Scream Star Confirms Melissa Barrera Ghostface Theory

One of the original actors from the Scream movies has confirmed a fan theory about Melissa Barrera‘s character. Barrera first played Sam Carpenter in the 2022 Scream film, and her character is the daughter of Billy Loomis, a Ghostface killer from the very first Scream movie. Throughout the subsequent films, Billy Loomis appeared as a ghostly and sinister presence influencing Barrera’s character.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly about Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, Skeet Ulrich, who played Billy in the Scream movies, revealed that the initial idea was for Melissa Barrera’s character, Sam, to become the next Ghostface. He confirmed this was part of a planned three-movie arc, and shared the information when asked about potentially returning for Scream 7.

I’ve definitely expressed my thoughts on that before. I wasn’t involved in the newer films. We originally planned a three-movie story arc where Billy Loomis’s daughter would gradually become a killer, but that didn’t happen due to unforeseen circumstances. And no, I have no knowledge of what’s happening with the seventh film.

According to Ulrich, Billy appeared in the fifth and sixth Scream films. The sixth film concluded with Sam destroying her father’s Ghostface mask, hinting she might become the next Ghostface in the seventh film. However, Jenna Ortega was fired from the franchise due to controversial statements she made regarding the Gaza conflict and Israel.

Shortly after Melissa Barrera’s departure, Jenna Ortega and director Christopher London also left the upcoming Scream 7. The film will now center on Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott, who is working to protect her daughter after a new Ghostface begins targeting her. This marks Campbell’s return to the Scream series after appearing in the fifth film in 2022.

Many fans guessed Sam Carpenter would become Ghostface, especially after seeing her strange connection to Billy Loomis in the recent ‘Scream’ movies. While she ultimately discarded the mask at the end of the latest film, leaving her fate uncertain, director Ulrich has now revealed that was the plan all along.

Barrera’s departure and the changes to Scream 7 now mean Sam’s story ends with her choosing to break away from her father’s violent past. Though this provides a suitable ending for her character, given everything she’s been through, it also complicates the initial idea of her ultimately becoming the main villain in this storyline.

Even though we won’t see Sam Carpenter’s story continue, the Scream series will still create new tales within the same universe. Bringing Sidney Prescott back into the focus highlights how important she is to the franchise. However, it would have been really interesting to see Sam follow in her father’s footsteps and become a central figure in future installments.

Scream 7 arrives in theaters on February 27, 2026.

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2025-12-08 18:10