Why Jenna Ortega Isn’t In Scream 7

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Jenna Ortega’s decision not to participate in Scream 7 has significantly altered the direction of the Scream movie series. After successfully revitalizing the franchise with her roles in 2022’s Scream and 2023’s Scream VI, Ortega appeared set to continue as a lead alongside Melissa Barrera. However, news recently emerged that she will not be returning for the seventh installment.

At the end of Scream VI, Sam and Tara Carpenter had seemingly overcome another deadly attack and were poised to continue their story in a new setting: New York City. But surprisingly, neither of them appears in Scream 7. Initially, reports claimed their absence was due to difficulties with filming schedules. However, that explanation turned out to be false.

Why Jenna Ortega Quit Scream 7

Early reports suggested Jenna Ortega wasn’t returning for season 2 of Wednesday due to a busy schedule and filming in Ireland, which had been delayed by the actors’ strike. But in a recent interview with The Cut, Ortega explained that schedule conflicts and salary weren’t the actual reasons. She confirmed she decided not to return because of changes to the show’s crew and cast.

Jenna Ortega’s departure wasn’t about scheduling conflicts, as initially reported. The main factors were the directors, Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, leaving the project, and the firing of her co-star, Melissa Barrera. As Ortega stated:

My decision wasn’t about the salary or work hours. Everything was becoming unstable with the issues surrounding Melissa, and if ‘Scream VII’ wasn’t going to be made with the original directors and cast I enjoyed working with, it just didn’t feel like the right career path for me at that moment.

The news of Ortega’s exit came at a particularly noticeable time, just one day after Barrera was fired for controversial statements she made on social media regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict. Spyglass Entertainment, the production company behind Scream, considered her comments antisemitic and removed her from the film.

How Jenna Ortega’s Absence Impacts Scream 7

When Melissa Barrera (Ortega) left the project, the plot of Scream 7 had to be completely changed. The previous movie, Scream VI, ended with Sam and Tara Carpenter rebuilding their relationship after dealing with difficult family issues and the legacy of Billy Loomis. They were planned to start a new life in New York.

Fans won’t see Sam and Tara’s future in New York play out on screen, meaning the stable life they worked so hard to build will remain unresolved. While Tara’s relationship with Chad might be mentioned briefly in Scream 7 as he appears in the film, it won’t be a major focus. Ultimately, the emotional story of the Carpenter sisters, which developed over two movies, has been unexpectedly cut short.

I’m so excited! It looks like the franchise is really going back to what made it great in the first place. Neve Campbell is coming back as Sidney Prescott, which is huge – she is the original Scream, starting with the first movie back in ’96! And Courteney Cox is returning as Gale Weathers too, which just confirms they’re focusing on the characters we already know and love.

As a huge fan, I was really excited about where the Scream movies were going with Sam and Tara Carpenter. So when I heard Jenna Ortega wasn’t returning, it felt like more than just an actress leaving the role. It honestly felt like their story was cut short, right when it was getting good. Now, Scream 7 is shaping up to be something completely different than what I, and a lot of other fans, were hoping for.

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2026-02-26 17:08