Jenna Ortega reveals why she left the Scream movie franchise: “It was all kind of falling apart”
The actor says it wasn’t about pay, or politics, as she opens up on why she walked away from the iconic horror series.
Jenna Ortega has finally addressed why she left the Scream franchise, and no, it wasn’t about money or even her co-star Melissa Barrera’s controversial firing. It was about something simpler, and perhaps more relatable: the vibe just changed.
Goodbye Scream: the Jenna Ortega story
In a new interview with The Cut, Ortega put months of speculation to rest. After Barrera was dropped from Scream 7 in November 2023 for social media comments about the Israel-Hamas war, fans immediately linked Ortega’s exit – announced a day later – to that decision. Others suggested a scheduling conflict or pay dispute. But Ortega says her decision came down to the film itself.
“It had nothing to do with pay or scheduling,” she said. “The Melissa stuff was happening, and it was all kind of falling apart.”
The unraveling started well before the cameras rolled. Directors Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, who helmed Scream VI, also exited the project. Without them or the same creative team that rebooted the franchise so successfully, Ortega didn’t see a future in it for her.
“If Scream 7 wasn’t going to be with that team of directors and those people I fell in love with, then it didn’t seem like the right move for me in my career at the time,” she said.
Instead, Ortega has shifted her focus toward original stories and new collaborators. “I’ve happened to join a lot of franchises,” she told The Cut, “but I’m really trying to prioritize new directors and original stories.” That includes the oddball A24 flick Death of a Unicorn, and of course, season two of Wednesday, where she now also serves as an executive producer. “I feel a bit more empowered to speak my mind,” she added.
Still, Ortega and Barrera have remained close. Barrera, speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, called her former co-star “very supportive” and “a sister for life.”
When is Scream 7 released?
As Ortega moves on, Scream 7 is moving forward without her. Original franchise star Neve Campbell will return alongside Joel McHale, with Kevin Williamson – who wrote the original 1996 script – now directing. Paramount has slated the release for February 27, 2026.
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