Jenna Ortega Opens Up and Explains Why She Dropped Out of SCREAM 7
Jenna Ortega has finally explained why she won’t be coming back for Scream 7, and it’s not what people assumed.
Despite being lined up to reprise her role as Tara Carpenter, Ortega told The Cut that her departure had “nothing to do with pay or scheduling,” shutting down earlier reports. The truth is that it came down to a shift in the creative team and cast that left the project feeling unfamiliar.
“The Melissa stuff was happening, and it was all kind of falling apart,” Ortega said, referring to the firing of co-star Melissa Barrera in late 2023 after Barrera posted pro-Palestine messages on social media.
Around the same time, directors Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpinalso walked away. Ortega made it clear that their absence was a major factor in her own decision:
“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 also opened up about where her focus is now: working on fresh material with new voices, saying: “I’ve happened to join a lot of franchises, which is so great to be a part of legacy.
“But for me, I’m really trying to prioritize new directors and original stories. I know on the outside, maybe people are looking at my choices like, ‘Man, what the hell is this girl doing?’ I never thought I would do a movie with unicorns. But an original script is exciting. If I can help get it made, I love to do that.”
There’s also talk that Ortega’s been talking with Marvel about a potential role, but nothing’s official yet. For now, she seems focused on carving out her own creative path, outside of the reboot-heavy studio system.
With Ortega, Barrera, and the previous directors all out, Scream 7 is taking a sharp left turn. Franchise staples Neve Campbell and Matthew Lillard are returning, joined by David Arquette, Scott Foley, Courteney Cox, Mason Gooding and Jasmin Savoy Brown.
Franchise newcomers include Joel McHale as Sidney’s husband, Isabel May, Mason Gooding, Mckenna Grace, Celeste O’Connor, Asa Germann, and Ethan Embry.
The film will be directed by Scream creator Kevin Williamson, who also penned the original, Scream 2, and Scream 4.
Scream 7 is locked in for a February 27, 2026 release.