The latest Scream installment is facing some major shakeups.
Following the success of Scream VI, which scored the biggest opening weekend box office for the entire franchise when it was released in March, a seventh film was announced in August.
When asked byVariety about the potential for a sequel, producer Paul Neinstein said “We will continue to make these as long as they let us,” and co-writer James Vanderbilt added, “Absolutely! It would be amazing to do this again.”
Though the seventh film is still in the works, the franchise has hit a bump in the road as it has been reported that several cast members will no longer return for the sequel.
Here’s everything to know about the latest Scream sequel, ahead.
Which cast members are not returning for Scream 7?
Brownie Harris/ Paramount/ The Hollywood Archive
In November, it was announced that Melissa Barrera would no longer star in the upcoming film after she was removed from the cast due to her social media posts about the Israel-Hamas war, according to reports from Variety and The Hollywood Reporter. Variety reported that insiders viewed Barrera’s comments as antisemitic.
“Spyglass’ stance is unequivocally clear: We have zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion or anything that flagrantly crosses the line into hate speech,” Spyglass, the studio behind Scream 7, said in a statement to PEOPLE.
Barrera previously starred as Sam Carpenter in both 2022’s Scream and Scream VI, where her character was introduced as Scream villain Billy Loomis’ (Skeet Ulrich) daughter. Her character was set to follow in the footsteps of Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott as the new franchise lead.
Shortly after Barrera’s exit was announced, Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter reported that Jenna Ortega, who has starred in the last two Scream films as Barrera’s onscreen sister Tara Carpenter, is no longer expected to reprise her role for Scream 7.
Deadline reported that Ortega’s departure from the film was due to her busy filming schedule on the second season of Netflix’s Wednesday and wrapping on filming for Beetlejuice 2.
Who is in the Scream 7 cast?
Nina Westervelt/Variety via Getty
Following various cast shakeups, the official cast list remains unclear. However, after appearing in the previous installment, it was anticipated that Mason Gooding and Jasmin Savoy Brown would reprise their roles in the new movie.
After her character survived in Scream 6, it was also rumored that Courteney Cox would return as Gale Weathers.
Who is directing Scream 7?
Michael Tullberg/Getty
Following Wes Craven’s death in 2015, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett directed Scream 6 and 2022’s Scream. However, when the seventh Scream was announced in August, it had a new director attached.
The upcoming sequel will be helmed by Christopher Landon, whose previous films include Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones (2014), Freaky (2020) and Happy Death Day (2017).
What will Scream 7 be about?
Brownie Harris/Paramount
Per Deadline, a script for the film hasn’t been completed yet, following the delay with the Writers Guild of America strike, which ended in September. As such, the official plotline for the movie remains unclear.
When will Scream 7 be released?
Seeing as many projects are just starting to resume filming following the end of the SAG-AFTRA strike, the release date for the movie hasn’t been announced. However, it’s anticipated that the movie could come out sometime in late 2024 or early 2025.
