actually I could.”
Campbell offered some information about the creative team behind the seventh movie, adding, “While I’ve been so incredibly lucky to make these films with both the master of horror Wes Craven and the wonderfully talented Matt and Tyler team, I’ve dreamt for many years of how amazing it would be to make one of these movies with Kevin Williamson at the helm. And now it’s happening, Kevin Williamson is going to direct Scream 7! This was his baby and it’s his brilliant mind that dreamt up this world.”
She concluded: “Kevin is not just an inspiration as an artist but has been a dear friend for many years. To the amazing Scream fans, I hope you are as excited as I am. See you on set @kevwilliamson.”
Scream 7 will be released in theaters on Friday, February 27.
